Zen Café Lagos Review: Prices, Food, Ambience & Service

Zen Cafe Exterior

Zen Cafe (Lekki Phase 1, Lagos)

47B, Adebayo Doherty, Lekki Phase 1 | Instagram | Phone

If you’re constantly on the lookout for aesthetically pleasing cafés in Lagos with good food and a relaxing atmosphere, Zen Café is likely already on your radar. From some Instagram-worthy corners to a calm, minimalist vibe, it’s one of those spots that promises both experience and taste.

Lately, we have seen several cafes springing up from different corners in Lagos, and we love to see it, but is it actually worth your money? That is why you have me. Like many of you, you may have already seen a viral reel of Zen Cafe featuring Mr Bayo, who said they had the best Croissants in Lagos and Nigeria.

Ah well, I visited Zen Café to find out if that is true and here’s a detailed, honest review covering everything from ambience to pricing and customer service.

Zen Cafe Exterior

Location & Overall Vibe

Zen Café leans heavily into its name. The environment is calm, soft, and intentionally designed to feel like an escape from the usual Lagos hustle. Neutral tones, clean decor, and natural lighting make it a perfect spot for:

Casual brunch dates
Solo outings
Catch-ups with friends

It’s the kind of place where you can sit for hours without feeling rushed. It is a very small space that can seat maybe 12 people at a time, and the limited outdoor seating I’d not advise because of the current heat wave in Lagos and the flies. When we arrived, it was quite packed inside so we had to sit outside.

Zen Cafe Interior

What We Ordered (With Prices)

Here’s everything we tried during our visit:

Flavoured Iced Coffee — ₦7,500
Banana Cake — ₦2,500
Caesar Salad — ₦16,000
Chapman — ₦6,000
Croissant — ₦2,950

The menu is a typical cafe menu which has light bites and breakfast classics, pastries and snacks

Iced Caramel Coffee

This was disappointing and was just alright. It was too milky and could hardly taste the coffee. Would I order this here again? Unlikely

Flavoured Iced Coffee

Banana Cake

This was not great. It was really dry even though was served warm. Eating this was also a struggle and so tasted it and left the rest.

Banana Cake

Caesar Salad

One of the standout items. The salad was fresh and filling enough to count as a proper meal. The portion size was generous, and the overall quality was satisfactory. The parmesan slices could have been a bit fresher.

Caesar Salad

Chapman

A classic drink that Zen Café executed well. It was refreshing and nicely balanced, though fairly standard. Nothing groundbreaking, but definitely enjoyable.

Chapman

Croissant

This was easily one of the highlights of the visit. However, it did not feel like a Croissant per se which should be flaky on the outside but it was indeed light, buttery, very soft and fresh. It paired perfectly with the iced coffee and is something I’d go back for.

Croissant

Customer Service Experience

This is where Zen Café truly stood out. There was an issue with the Banana Cake, and when they were packing up, they asked if everything was okay, and I said no it wasn’t, and instead of brushing it off, the staff handled it professionally and attentively. They listened, apologised and went a step further by offering a complimentary drink on the house.

That kind of service makes a big difference. It shows they value customer experience and are willing to correct mistakes, which instantly elevates the overall impression of the café. So perhaps I will be back to give them another try. You can see the menu for Zen Cafe here.

FOODIE IN LAGOS RATING: 6/10

Zen Cafe Summary

	Ambience	Cozy and minimalist with a nice aesthetic, but can feel cramped when busy
	Food Quality	Croissant and salad were good, but iced coffee and banana cake fell short.
	Location	Easy to find in Lekki Phase 1, though limited seating affects comfort during peak times.
	Price	Flavoured Iced Coffee ₦7,500 Banana Cake ₦2,500 Caesar Salad ₦16,000 Chapman ₦6,000 Croissant ₦2,950 Total: ₦34,950
	Service Delivery	The staff listened, apologised, and even offered a complimentary drink