Cafe de Rome

The rooms are good quality for one of Dakar’s more affordable hotels. Breakfast at Cafe De Rome, though, was the worst part. There are so few choices that you end up eating the same thing every day, and it isn’t included in the room charge. A basic omelette, bread, juice, coffee, and fruit plate costs 6500 franks, around 10 dollars. It would be much more convenient if breakfast were included like it is at other hotels.

I was there on a business trip and won’t be going back. The location is useful for business, but there are better hotels in the same area. The rooms were okay, and the staff smiled, but they seemed afraid of complaints and always had an excuse. I stopped saying anything and just let things be. At breakfast, the waiter regularly forgot items, and if you sat outside you had to wait for him to come out or go inside to remind them. They also kept bringing the wrong bill. Cleaning was awful: they didn’t change the mop water between rooms, so the dirty water left a bad smell, and the cleaner rinsed and wrung out the mop with bare hands before changing the sheets and pillowcase with those same hands. The lifts were full of mosquitoes that never seemed to leave, and the air conditioner filter was dirty and damp.

The room felt like a home away from home, and I loved having a balcony where I could sit and relax. The staff were courteous, friendly, and very helpful. It’s in a great location, in the same vicinity as the Senegalese White House. My only gripes were that there was no gym or pool. Still, it was a pleasant experience.

The staff were welcoming, but I was surprised by all the positive comments. The rooms felt old, with dated furniture, and the lobby and halls were dull. Breakfast wasn’t included in the price, so I changed hotels right away.