Alright, pull up a chair. Let’s have a real talk about finding a hotel in Lagos. Because honestly, it’s a struggle I know all too well.You’ve seen the drill. You book a place online that looks like a slice of Miami. The pictures are all shiny floors and pristine pools. You get there, and the reality hits you. The “sea view” requires you to hang off the balcony and squint. The wifi password is more of a suggestion than a functional tool. And the generator… oh, the generator.
It becomes this throbbing, grumpy heartbeat to your entire stay. I’ve spent more nights than I can count listening to that sound, wondering if my room’s AC was about to give up the ghost.I was so done. Just completely over it.Then, my friend Chidi basically forced me. He said, “Just try PROOF Hotel. Stop suffering.” I grumbled. I complained. “Another overhyped spot,” I thought. But I was tired, and my usual place was fully booked.Guys. I walked into PROOF and my first thought was, “Wait, what’s that sound?”It was silence.Actual, beautiful, peaceful silence. No generator hum. No clanking pipes. Just… calm. I almost didn’t know what to do with myself. It was the first sign that I was in for a completely different experience.Let me break down for you why I’m officially a PROOF evangelist now.
1. The Simple Joy of Things NOT Breaking I’m not asking for a spaceship. I’m asking for a room where the lights work, the tap doesn’t scream when I turn it on, and the toilet flushes properly. Is that too much to ask? In Lagos, sometimes it feels like it is. At PROOF, everything just… functions. It’s weirdly liberating. You stop being a handyman and start being a guest. The peace of mind is priceless.
2. Little Touches That Made Me SmileThis is where they really got me. It’s the stuff you don’t even know you need until you see it. The art on the wall wasn’t the generic “brown blob on a beige background” you see everywhere. It had personality. I asked about one piece and the guy at the front desk actually knew the artist’s name and told me a little story about it. Who does that? The snacks in the room weren’t just the usual overpriced international candy bars. They had these little plantain chips and local peanuts. It felt thoughtful. The staff didn’t just say “hello.” They remembered I liked a table by the window in the restaurant. The second morning, it was just waiting for me. It’s that feeling of being seen, not just processed.
3. The Vibe is Just… Right.Some hotels in Lagos feel like they’re trying to be in a different country. Others are so deeply embedded in the chaos that you can’t breathe. PROOF, especially their restaurant, The Social, found the sweet spot. It’s cool and stylish but not intimidating. You can be in a suit or in jeans and a t-shirt and feel like you belong. The music is a perfect mix—good enough to groove to, but quiet enough to actually have a conversation. I found myself just hanging out there, working on my laptop, and people-watching. It felt like a proper neighborhood spot.
4. The Food. Let’s Get Into The Food.Hotel food is usually a punishment. Dry chicken, sad rice, the works.The food at PROOF? I’m still thinking about the jollof rice I had last week. It was that good. My friend is a vegetarian, and usually her options are “lettuce and a tomato.” But she had this amazing spiced vegetable and plantain dish that she wouldn’t stop talking about. And breakfast! The akara was fresh and fluffy, the eggs were perfectly cooked. You know how you can tell when food is made with care? Yeah, that. The Bottom LineI’m not easy to please when it comes to hotels.
I’ve been burned too many times. But PROOF? It just gets it. It feels like it was built by people who have actually suffered through bad hotel stays themselves and decided to fix it.It’s not just a place to sleep. It’s a place that actually makes your trip to Lagos better. Less stressful. More enjoyable.So, if you’re scrolling through options right now, tired of the same old promises, just do it. Book PROOF.
Your future self, well-rested and well-fed, will thank you.No go fall my hand! Just try it and see. And when you do, tell them I sent you… they won’t have a clue who I am, but it’ll be a funny moment for both of us
