The Faces Behind the Most Expensive Restaurants in Lagos

Aside from Lagos being Nigeria’s economic powerhouse, it’s also a city where fine dining is more than just a meal, it’s a lifestyle. With a growing population of high-net-worth individuals, luxury restaurants are thriving, offering world-class cuisine in elegant settings. 

But behind these exquisite establishments are visionary founders who have shaped Lagos’ fine dining culture. Here, we’ll go beyond the lavish interiors and gourmet dishes to explore the minds behind some of Lagos’ most exclusive restaurants. 

Who are the people redefining luxury dining in the city? What inspired them to create these high-end culinary destinations? Let’s take a look at the stories of these trailblazers, starting with one of the most iconic names in Lagos’ restaurant scene.

Marie Louise Sassine – The Woman Behind Noir Lagos

Noir Lagos is tucked away in Victoria Island, this fine-dining restaurant transports guests to Paris with its stylish décor, candle-lit ambiance, and meticulously crafted dishes. But behind this luxury experience is a woman whose career spans decades and continents—Marie Louise Sassine.

Sassine’s journey in hospitality is as refined as the dishes served at Noir. A graduate of César Ritz Colleges Switzerland, a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management, along with specialized training in Food & Beverage Operations and Train the Trainer Programs. With over 25 years of experience, she has worked across multiple countries, including Switzerland, the United States, Ghana, and Nigeria.

Her career began in Marriott Hotels in the United States, she later worked in Switzerland at Le Diwane Restaurant, gaining first-hand experience in fine dining and restaurant management. But it wasn’t just traditional hospitality that shaped her expertise, Sassine also played a key role in aviation catering, working with First Catering Ltd. and Airline Services Ltd., overseeing operations across Accra, Lagos, and Abuja.

In 2017, she brought her extensive knowledge and global experience to Lagos, co-founding Noir Lagos, a restaurant that quickly became the city’s go-to spot for fine French dining.

Francis Obozuwa – The Man Behind Circa Lagos

Circa Lagos is redefining contemporary fine dining with a more urban, stylish, and intimate setting. Founded in 2018 by Francis Obozuwa, Circa is an experience.

Obozuwa is a man of many talents. He is the CEO of Eton House Furniture, a high-end furniture brand that caters to Nigeria’s affluent clientele. 

With over two decades of experience in design and hospitality, he understands the importance of aesthetics, which is why Circa Lagos is not just about food, it’s about the experience of dining in a beautifully crafted space.

His journey into hospitality wasn’t accidental. Obozuwa is a graduate of Ambrose Alli University, where he studied Philosophy, but his passion for business led him to further his education at Lagos Business School, where he earned a certificate in Entrepreneurial Management. His expertise in branding and strategy became the foundation for his venture into Lagos’ fine dining scene.

Loubna Fakhri-Baker – Kaly Restaurant

Loubna Fakhri-Baker’s journey into the restaurant business spans multiple countries and cultures. Born and raised in Senegal to Lebanese parents, she later moved to Nigeria, where she co-founded Hedonista Hospitality Group, the company behind some of Lagos’ most celebrated dining establishments, including Craft Gourmet and Kaly Restaurant.

A graduate of Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, one of the world’s leading hospitality schools, Fakhri-Baker was trained in the fine art of managing luxury dining spaces. Her expertise in international hospitality helped her build restaurants that balance elegance with a deep understanding of local tastes.

In 2019, she launched Kaly, a contemporary fine-dining restaurant in Victoria Island. The space was designed to reflect understated luxury, with sleek interiors, ambient lighting, and a carefully curated menu that featured Mediterranean and international dishes.

Unlike many upscale restaurants that cater exclusively to expatriates, Kaly has managed to attract both Nigerian high-net-worth individuals and international guests. 

Malaika Najem – Flowershop Café

Not all luxury dining in Lagos comes in the form of five-star restaurants, some of it is tucked away in charming spaces that feel like a hidden escape. That’s exactly what Malaika Najem envisioned when she created Flowershop Café.

Originally trained in metal and jewelry arts, Najem first built a career in design before transitioning into hospitality. In 2015, she launched The Flowershop, a boutique floral and lifestyle brand that quickly gained popularity among Lagos’ fashion-forward crowd. Seeing an opportunity to merge design, food, and ambiance, she expanded the concept into Flowershop Café in 2019.

Located in Victoria Island, the café is an Instagrammable haven, featuring lush greenery, minimalist decor, and a menu that caters to both health-conscious diners and indulgent food lovers. An English breakfast at Flowershop Café costs around N25,000, reflecting the premium nature of its offerings.

Tobi Hamilton – The House Lagos

Unlike traditional fine-dining restaurants, The House Lagos offers something different, a home away from home, designed for those who appreciate both luxury and comfort. At the center of this unique concept is Tobi Hamilton, a business strategist with a passion for creating immersive experiences.

Launched in 2017, The House Lagos is a social venue where guests can dine, network, and relax in a setting that feels intimate yet refined. The restaurant’s interiors mimic a stylish private home, complete with cozy seating areas and eclectic décor.

Hamilton’s background in strategy and marketing has played a crucial role in making The House a success. She understands that for Lagos’ elite, dining is more than just food, it’s about connection, exclusivity, and atmosphere. 

Reni Folawiyo – NOK by Alara

For many, fine dining in Lagos is synonymous with foreign cuisines. But Reni Folawiyo had a different vision: a restaurant that celebrates African flavors with the same prestige as Michelin-starred establishments abroad. Enter NOK by Alara, a culinary masterpiece tucked inside the Alara concept store on Victoria Island.

Reni, a trained lawyer turned entrepreneur, is no stranger to luxury. She founded Alara not just as a retail space but as a cultural hub where African fashion, art, and food intersect. When she launched NOK in 2015, her mission was clear—to redefine African cuisine through a modern, sophisticated lens.

At NOK, the familiar is reimagined. Traditional Nigerian ingredients are transformed into haute cuisine, served in an environment that fuses African heritage with contemporary elegance. Dishes like smoked catfish and plantain or suya-spiced beef tartare come plated like works of art, elevating local flavors to fine-dining standards.

For Reni, food is just one piece of a larger puzzle. Her goal is to place African culture on the global stage, ensuring that the world recognizes the richness and innovation within the continent. And with NOK, she has created a restaurant that doesn’t just serve food—it tells a story.

If there’s one restaurant in Lagos that embodies grandeur, it’s Shiro. With its towering Buddha statues, moody lighting, and an ambiance that feels straight out of a Hollywood film, Shiro is where the city’s elite gather for an experience that blends luxury with mysticism.

Behind this culinary empire is Sanjay Mahtani, an entrepreneur whose passion for hospitality has led him to build some of the most iconic restaurant brands in India and Nigeria. Before co-founding JSM Corporation, the company behind Shiro, Hard Rock Café, and California Pizza Kitchen, Sanjay was already making waves in the food industry.

His journey into Lagos’ restaurant scene was no accident. With its cosmopolitan crowd and appetite for global cuisine, the city was the perfect place for Shiro’s signature blend of Japanese, Balinese, and Korean influences. From sushi platters to robatayaki grills, every dish at Shiro is designed to transport diners beyond Nigeria’s borders.

Nahi Halabi – RSVP and Slow

Few restaurants in Lagos have achieved cult status quite like RSVP. It’s where the city’s trendsetters go for dinner and drinks, where the ambiance is as important as the meal, and where the hidden bar accessible only to those in the know adds an air of exclusivity.

At the heart of this success is Nahi Halabi, a Lebanese-Nigerian entrepreneur who understands that dining is more than just eating—it’s an experience.

When RSVP opened in 2014, it was unlike anything Lagos had seen before. Inspired by New York’s prohibition-era restaurants, it introduced a style of dining that was both laid-back and luxurious. The industrial-chic decor, the curated music, the impeccable service, every detail was designed to make guests feel like they had stepped into a different world.

But Nahi didn’t stop there. In 2018, he introduced Slow, a restaurant that takes its time—literally. With a farm-to-table approach and a menu that draws inspiration from Mediterranean and Latin American cuisines, Slow is all about appreciating flavors in their purest form.

Under Nahi’s leadership, both restaurants have become defining landmarks of Lagos’ food scene. Whether it’s RSVP’s famous steak frites or Slow’s handcrafted cocktails, his establishments continue to set the standard for fine dining in the city.

Taiwo Smith – The Smiths

For Lagos’ high-end diners, The Smiths equals parts cocktail bar and fine dining establishment, this Victoria Island hotspot is where luxury meets culture. Behind the brand is Taiwo Smith, an entrepreneur and chef with a deep appreciation for both global flavors and Nigerian hospitality. 

Alongside her twin sister, Kehinde, Taiwo has built a restaurant that caters to the city’s growing demand for immersive dining experiences.

The Smiths offers a sophisticated menu that blends Asian, Mediterranean, and Latin American influences. Taiwo splits her time between Lagos and Chicago, ensuring that The Smiths stays ahead of global dining trends.

Her commitment to excellence is evident in every detail, from the menu’s seasonal updates to the restaurant’s sleek yet inviting design.

For her, food is about storytelling. And with The Smiths, she has created a space that tells a story of luxury, creativity, and celebration.

Tracy Nwapa – Slice Lagos

A media personality, Tracy Nwapa, turned restaurateur who has built a brand that reflects her love for food, design, and hospitality.

Tracy’s journey into the restaurant business wasn’t conventional. With a background in TV and film production, she initially made her mark in Nigeria’s entertainment industry before venturing into hospitality. But her passion for curating experiences—whether on screen or at the dining table—proved to be the key to Slice’s success.

Since opening its doors in 2010, Slice has become a go-to destination for those who appreciate both fine dining and aesthetic appeal. The restaurant’s chic decor, paired with its innovative menu, makes it a favorite among Lagos’ stylish crowd.