La Cour: Oasis In Lagos

Apr 23

Apr 23 La Cour: Oasis In Lagos

La Cour Cooper Road is a hidden gem I discovered Christmas of 2012. It is really an aparthotel, 1 and 2 bedrooms with a living room, but with all the services of a hotel. The travel industry in Nigeria is massively overpriced but this is the closest I have been to getting value for money.

Cooper Road hotel (There is a sister hotel on Glover Road) is discreet, has no signage and does not accept walk-in guests, only corporate clients. I have selfishly guarded this place, never sharing this gem with friends and family as I tend to do with all my other discoveries. It was my happy place. I loved the quiet and serene environment right in the middle of chaotic Lagos. I loved the warm and friendly staff. The lush garden with over 50 species of plant tended by Horst the very hands-on manager. No request was ever a problem for him, and the times I called to say I would be visiting, I got an apartment upgrade.

I always felt very well taken care of at La Cour. Spent a little over a week on my first visit and over the next one year I was back every other month.

I mostly spent my days reading a book by the pool (almost always had the pool area to myself), playing peekaboo with the resident cat, drinking while sunbathing or having a conversation with Horst and the long-stay guests who became friendly faces after a while.

The food here is good (can be better) but most evenings I took a walk to Glover Court for the suya or to Wheatbaker who do excellent dinner. Horst being South African and having managed luxury hotels in SA and Seychelles, has built quite a good selection of wine. The chef always paired my meals with wine and I don’t think he ever got it wrong.

Lunch while watching one of my favourite movies ever for the millionth time.

I remember this day. I was having a lazy morning by the pool painting my nails, snacking on chocolate, reading a book and drinking G&T. Horst came over and said: "That is such a British thing, drinking Gin. You should be having mimosa for brunch. I'll send someone over now". He walked away and five minutes later someone brought an ice bucket with some bubbly and orange juice. Not like I needed any more reason to be a fan of this place. In a country where a lot of lone, female lodgers get disrespected and treated like unwanted escorts, it felt good having people go over and beyond just to make you enjoy your stay.