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VISIT – TERROU-BI: THE SPIRIT OF TERANGA (Senegal)
On the Dakar coast, the resort offers tailor-made services to local and international business and leisure guests ; its expertise led the IOC to choose it as the base camp for the next Youth Olympic Games, which will be held in Dakar in the summer of 2026. |
Category: Africa Indian Ocean - Senegal - Industry economy
- Gourmet restaurants
- Gourmet restaurants - Renovation / Addition
Article written by Guillaume Chollier on Wednesday 27 August 2025
 Terrou-Bi is located on the corniche of Dakar, facing the sea.
Photo credit © Terrou-Bi
Twelve years later, a 112-room luxury hotel stood on the Dakar coastline facing the ocean, on a five-hectare site. Three months after opening, it already had an 80% occupancy rate. Such was its success that in 2014, the resort was extended to 165 rooms. Well suited to both families and MICE, Terrou-Bi has established itself as the luxury resort of choice in Dakar. What's more, from its marina, the hotel offers excursions to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gorée Island and big game fishing trips without having to leave the property to reach the port of Dakar.
Having been chosen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host its base camp during the 2026 Youth Olympic Games and with a second extension currently under construction, the Journal des Palaces visited this flagship of the hotel industry in Senegal. It is an establishment where teranga, a Wolof term that encompasses the values of hospitality, sharing and solidarity, is not just an empty word but guides the entire team in their daily work.
From the moment they arrive at the entrance to Terrou-Bi, visitors enjoy the hospitality and warmth of the Senegalese welcome provided by the staff: broad smiles, a word of welcome, luggage assistance... Everything is perfect. The lobby, located on the first floor above sea level, is bathed in light thanks to huge glass panels that allow guests to admire the outdoor vegetation and the hotel's private beach. A business area with a small bar allows business guests to chat in complete privacy, away from prying eyes. ‘This lobby will undergo renovations and will be enlarged,’ explained Samir Rahal, general manager of the Terrou-Bi group, to the Journal des Palaces. It will be completed next October.
Comfortable, spacious and tastefully decorated rooms
The Terrou-Bi resort has 165 rooms spread over two wings. Various categories are available: ‘Comfort’, “Prestige”, ‘Business Suite’, ‘Panoramic Suite’ and ‘Presidential Suite’.
The Comfort rooms measure 32 m² and offer an elegant and warm atmosphere that showcases warm, contrasting colours and natural materials such as wood. They feature large bay windows that open onto the gardens or the sea, providing plenty of natural light.
More spacious at 45 m², the ‘Prestige’ rooms have a pleasant private balcony. Opening onto the gardens or the marina, its beach and palm trees, this outdoor space is accessible from a large bay window. These rooms also feature soothing cream and chocolate tones and a beautiful, well-appointed bathroom with a marble vanity unit with double sinks and a spacious walk-in shower.
The ‘Business Suites’ measure 85 m² and include a pleasant lounge with a large window overlooking the outside and a balcony. A guest toilet and a separate bedroom with en-suite bathroom equipped with a hydrojet bath complete the high-end amenities.
The three ‘Panoramic Suites’ each cover an area of131 m². They include a lounge and a dining room where you can entertain friends and guests during your stay. A large sleeping area completes this beautiful suite. Thanks to the balcony and huge bay windows, all these rooms enjoy exceptional light. Opening 180 degrees onto the Atlantic Ocean and the Madeleine archipelago in the distance, they feature a sleek and warm contemporary design, enhanced by noble materials such as wood, leather, and marble.
The ‘Presidential Suite’ is a luxurious retreat with ocean views. Refined and elegant, this 176 m² suite represents the ultimate in luxury on the Dakar coast. Comprising a living room, two bedrooms and a terrace overlooking the hotel's marina, it is ideal for weekends or family holidays.
The art of hospitality
Bu niam tégué, ku fékké ci nga is a Senegalese proverb that can be translated as ‘If the meal is served, everyone present is invited’. Indeed, in Senegal, meals are a time when sharing and conviviality take on their full meaning. And in this regard, Terrou-Bi offers a range of services that matches the quality of its hotel facilities.
On the ground floor of the establishment, facing the resort's private beach, the ‘Grain de Sel’ is where breakfast is served. Buffet-style, it features local specialities such as lakh, thiéré, thiakry and hibiscus jam. The Grain de Sel is also a lounge bar open all day, popular with business customers who organise meetings over snacks and refreshments.
Above the Grain de Sel, Terrou-Bi has just opened the Diamono. Inspired by Kissa, Japanese listening bars, this retro-chic venue is a showcase for Dakar's best mixologists, who offer alcoholic and non-alcoholic concoctions. Diamono also offers Boilermakers, a sophisticated combination of craft beer brewed in Senegal and a shot with more original and unexpected combinations. A wine and spirits list completes the offering at this elegant venue, accompanied by delicious homemade snacks such as the trio of akara or rissoles, Senegalese fritters filled with shrimp and candied peppers.
Facing the pool, the Terrasse welcomes guests in an exceptional setting overlooking the sea. A veritable institution in Dakar, this restaurant offers bistronomic cuisine with a local touch. Here too, everything is homemade, prepared in the complex's kitchens using raw ingredients. Under a wooden pergola, with the Madeleine Islands as a backdrop, no palate will be able to resist the beef tataki, tamarind sauce, dates and roasted almonds, the famous dibi, wood-grilled lamb served with jollof rice, thieboudienne, rice cooked with fish, tomatoes and vegetables, or the iconic poulet yassa. As for Sunday brunch, it is one of the most popular events in Dakar.
Also near the pool, the Solarium offers alcoholic and non-alcoholic refreshments to guests relaxing on deckchairs with soft mattresses.
Finally, in the Terrou-Bi casino, a 140-slot machine establishment integrated into the resort, the ‘Cube’ serves various refreshments, snacks, and Senegalese specialities: dim sum, Caesar salad, pizzas, thieboudienne, mafé yapp, lasagne and Soubédioune sandwiches.
A moment to yourself at the hotel spa
Moments of relaxation are also on the agenda during a stay at the Terrou-Bi, which has a first-class wellness area. The menu includes relaxing massages, hot stone massages and toning treatments, as well as prenatal and postnatal treatments. These are provided in a soothing atmosphere of soft lighting, accompanied by the comforting sound of water flowing from a small fountain and gentle music. The Grand Salon on the ground floor has three treatment rooms and a double treatment room. A jacuzzi and two hammams complete the offer. For deep well-being and intense relaxation, Renata França has developed a series of professional methods and treatments for the body and face. The Brazilian masseuse has developed a unique lymphatic drainage technique for Terrou-Bi clients. At the heart of this expertise is the perfect mastery of hand movements, adapted to each area of the body for a targeted and truly effective effect. Drain, soothe, decongest, plump, energise… All with power and gentleness.
Upstairs, a hair, manicure and beauty salon, which works with the Kérastase brand, offers a range of beauty treatments and an extensive programme of treatments carried out by qualified professionals.
Sports enthusiasts also benefit from special attention. A gym, located next to the spa, is open every day. Spread over two floors, it offers hotel residents and external members access to state-of-the-art, high-performance equipment. Here too, qualified coaches offer a tailored fitness programme. Tabata, cardio boxing, weight training, CrossFit and TRX sessions are among those available.
The number one venue for MICE in Dakar
According to Samir Rahal, the group's managing director, business customers account for between 80 and 85% of Terrou-Bi's visitors because the complex has everything they need. Located by the sea, the Espace Océan comprises six conference rooms that can accommodate around 40 people each. Opposite there is a 480 m² conference room that can be divided into three separate lounges, as well as a majestic reception room that can seat up to 250 people.
A new extension focused on business customers is under construction.
With these assets and its expertise, Terrou-Bi intends to take advantage of the tourism boom in Senegal. Dakar airport now serves major European cities such as Paris, Brussels, Madrid, Lisbon and Barcelona, as well as countries with major air hubs such as Turkey. But now the country also has direct connections to the United States, with Delta Airlines offering flights from New York and Washington. The Youth Olympic Games to be held in Dakar in 2026 are another opportunity that Terrou-Bi wants to seize, especially since it has been chosen by the IOC to host its executive centre.
As a result, a new extension, adjacent to the main building, is being built on the five-hectare site, representing an investment of over £30 million. This new wing, designed for business customers, will include 100 rooms, bringing the hotel's capacity to 265 rooms. These will include 91 comfortable 35 m² rooms, seven 120 m² suites and two 250 m² presidential suites with a 200 m² terrace and a private lift. This new space will also include a convention centre, a 250-seat amphitheatre, a divisible meeting room with a capacity of 350 people and two dining areas: one for individual breakfasts and one for groups.
Work is already well underway and will be completed in June 2026, on the eve of the Youth Olympic Games. ‘This new business-focused block will enable us to renovate the historic hotel, which dates back to 2008, thanks to its 100 additional rooms,’ said Samir Rahal, CEO of the Terrou-Bi group, who has undoubtedly inherited the visionary spirit of his father Kalil.
 Spacious and comfortable, Terrou-Bi's Prestige rooms offer a 45 m² surface area
Photo credit © Guillaume Chollier / Journal des Palaces
 With double sinks, marble countertops and walk-in showers, the bathrooms in the Prestige rooms are finished with high-quality materials at Terrou-Bi.
Photo credit © Guillaume Chollier / Journal des Palaces
 Opening onto a pleasant balcony, Terrou-Bi's Prestige rooms offer a unique view of the hotel's marina.
Photo credit © Guillaume Chollier / Journal des Palaces
 Thanks to its local specialities and refined menu, La Terrasse has established itself as a must-visit restaurant in Dakar.
Photo credit © Guillaume Chollier / Journal des Palaces
 With its waterfront location, La Terrasse offers its visitors a unique spot in the Senegalese capital.
Photo credit © Terrou-Bi
 With its swimming pool and private beach, Terrou-Bi appeals to tourists and business guests alike.
Photo credit © Guillaume Chollier / Journal des Palaces
 Terrou-Bi's spa offers a full range of treatments.
Photo credit © Terrou-Bi
 Terrou-Bi's wellness offering is complemented by a perfectly designed and equipped beauty salon.
Photo credit © Terrou-Bi
 State-of-the-art machines and qualified coaches await sports enthusiasts in Terrou-Bi's fitness room.
Photo credit © Terrou-Bi
 A large conference room, which can be divided, hosts MICE events at Terrou-Bi.
Photo credit © Terrou-Bi
 The establishment's gala hall can seat up to 250 guests.
Photo credit © Terrou-Bi
 With a view to the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, a new wing with 100 new rooms has been built at Terrou-Bi.
Photo credit © Guillaume Chollier / Journal des Palaces
 This new extension includes a convention centre, a 250-seat amphitheatre and a divisible meeting room for 350 people.
Photo credit © Guillaume Chollier / Journal des Palaces
 16. More than €30 million has been allocated to the expansion of the Terrou-Bi complex.
Photo credit © Guillaume Chollier / Journal des Palaces
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