Moya Kitchen

Lagos has no shortage of restaurants, but every now and then a new spot catches your attention before you even reach the menu. Moya Kitchen is one of those places. On Victoria Arobieke Street in Lekki Phase 1, it's a relatively new addition to the dining scene, serving a menu that brings together Nigerian-inspired flavours, familiar comfort food and contemporary influences. For us, the first thing that stood out wasn't the food, it was the space.

The interior is warm, neutral and understated: cream walls, natural wood, soft upholstered seating and touches of green throughout. Wooden tables with curved chairs, comfortable cream sofas and round woven green placemats add just enough colour without taking away from the calm. Large glass windows and sheer cream curtains keep it airy and full of light, and little details, dried florals on the tables, warm wall lights, statement artwork and herringbone wood floors, give it a warm, almost residential feel.

It's also genuinely intimate. Rather than long rows of packed tables, there are smaller arrangements, sofas and cosy corners that suit dates, catch-ups and small dinners, plus a bar tucked into the dining area so you can move from dinner into drinks without changing spots.

The menu is where the concept gets interesting. Alongside club sandwiches, burgers, spaghetti and meatballs there are dishes leaning into Nigerian flavour, like the Asun Penne Pasta (penne with spicy chopped goat meat, peppers and a rich tomato sauce), Asun Rice and Omisagwe. The drinks list is just as varied, with cocktails, mocktails, milkshakes and a full wine and spirits menu.