Charles' Osu Guidebook
Food scene
It’s a joint for the “international standard” chicken & chips in a box fast food spot. Papaye is the leading chicken & chips brand in Ghana and is within walking distance. The chicken comes in your choice of fried, roasted, grilled or “broasted”.
Papaye Fast Food
32 Oxford StreetIt’s a joint for the “international standard” chicken & chips in a box fast food spot. Papaye is the leading chicken & chips brand in Ghana and is within walking distance. The chicken comes in your choice of fried, roasted, grilled or “broasted”.
Asabea’s Kitchen is a modern-day solution to what used to be known as a local “chop bars”, where the tastiest local cuisine could be found, albeit not always in the most hygienic of conditions. At Asabea’s you can sit and sample the best of tasty Ghanaian local dishes under clean hygienic conditions at affordable rates. Within 5 minutes walk from your room.
Asabea's kitchen
Unnamed RoadAsabea’s Kitchen is a modern-day solution to what used to be known as a local “chop bars”, where the tastiest local cuisine could be found, albeit not always in the most hygienic of conditions. At Asabea’s you can sit and sample the best of tasty Ghanaian local dishes under clean hygienic conditions at affordable rates. Within 5 minutes walk from your room.
Literally round the corner from your flat if you are in Carlton House or Carlton-On-Troas, Wonder Wings gives you a taste of Southern Fried chicken wings with a Ghanaian spicy twist. It operates out of a small joint where you can sit on bar stools and eat, or opt for take away. Wonder Wings also offer home delivery services.
Wonder Wings Osu
Ogbamey StreetLiterally round the corner from your flat if you are in Carlton House or Carlton-On-Troas, Wonder Wings gives you a taste of Southern Fried chicken wings with a Ghanaian spicy twist. It operates out of a small joint where you can sit on bar stools and eat, or opt for take away. Wonder Wings also offer home delivery services.
Yes, Yes, Yes! This is unquestionably the closest you would get to top quality, authentic, Bangkok street food in Accra! You are assured a great culinary experience at Zion Thai, with cold beers, ciders, shakes or teas as you observe the street activity from the safe height of a balcony terrace. A choice within walking distance of wherever your flat is, whether Carlton Lodge, Carlton House or Carlton-On-Troas. Mention “Charles” and you might even just get a decent discount!
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Zion Thai Restaurant
Mission StreetYes, Yes, Yes! This is unquestionably the closest you would get to top quality, authentic, Bangkok street food in Accra! You are assured a great culinary experience at Zion Thai, with cold beers, ciders, shakes or teas as you observe the street activity from the safe height of a balcony terrace. A choice within walking distance of wherever your flat is, whether Carlton Lodge, Carlton House or Carlton-On-Troas. Mention “Charles” and you might even just get a decent discount!
Frankie’s is definitely a good place to eat with the widest variety of fast food and continental meals. Breakfast preparations are to the highest standard - full English, continental, and the widest array of croissants and bake. The restaurant and ambience is superlative. Frankie’s is within easy walking distance from your stays in Carlton House and Carlton-on-Troas. I highly recommend Frankie’s.
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Frankie's Foods and Rooms
Oxford StreetFrankie’s is definitely a good place to eat with the widest variety of fast food and continental meals. Breakfast preparations are to the highest standard - full English, continental, and the widest array of croissants and bake. The restaurant and ambience is superlative. Frankie’s is within easy walking distance from your stays in Carlton House and Carlton-on-Troas. I highly recommend Frankie’s.
As restaurants specialising in the preparation of local and foreign dishes go, Asanka is right up there with the best of them. It’s an old and established eatery in Osu that has maintained its standard over the years. Definitely try it out!! 👌
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Asanka Local International Chop Bar
Adzoatse StreetAs restaurants specialising in the preparation of local and foreign dishes go, Asanka is right up there with the best of them. It’s an old and established eatery in Osu that has maintained its standard over the years. Definitely try it out!! 👌
What can I say,…. Yup, Colonel Sanders got here before you, and is just a short walk away, in the Osu Oxford Street. If you feel like having a taste of his (not-so) secret recipe whilst in your stay with us, do give it a try. 👍
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KFC Osu
2 Oxford StWhat can I say,…. Yup, Colonel Sanders got here before you, and is just a short walk away, in the Osu Oxford Street. If you feel like having a taste of his (not-so) secret recipe whilst in your stay with us, do give it a try. 👍
For the best pizzas in town, check out Mamma Mia’s, - it’s owned and run by a warm, welcoming Italian/Lebanese chap who knows his subjects of Italian dough, cheeses and toppings exceptionally well. Mamma Mia’s is also well known for its seafood and continental cuisine. Great music, calm atmosphere and international crowd. Another must, that’s literally a minutes drive from your stay place.
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Mamma Mia Pizzeria
8th LaneFor the best pizzas in town, check out Mamma Mia’s, - it’s owned and run by a warm, welcoming Italian/Lebanese chap who knows his subjects of Italian dough, cheeses and toppings exceptionally well. Mamma Mia’s is also well known for its seafood and continental cuisine. Great music, calm atmosphere and international crowd. Another must, that’s literally a minutes drive from your stay place.
Another restaurant on the higher top end of food spots in vibrant Osu. With Italian cuisine at its core, this restaurants’ menu spreads beyond Latin preparations and offers many more continental culinary delights. A wonderful array of desserts await you, including their legendary and widely-known ice-cream, which customers travel from various far-flung parts and corners of the city for a taste of! Definitely give it a try, but remember not to leave home without your wallet! ☝🏾
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Pinocchio & La Piazza Restaurant (East Legon)
Jungle AvenueAnother restaurant on the higher top end of food spots in vibrant Osu. With Italian cuisine at its core, this restaurants’ menu spreads beyond Latin preparations and offers many more continental culinary delights. A wonderful array of desserts await you, including their legendary and widely-known ice-cream, which customers travel from various far-flung parts and corners of the city for a taste of! Definitely give it a try, but remember not to leave home without your wallet! ☝🏾
A great salad bar for the best in greens, veg, and healthy eating in a lovely atmosphere. A five minute cab drive away from your place of stay. Not exactly cheap, but affordable.
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Sunshine Salad Bar and Restaurant
H P Nyemitei StreetA great salad bar for the best in greens, veg, and healthy eating in a lovely atmosphere. A five minute cab drive away from your place of stay. Not exactly cheap, but affordable.
Ninano presents the best in Korean and Japanese cuisine in Accra in one location - only a few minutes drive from your stay place. The restaurant is located above ground, enclosed and well decorated and appointed air conditioned environment. Great food and wonderful staff. One definitely to go for!
Ninano Restaurant & Bar - Korean & Japanese Cuisine
Ninano presents the best in Korean and Japanese cuisine in Accra in one location - only a few minutes drive from your stay place. The restaurant is located above ground, enclosed and well decorated and appointed air conditioned environment. Great food and wonderful staff. One definitely to go for!
Peter Pan as you know it is in Osu if you should ever care for that all-too-familiar international taste in their pizzas and fast food preparations. Fast and good service all day long. 👌
Peterpan - Osu
6th StreetPeter Pan as you know it is in Osu if you should ever care for that all-too-familiar international taste in their pizzas and fast food preparations. Fast and good service all day long. 👌
Bondai is one of the newer higher end eateries in the Osu scene, specialising in Mediterranean and Japanese cuisines. The setting is pleasant and very relaxing. Remember however not to leave your wallet at home! ☝🏾
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Bôndai
52 Dadebu RdBondai is one of the newer higher end eateries in the Osu scene, specialising in Mediterranean and Japanese cuisines. The setting is pleasant and very relaxing. Remember however not to leave your wallet at home! ☝🏾
Le Magellan is simply exquisite European continental dining specialising in the tastiest of preparations in both seafood and carvery. On the expensive side but entirely worth it for spoiling yourself on the occasion - first and last days of your trip a good enough occasion. Within a five minutes drive from your place of stay. 👍
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Le Magellan Restaurant
101 Kinkawe RdLe Magellan is simply exquisite European continental dining specialising in the tastiest of preparations in both seafood and carvery. On the expensive side but entirely worth it for spoiling yourself on the occasion - first and last days of your trip a good enough occasion. Within a five minutes drive from your place of stay. 👍
Another good, solid joint for well prepared local cuisine and served in a clean, comfortable environment. Try their Banku & Grilled Tilapia, or their Groundnut Soup with Yam, or another favourite of mine - their Okra Soup with Tilapia. Affordable and well with every penny. They are closed evening, but great for lunch. Literally a stones throw from Carlton Lodge stayers, and two minutes drive for Carlton House and Carlton-On-Troas lodgers. 👍
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Mazera Restaurant
Okodan RoadAnother good, solid joint for well prepared local cuisine and served in a clean, comfortable environment. Try their Banku & Grilled Tilapia, or their Groundnut Soup with Yam, or another favourite of mine - their Okra Soup with Tilapia. Affordable and well with every penny. They are closed evening, but great for lunch. Literally a stones throw from Carlton Lodge stayers, and two minutes drive for Carlton House and Carlton-On-Troas lodgers. 👍
POMONA
13th LaneGreat food. Fine dining. Great ambience.
My favourite Chinese restaurant
A good place for great Chinese food and wishing walking distance for your stay place. Affordable and worth it.
Great Chinese food form lunch or dinner and within walking distance from your stay place.
Noble House Chinese
1st Kuku CrescentGreat Chinese food form lunch or dinner and within walking distance from your stay place.
My favourite restaurant for African food
Buka is unquestionably a sophisticated culinary experience in not just Ghanaian cuisine, but wider West-African cuisine as well. Some meal preparations are an actual fusion of the similar tastes from our various West-African countries and such an opportunity should not be missed by a visiting traveller living just a four minutes drive away. The restaurant is well presented and decorated, and has a great ambience. 👌
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Buka Restaurant Osu Accra
g7 10th StBuka is unquestionably a sophisticated culinary experience in not just Ghanaian cuisine, but wider West-African cuisine as well. Some meal preparations are an actual fusion of the similar tastes from our various West-African countries and such an opportunity should not be missed by a visiting traveller living just a four minutes drive away. The restaurant is well presented and decorated, and has a great ambience. 👌
Neighbourhoods
The neighbourhood of Osu has been described as the heartbeat of Accra. Osu was ranked in 2018 by Time Out Magazine as the 20th coolest neighbourhood in the World to visit. It’s the home and birthplace of the “Chale Wote Arts Festival” which has been of increasing fame.
The city of Accra is a coastal city, and Osu is historically one of the oldest, if not the oldest, of settlements of what later became Accra on the coast. The neighbourhood of Osu therefore monopolises (with its neighbours Jamestown and Labadi) the Atlantic Ocean coastline of main Accra containing its beaches, scenic spots and recreational activity.
Osu presents the widest selection and array of fast food, “pub grub", restaurant fine dining and nightlife that you can find in the whole of Accra. For this reason amongst others it holds the enviable title of being the pulse of the city. It is young, dynamic and vibrant and lies between “Old Accra” where you would find all the historic forts and castles and the more modern areas of The Ridge, Ringways, Labone, Labadi and Cantonments.
Osu is also the neighbourhood in closest proximity to Accra’s best beach - the Labadi tourist beach strip and where the city’s oldest 5-star Hotel is located. These are located just within a 5 minutes drive away from the neighbourhood.
Historical sites like the pre-colonial Christiansborg Castle, James Fort, Ussher Fort, the Lighthouse and the old relics of Jamestown are all within a stones throw and allow the tourist to visits several sites in a single day abiding traffic and the unavoidable delays met in the event of having to commute from anywhere outside the city’s triangle.
The Arts & Crafts Centre Market, the Africa Market and many others are all located in or just outside of Osu for a spot of African shopping.
The neighbourhood has its residential quarters where your place of stay is located, and is reasonably quiet and very well provided and equipped with social amenities and infrastructure. Being a major tourist area, the neighbourhood is very secure and well policed.
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Osu
The neighbourhood of Osu has been described as the heartbeat of Accra. Osu was ranked in 2018 by Time Out Magazine as the 20th coolest neighbourhood in the World to visit. It’s the home and birthplace of the “Chale Wote Arts Festival” which has been of increasing fame.
The city of Accra is a coastal city, and Osu is historically one of the oldest, if not the oldest, of settlements of what later became Accra on the coast. The neighbourhood of Osu therefore monopolises (with its neighbours Jamestown and Labadi) the Atlantic Ocean coastline of main Accra containing its beaches, scenic spots and recreational activity.
Osu presents the widest selection and array of fast food, “pub grub", restaurant fine dining and nightlife that you can find in the whole of Accra. For this reason amongst others it holds the enviable title of being the pulse of the city. It is young, dynamic and vibrant and lies between “Old Accra” where you would find all the historic forts and castles and the more modern areas of The Ridge, Ringways, Labone, Labadi and Cantonments.
Osu is also the neighbourhood in closest proximity to Accra’s best beach - the Labadi tourist beach strip and where the city’s oldest 5-star Hotel is located. These are located just within a 5 minutes drive away from the neighbourhood.
Historical sites like the pre-colonial Christiansborg Castle, James Fort, Ussher Fort, the Lighthouse and the old relics of Jamestown are all within a stones throw and allow the tourist to visits several sites in a single day abiding traffic and the unavoidable delays met in the event of having to commute from anywhere outside the city’s triangle.
The Arts & Crafts Centre Market, the Africa Market and many others are all located in or just outside of Osu for a spot of African shopping.
The neighbourhood has its residential quarters where your place of stay is located, and is reasonably quiet and very well provided and equipped with social amenities and infrastructure. Being a major tourist area, the neighbourhood is very secure and well policed.
Cantonments is high end residential and home to the embassies, foreign missions and expat community of Ghana. It also has a fair number of its own fine dining restaurants, bars, pubs and places of nightlife entertainment.
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Cantonments
Cantonments is high end residential and home to the embassies, foreign missions and expat community of Ghana. It also has a fair number of its own fine dining restaurants, bars, pubs and places of nightlife entertainment.
Consigli per viaggiatori
Muoversi in zona
Ubers are the fastest and easiest ways of getting around
There are also local apps like “YANGO” which you should download and use as an alternative to Uber if you ever had the need. Taxis are the next best thing, but taxi drivers are sometimes not the most knowledgeable in terms of tourist destinations. Also when it comes to fares, Uber and YANGO have transparent fee charges.
Da non perdere
First Saturdays fair and bazaar
This is a bazaar that is held on the first Saturday of every month at the Department of Parks & Garden on Jawaharlal Nehru Road, in Cantonments. It’s an absolute treasure trove of well made local arts, crafts, jewellery, bric a brac and African wear and clothing. It’s starts from 9am in the morning and ends in the mid afternoon. Be sure not to miss this if you happen to be in Accra on the first Saturday of any month.
Usanze e culture
A few dont’s
1. Don’t use your left hand to shake, wave, gesture, take or give things with - it is still culturally considered as an insult because the left hand is the unclean hand. 2. Don’t shake hands with your palm facing the person receiving the greeting. A hidden palm is considered as mistrust. 3. When seated next to someone, it is considered disrespectful for the sole of your feet or shoes to be visible - careful therefore with the may you cross your legs when in company of others. 4. Ghanaians are generally very mild mannered and easy going - the rest you will pick up as you go along!
Prenota prima di andarci
Elmina Castle & Cape Coast Castle
1. If you happen to be in Ghana for longer than just a few days, then I would highly recommend a trip to Elmina and Cape Coast Castle. Elmina Castle was built in 1471 by the Portugese and changed hands between European nations over the centuries. It’s is known to be the oldest building of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, and was visited by Christopher Columbus during its construction and before he embarked on his voyage to find an alternative route to India. Give Frederick Mensah my tour guide a call- he is very knowledgeable and gives a great tour. 024 778 5898.
Cosa portare
Sneakers, slides, sun hat, jeans and cottons
Travel with bug repellant and sun lotion.