Accra's best cafés and coffee shops

We’ve been impressed with the restaurant, so we had high hopes for the bakery, not least of all because it’s called Bread & Wine. This place couldn’t be more French unless the server sang La Marseillaise with every order. It’s as near as you’ll get to a true patisserie in Ghana. It’s best to sit and linger over your Le Monde with a croissant and double espresso, but you can take away as well. You’ll get your baguette, pain au raisin and doughnuts and a take away coffee. And fine it is too.

Iced cupcakes, golden pastries, crunchy baguettes and bulging paninis are the staple at this very European of cafés. From the humble sausage roll to a light and salty spinach and ricotta puff pastry, find a bevy of bakery favourites chalked up on giant blackboards behind the serving counter. DeliFrance’s piled-high trays of treats can certainly lay claim to being the real deal – they’ve all been prepared and frozen in France and shipped over for baking in Accra. Baguette fillings include into the likes of a bresaola, parmesan and olive oil baguette in this air-con-fresh pocket of calm.

On the same complex as Coco Lounge and Urban Grill, and from the same team, this excellent Vida e caffè is already very popular. Why? First of all they brew a very fine coffee (although the caffe gelado may be better in this heat), the staff are knowledgeable and friendly, and there’s a delightful array of sandwiches, pastries, muffins and Portuguese rolls. Yet the real appeal is the fantastic energy to the place. Accra take note. The pleasing décor has long benches, often of people tapping away on macs (guidebook editors among them) and an outdoor seating area. It wouldn’t be out of place on Shoreditch High Street, and the good news is that more will be opening soon.    Other locations Junction Mall: Nungua Junction (0242 100 908); Spintex Road, Finatrade building (0242 100 909); Accra City Centre, Independence Ave, AFC building (0242 100 907) (Coming mid June); Labone, Josiah Tongogara street (024100907) (Coming mid June).

This café serves light lunches and brunches. Sandwiches are popular, especially the calorific chicken, cheese, bacon and avocado version. Apart from sandwiches, the menu contains rice and chicken dishes, lots of salads, burgers and a breakfast menu. The all-natural fruit smoothies are also popular, and the salads make it a favourite for those that prefer a healthy approach to their lunch.

Everything at Café Dez Amis is prepared from high quality ingredients. Reasonable prices and its central location around many embassies make it popular, and when the president moves into Golden Jubilee House soon business should rocket. The service is casual and friendly. A great spot for a brunch in the breeze, a sunset supper or a long lunch with friends, having meetings with colleagues or absorbing a book by yourself. Café Dez Amis offers live music, usually on Sundays.