Le Baobab Cuisine in Brighton and Hove

Think it's permanently closed but Google business hours don't reflect this

Came here a few weeks ago and wow, exquisite and authentic restaurant in the heart of Brighton. Where do I begin? Not only was the food deluxe (I enjoyed mafe chicken and my spouse the special veggie platter), but the service was a real treat in this day and age (especially the two young girls serving us who made our night). The chef was friendly and welcoming, honestly felt at home the whole time. A fantastic small local business to support, what a delight!

We had a fabulous time at Baobab. We came in quite late but they made us a vegan/gluten free platter that was delicious and just what we were looking for. It was made even better by the friendly staff who even invited us to play music with them at the end. It looked like the fish and meat would also be divine if that’s what you’re into!

Fantastic chef and server. Chef came out to say hi and my brother and I asked for a big plate of whole fish and meat, he suggested it with jollof and veg, and man it was amazing. This will be visited everytime I come to Brighton, wish I still lived there so I could go more.

Amazing kind staff and lovely atmosphere! We tried Mafe (groundpeanut stew) and lamb ribs dibi, both were delicious. Do recommend!

Delicious food, nice atmosphere and all at a good price. Thanks a lot for having us!

Had a lovely evening. Great staff- kind, friendly and knowledgeable about the food. I had the Chicken Mafe and it was unreal, great portion size and cooked perfectly. Will definitely return!

Lovely Senegalese restaurant, amazing food and great service. Abu makes sure your very well looked after.

The food was pretty good, I've never had Senegalese food so I can't really compare it but I really enjoyed it. The thing that made it stand out was the owner. I spoke to him for a while and I really enjoyed our talk. He was extremely nice, and he even invited me for a shot, then he gave me a handshake and a hug, quite an experience!

We went on a Saturday evening for dinner. The food was absolutely amazing--hands down the best restaurant we've been to in a long time. We had the braised sea bass, the Senegalese chicken curry and the special vegetable platter which consisted of two kinds of veggie curries. We were so blown away by the complex flavours that we literally cleaned our plates down to the last bit of sauce! The service was friendly, atmosphere was lively but not too loud, just perfect. Prices were very reasonable too (3 mains plus 3 sides for 60 pounds). Would 100% go back to Brighton just to eat there!

Good food cooked with soul. Recommend the lamb ribs and chicken. Hearty portions. Only 5 days in Brighton but we will be back.

Great food and atmosphere! Genuinely friendly staff!

The place is nice decorated and the staff is very friendly. The food was simple but nice so it fulfilled my expectations. I recommend to go if you feel like having a little taste of something different.

13 July 2023 - We can down to Brighton late last week with some friends hoping to get a table at this place. Unfortunately they were closed when we turned up at 6.30pm on Saturday even though their opening hours have been updated 2 weeks ago saying they were open...Disappointed that we had to walk from the city center area where we were staying just to find out that this place was closed so we had to look for somewhere else to eat, every nearby local food place was busy with people even the local Indian place next door Manjus didn't have a spare table. We did find a small sign stuck in the restaurant window that said they are closed from early June to late July 2023 due to the Chef going on holiday!!! Whoever manages their business website should update it with the correct opening details so people don't waste their time making special trips for a place that is actually closed!!!!!!!!! I saw other reviews recently been added to this site but how can you visit a restaurant if they are closed for so long!!!!!!

All I can say is Wow. If you’re looking for a beautiful intimate setting for delicious food whether its pescatarian, meat eaters or vegans this is the place. I came here for my birthday and we were so well taken care of. The owner and chef and server working were so lovely and accommodating and friendly! The chicken lamb and veggie dishes were great. Mafe sauce was my first time trying and it is just the best flavour. Highly recommend. I’m already planning my next visit. They do cocktails too! Thanks for a great night Le Baobab and making my bday special for my friends and I ♥️

a tiny place. 20 covers. lots of african elements and gentle music. african boho. warm welcome. excellent Mojito. limited, inexpensive but acceptable wine choice. good menu. wide choice of fish, meat and veggie options. true to its promise of authenticity. tasty and so different. delicious. one had yassa chicken the other lamb. 3 sides, 2 of veg and 1 of rice. sauces of onions, lime and french mustard. gently spiced. 2 mains, 3 sides, 1 mojito and 1 bottle sauvignon blanc for £67. We loved it. Would definitely visit again. Not your usual.

Really enjoyed our meal at this cosy restaurant. Food terrific, service friendly and loved the gentle background African music. A great advert for Senegal and its culture!

The food was amazing, we had the vegetarian and the meat special. Both were delicious and full of flavour. The meat was perfect, unfortunately it was so good I finished too fast even though the portion size was on the large size :) I have heard the fish is amazing here but it was mostly sold out of the fish so will definitely be coming back to try it next time. The staff and chef were friendly and attentive. Would definitely recommend for somewhere to try in brighton.

This was my first experience with Senegalese food but hopefully not the last! The portion was really tasty and big. Almost always when I eat out, I find the food too salty or spicy, but this time everything was just right. The space is small and cozy, and the staff is really friendly and cheerful. The chef even came out to collect payment when the server was busy. Strongly recommended!

Amazing homely African food in a lovely warm and cosy atmosphere. It felt like being invited into the dinning room of dear friend.

Delicious food and lovely staff

Massive portions, cheap drinks, beautiful ambience and great food! Perfect place for a romantic date or a chill night with friends.

Wow what interesting tasty food. We had 3 different platters one meat, one fish & one vegetable. It was so flavoursome and delicious. Would highly recommend

This place and the owner are absolutely wonderful! He made our trip to Brighton with a late evening meal when we couldn’t find food anywhere. Most tasty and healthy meal with great music and friendly staff! I’ll be coming back every time I’m in Brighton 😋

This place is a must! It’s so homely and authentic, as if I am back in my homeland! The lovely chef Abu puts his heart and soul into his restaurant as well as ensuring that the customers feel welcome and relaxed. This place is a must eat in my eyes, the flavours and variety of dishes make it suitable for anyone to eat here! My favourite is the jellof rice with mafe 🤩

Amazing food and great value! 😍😍

a tiny place. 20 covers. lots of african elements and gentle music. african boho. warm welcome. excellent Mojito. limited, inexpensive but acceptable wine choice. good menu. wide choice of fish, meat and veggie options. true to its promise of authenticity. tasty and so different. delicious. one had yassa chicken the other lamb. 3 sides, 2 of veg and 1 of rice. sauces of onions, lime and french mustard. gently spiced. 2 mains, 3 sides, 1 mojito and 1 bottle sauvignon blanc for £67. We loved it. Would definitely visit again. Not your usual.

We had an amazing time in Le baobab. The lamb was soft and tasteful, the whole dish was really delicious. The staff is friendly and the chef came out after finishing. We can highly recommend!

The atmosphere was amazing, the staff were wonderful and the food was incredible. I will be going back.

Very tasty food, friendly atmosphere, good value for money with huge portions of well cooked food to make you smile. Lovely people - thank you for an unexpectedly good evening!

I don't like to give bad reviews, but... We booked a table for 7pm. We turn up and there are no tables available, so we're asked to come back in 30 minutes. We wait for 45 minutes (which we already were not happy about given that we had a reservation) and eventually we're told that they basically have nothing left on the menu. We're all veggies are the only thing available was chicken! Why not tell us when we arrived so we didn't have to wait for 45 minutes just to be disappointed?? Also why have you run out of everything at 7:45 on a Thursday?? The lady who worked there was rude and unapologetic, barely acknowledging the fact we were made to wait and ended up foodless. Pretty shocking and also just bizarre. Such a shame as we were really looking forward to it. Hopefully it was just an off night as it seems the food here is delicious. Unfortunately don't think we'll be attempting to go here again as all in all it was a terrible experience and a massive waste of time.

Beautiful and tasty African cuisine... Respect to Abu the chef and all the people...

Ho provato per la prima volta il cibo senegalese e devo dire che mi è piaciuto molto. I piatti sono preparati al momento dallo chef, ingredienti freschi e di qualità; porzioni abbondanti. Il menù presente una sezione dedicata a piatti interamente a base di verdure, perfetto anche per i vegetariani. Sebbene il locale sia molto piccolo è accogliente e confortevole. Ci tornerò sicuramente

Went here for dinner tonight with two friends. Food is good and the service was with a smile. I had never tried this kind of food before so it was a good introduction. I found it a bit expensive for the portion size though.

Good place to be !!!! I went there with my friends and we had a lot of fun. we really have appreciated the food, the place and the service. It was our first time and we will surely going back. I strongly recommend !!!!!

Music was very loud, food was nice enough but nothing special, and greasy. The waitress was nice but when I informed her there was a piece of foil in my food, nothing but a quick "sorry". We were expected to pay full price regardless. The picture isthe foil I found in my food and the paper written receipt. Very unprofessional.

10/10 food and service. Amazing atmosphere, makes you feel comfortable throughout your visit

I love this restaurant! Fish is excellent and so is the rice and the cous cous - everything is made with love. Great atmosphere and the staff are really friendly as well

Le Baobab is closed more often than open. Limited vegetarian selection. *In reply to the owner’s response: I have indeed eaten here. I have also had a booking cancelled at late notice, and turned up to walk-in during opening hours for it to be shut, twice in the last 6 months. A consistent essay in reply to bad reviews suggests that perhaps more time is spent neglecting honest feedback than taking the time to make improvements. Thank you.

Delicious food, very welcoming staff, great atmosphere, very good value for money. I highly recommend this little restaurant.

Lovely small restaurant with amazing food, very cute interior and very friendly staff

I rarely write reviews unless I'm very disappointed. The vegetarian menu is limited but I hoped to share a variety of dishes with my gf. Unfortunately no starters were available (that's fine, it happens) which left us with limited options. However we decided to share one main and two sides. (while saving space for desert, which was never offered) the sides and main all came out on one plate and was dissapointing. For £20 I expected considerably more food, It was served all together on one plate, usually when you order extra sides you expect extra food, not have your main course reduced to make room for the sides. The food was ok. But rather than order more food, we went somewhere else to satisfy our appetite. Technically you can get a main course for less at the Ivy. In summary the vegetarian menu was uninspiring and overpriced. Two stars because the music and flamingos were nice.

Delicious food and friendly staff!

absolutely delicious and incredible staff

We found Le Baobab on a Friday night where it was difficult to get a table at most places in Brighton. By rights, this place should have had a massive queue because the food was outstanding and the service wonderful. Extremely happy to have eaten here and I urge everyone reading this review to try it out.

Wonderful food, lovely service, banging tunes, great vibes.

Beautiful, tasty food. Everything was nicely spiced. It was my first time trying Senegalese food and I loved it!

We love being able to give reviews like this. Everything from the welcome on arrival to the price at the end is wonderful. The staff are lovely and friendly and very happy to help with any questions about the food. The dishes are sublime. Some of the tastiest and beautifully cooked dishes we've tried for a long while. Not knowing much about Senegalese food we where keen to try, now we want to know a lot more. Left us warm and fuzzy and excited to return and work our way through the menu. And the bill didn't hurt either which is a real bonus. See you soon Le Boabab Cuisine.

This is a wonderful restaurant with a great chef. The food is delicious and menu varied, although I must say I never order of the menu I just ask the chef to cook what he wants and its always been delicious. It's only a small restaurant so best to book a table to save disappointment. The prices are very reasonable. Enjoy

We stumbled upon this place just by chance and so glad that we did! It was our first time trying Senegalese cuisine and although this place is a hole in the wall, I'd certainly recommend trying their food! The place is run by one chef who is also the owner. He's great at what he does and loves to chat! We were a big group of 8-10 people and ordered almost everything that was available on the menu! Absolutely must try the chicken plate - it is tender, juicy and hits the right spots! Find this gem when in Brighton and makee sur you chat the chef up (if he's free)! He's an absolute delight.

I ate at Le Baobab Cuisine restaurant this evening and it was incredible. I am so glad a tried a new place in Brighton. I have never had Senegalese food before and now I have a new favorite place to eat. We asked the chef to recommend both food and drink and he served a stunning platter that was unlike anything I have eaten in a long time. I am looking forward to going back - for the food and the unique cocktails [Hibiscus Mojitos]. 5 STARS all the way. Totally unpretentious and completely refreshing. Check it out!

Food was delicious :) was sad there were two things missing from menu but what we had was really good. Ocean soup was great. Really warm fuzzy happy vibes from the music and decor. Staff were sweet and helpful. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu!

The food was brilliant!! Went here on a whim for dinner. Had the grilled sea bass and the maafe (yam and peanut stew). Our table was perfectly silent while we ate, absolutely engrossed in the food and the flavours. The grilled fish is a must have, and vegetarians must (must!!) try the peanut and yam stew - subtle and smoky flavours hitting all the spots. I've travelled extensively across West African port cities and have a fair appreciation for senegalese food - Le Baobab ranks among the best I've had. Definitely going back here! Oh, if you're only in Brighton for a day, you must call/visit ahead and book or ask for timings - they weren't open for lunch the day we visited and we had to come back for dinner.

Amazing food, amazing people. Love to come to this place and the cocktails are great!!

Lovely food, cheap booze and a great atmosphere. Here's a before and after of our sharing plate to show how much we enjoyed it!

Ate here before a gig with friends. Really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. I'd not eaten Senegalese food before so it was really different but good. I recommend the Mafe Chicken. The peanut sauce was delicious. It was packed out on a Saturday at 7pm so I would advise making a booking.

Ate here before a gig with friends. Really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. I'd not eaten Senegalese food before so it was really different but good. I recommend the Mafe Chicken. The peanut sauce was delicious. It was packed out on a Saturday at 7pm so I would advise making a booking.

Great atmosphere and friendly staff, but the food sadly let them down. They served trifle with canned sqirty cream! Also, the small amount of meat on the main course was tough. We also waited an hour and a half for the starter.

**Edit** After extensive contact with the management they apologised, offered to refund the overcharge and promised to rectify our criticisms. As a result I would now tentatively recommend this restaurant to others - the food is indeed very nice and the venue has a lovely vibe that is worth giving a try. We would have loved to have given this place a higher rating as the food was tasty and the atmosphere in the restaurant was very cool. However, after we'd finished eating we were told to walk to a cashpoint to get money and then return to the restaurant to pay despite card payments apparently being available and us asking to pay with card. Furthermore, we appeared to be overcharged for drinks (at least compared to what was quoted on the menu) and service was very slow. Also be prepared to have all your clothes smell very strongly of the cooking as the restaurant has very poor ventilation. Left us with an overall feeling of an unpleasant experience and we wouldn't go back as a result. This restaurant has great potential and it's a shame that it's not being fulfilled. Perhaps we had an unlucky experience but want to leave an honest review such that there's less chance of it happening to someone else in future.

Our group of 4 got shuffled out due to another group of 5 even though booked 4-5 hours before. We sat down and was missing a chair. We got asked if this was okay and with little hesitation I said yeah it’s fine. Just to be told 5 mins later to they had over booked and asked us to leave. Shocking

We stumbled upon this gem when wandering through the lanes looking for a late night meal. We were greeted with warmth and top notch hospitality. The setting is cheerful and authentic staying true to the Senegalese theme. The chef created a fish of the day platter for us to share accompanied by some fresh mango mojitos. Delicious! So happy to have discovered this tasty delight - will definitely be back again!

Really delicious food and lovely atmosphere hearty meals prepared with care

The food was cooked to perfection, the flavours were incredible. The ambiance was warm, welcoming and homely. A taste of Senegal 🇸🇳 indeed. The staff are amazing. You really feel like part of the la baobab family when you eat here. Would definitely recommend and I will eating there again and again.

Amazing restaurant one of the best places to eat food in Brighton. The chef takes pride in his food and his lovely service is very accommodating. Go to le baobab!

Amazing restaurant definitely one of the best places for food in Brighton! Very tasty and freshly made. The atmosphere inside is also nicely crafted and it is a lovely vibe. But most importantly the food is amazing, all credit to the chef and the friendly staff

Warm experience. Felt at home. Wonderful food.

a special place with exquisite, fresh and high quality food, run by lovely people. Magico, delizioso, il cibo è fantastico e le persone che lo gestiscono meravigliose!

Small quirky restaurant with incredible food and refreshing drinks. Fish was delicious. We also liked how our food was served on a big sharing plate. The whole experience made us really want to visit Senegal!

Really nice and fresh food, at least the fish. Could be nice a little bit more ventilation but apart from that, a place to visit and repeat

Delicious food, excellent service, immaculate vibes. A Brighton gem. Get the fish platter!

Proper authentic and the Best food, music, and staff, one love x

Wonderful food from Senegal. The best of the best in Brighton 😉 xx

Amazing food. Lovely people. Brilliant chef. Will definitely recommend

Amazing food. Flavour I have never tasted.

Great food, friendly service and wonderful ambience make this one of the coolest restaurants in Brighton right now. Limited tables and opening hours so booking essential. Seafood here is excellent. Chef and staff welcoming.

Really tasty Senegalese food in a cosy spot with great friendly service. Good value too. Will definitely be back when I'm in Brighton again.

Delicious. Delicate flavours and not spicy. Fish fresh and cooked to perfection. Friendly service, great music and vibe. Would love to try more on the menu!

Amazing quality lile home-made food, everything is fresh and super tasty. Great service and atmosphere. Even grater value for money. You must try it. Dish below is Special Plat du Chef Viande

Amazing quality lile home-made food, everything is fresh and super tasty. Great service and atmosphere. Even grater value for money. You must try it

just wondering down the North Laines for something to eat and came across this place that I was informed had only just opened due to the epidemic (was supposed to be last yr) they currently have a limited choice but were happy to accommodate and recommend and really went out of their way to make sure they had what you wanted and make you happy. Really friendly and helpful and I hope to visit again when hopefully their full menu will be available so that I can experience some more different tasty food. Also the mojito's were refreshing in the heat (weather)

Friendly service, delicious authentic food. Will definitely be going again.

Went to La Baobab on their first day of opening since lockdown. They accommodated for a group of us to celebrate a birthday, the host was lovely and the food delicious. We all had the chefs special tasting menu that they were offering that evening. Thank you so much, we all had a lovely evening!

It deserves all the stars ✨ This small restaurant is run by a fantastic guy who adores his place so much. I went there on my birthday and as soon as they knew that they did everything to make me happy. Their food is so delicious and just being in this small, costly restaurant with other people around you makes the experience much better. If you go there, try their fresh fish dishes. Love this place and will go again and again!

Fantastic evening with great food, wine and music. Really worth a visit, great variety of veggie, fish or meat dishes and the plates were cleared empty!

The cuisine is authentic and very rustic.

We had a really nice meal here. The food was full of flavour with generous portions. The atmosphere was really nice and relaxed and the service was perfect. We’ll definitely be back again

This place is a real gem. The food is so delicious, packed full of flavour and the atmosphere is great. Would really recommend this place! Thank you for a lovely evening :)

This is the only Senegalese restaurant in England that I am aware of. It was a great experience with delicious food. The service was very friendly, and we all got little fresh fruit treats at the end - a lovely way to complete a meal and go home with a smile.

We loved the ambiance of this tiny restaurant, but my Ivoirian companions felt that the dishes, while well prepared, had been somewhat "westernised" (by which basically they meant insufficient chili, pepper and, in all probability, rocket fuel). The staff are charming and the wait for the food is well worth it.

Not only is this an authentic experience, but the food is also fresh and very tasty. The staff at Le Baobab is lovely and inviting

This is the first time I've tried Senegalese food and was delighted by the very reasonably priced, delicious fresh fish and friendly welcome. Will definitely go back again.

Ottimo il cibo, il pesce é fresco e squisito, la cucina leggera e gustosa. L'atmosfera è intima e confortevole... Con mia madre abbiamo deciso di tornarci più di una sera durante la nostra permanenza a Brighton e non siamo mai state smentite, le serate sono sempre state piacevoli e ci siamo trovate davvero bene!

3 starters not available on the menu, vague explanation as to why, “sometimes he doesn’t make things”. Long wait for very overcooked prawns, we could hardly peel them. Main course was bland with more overcooked prawns and squid that was inedible. The bream was just about palatable, but I was very hungry. I pointed out the food was overcooked and the waiter said “hmm rubbery?” Like that was normal, then they walked off. Talking to the chef afterwards I quietly said I thought the fish had been overcooked, the response was “no one has ever said my food is overcooked, no one has ever complained about my food!” I felt a bit threatened and I don’t believe it for a minute, more a case of an arrogant chef who will not listen. The wine was cheap and nasty. There was no extraction, it smelled of old oil and I stank of it when I got home. Both the waiter and chef and my friend and I have lived in Bologna, a city of wonderful food and excellent standards in hospitality, it is unsurprising this team couldn’t compete there. But then Brighton is a friendly city too..

Encontramos este restaurante completamente por casualidad.La pareja que lo dirigió fue increíblemente amable y acogedora.La comida era absolutamente fantástica, y definitivamente fue la mejor comida que tuvimos durante nuestra estancia en Brighton.Nuestra fiesta consistía en dos veganos y un vegetariano, y teníamos mucha comida entre nosotros. Hubo algunas opciones, pero elegimos el especial vegetariano, que era básicamente 3 de las opciones vegetarianas. Realmente fue excelente.

They've got amazing Senegalese dish. I love this place.

Go for the Fish dish just amazing and the empanadas to start were lovely. Amazing food, cooked by a passionate chef and attentive and knowledgeable staff. All round amazing meal.

Had such a lovely meal here on Saturday. This little restaurant ticks all the boxes. Great atmosphere, food and service. Totally authentic african food served by very friendly and helpful lady. Will definitely visit again soon.

¡Acabamos de visitar este pequeño y peculiar lugar y quedamos impresionados por la buena calidad y la excelente combinación de especias! Podríamos sentir la pasión del cocinero con cada bocado! Mi prometido viene de África occidental y dijo que la autenticidad de la comida lo llevó a casa. Además de eso, la camarera estaba muy ocupada pero mantuvo su hermosa sonrisa todo el tiempo y también hizo un gran trabajo. ¡Ahora que conocemos este lugar definitivamente regresaremos a esta pequeña joya! También tocaron buena música que creó un ambiente aún más auténtico. ¡Sigue! ! !

Amazing food and friendly staff! We would definitely come back.

Delicious authentic Senegalese cuisine. Loved the friendly service and and unique coffee!