Maquis a Bamako and other Mali Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: Chez Bolomey aka chez Kadia.

A small resto located in Badalabougou, on the south side of the river. The food is good and cheap, Kadia ,the owner is very friendly. At 8 in the evening,as she is part of the local "feed the children effort", about 40 local kids come around for a bit of food that she hands out. A good chance for you to do your bit as well as 20000 cfa buys a sack of rice that feeds these kids for a month!!!!. She also runs a concession across the road where the kids sleep at night.
Very close for anyone staying at the Catholic mission in Badalabougou.
Omelette or capitaine with fries around 5$ including a coke and coffee.

Update from visit in January 2009 - The restaurant has expanded giving more seating in slightly more comfortable surroundings.

Favorite Dish: I loved the braised Capitaine

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Theme: Local
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 00 223 76 30 16 99
Address: no. 21 rue 132 Badalabougou Bamako
Directions: After crossing the Pont des Martyres, turn right at first traffic lights and follow this road for 1 1/2 kms. Situated on the right between the 2 mosques along this road.

Restaurant Name: chez Sigui

Probably the best meal we had in Mali. Well prepared, well served and not too expensive considering the reputation they have. We ate in the pleasant garden just steps from the Niger river.

Update since my trip in January 2009 - David Guindo, the owner died two years ago and to say the least the resto has gone to pot. There is a group of young boys trying to make a go of it and they deserve some support as the food is not bad at all. But I cannot say now it is the best meal in Mali.....

Favorite Dish: The Capitaine fish taken freshly from the river grilled on an open fire.

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Niger riverfront
Directions: about a kilometre eastwards from the dock area along the river.

Restaurant Name: Hotel - restaurant Teriya.

Stopped here for lunch on the road from Bamako up to Mopti. Nothing special but very friendly, nice atmosphere and very cold Castel to wash the dust down. There are rooms but I didn't see them. San also has a nice mosque that's worth the time to have a look at, not the same size as Djenné but in the same style.


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Theme: African
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (223) 37 21 07
Address: B.P. 18 San
Directions: Coming from Bamako, just as you enter San there is a fork where you take on the right, and it's just along there on your right.

Restaurant Name: Restaurant Yonki Lingun.

This is the second time I've eaten here and it's not bad at all. Very friendly welcome and cheap as well. After being dry practically all the way through Mauritania, it's good to know you can get nice fresh bottles of Castel, the local brew, from the maquis next to the restaurant. Just ask the serving person to get you some or one of the local kids who always seem to be hanging around here.

Coucous or chicken with rice is around 1500 - 2000 cfa.


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Theme: Local
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 00 223 2254 03 94
Address: Centre of town.
Directions: Situated in the old campement in the centre. All the kids know it.