Black Diamond Hotel — Hotel in Lagos State

I'd give this place 4.9 stars overall. My family and I (2 adults, 2 kids, all foreigners) stayed in the family suite for a week just before Christmas in 2024, and we had an awesome experience. The big highlights of this place are the comfort, the size of the suites, the views of the water, the service, and the breakfast - all quite amazing. We'll definitely stay again. A few things to note:

The club gets loud at night, but the windows were high quality and blocked out most of the sound inside our room.

The air conditioning worked very well. The TV did not, the way the internet is set up and requires a login does not allow you to use the smart function on the TV - so, no netflix.

The reception and restaurant employees are great and can take care of whatever you need, we found them very accommodating and professional.

We had car service ordered almost every day, including airport transportation. 4 out of 5 days we had no issues at all, and the drivers on all days were professional.

The family suite is a big two-bedroom apartment, quite nice and comfortable. That said, the stove didn't work and there was no dishes, pots, pans, or silverware, so there is also not much reason to pay extra for a kitchen. If you get the family suite it is primarily to have the second bedroom and the balconies.

I did not use it, as I've got a local bank account, but it did look like the front desk had the capacity to accept international credit cards - really important if you are a visiting foreign tourist.

The pool is really nice, but the entire pool area seems mostly to be about photo shoots and not swimming, a bit awkward if you are with kids.

The bar at the pool doesn't allow you to put drinks on your room tab, so you have to bring cash or card with you to the pool. I've never experienced that before at any hotel anywhere in the world and is definitely something I'd recommend the hotel fix.

The reception prefers you to pay for your costs as you go, which is very much a normal thing for Nigerian business - as there is specifically a lack of trust between clients and businesses in the country in almost all situations. If you are not used to this it may seem strange to you.

The breakfast buffet is awesome. So good.

If we visit Lagos again, we'll definitely stay here. It's safe, secure, and close to everything you might...

Edited 12/29 with update: we got the fridge finally after making a big fuss. Issue persisted with payment at checkout. They charged my international credit card at check in for incidentals, which is quite standard and expected. What I did not expect was them telling me they would have to refund the unused portion of the deposit into a local bank account ( I don’t own one) or in local currency ( which is a huge inconvenience as I was leaving Lagos) rather than just refunding back to my original form of payment. The ladies at the front desk were super apologetic and it really isn’t their fault, but again, management should be ashamed of their ridiculous practices. I even requested a manager and they did not come out to even address my issue as they were on the phone. I guess more important than paying guests.

The hotel location is pretty central on the island and the room has a lovely view of the water but that is where the charm ends. This is obviously an old building and the infrastructure makes that quite obvious that timely upgrades have not been made to accommodate guests and to justify the price point, and it is absolutely horrendous that the management thinks it’s ok to keep things in such a state. The Wi-Fi kept dropping and we called IT multiple times to fix it and it got incredibly exhausting. The ac gave out and it required 3+ staff members to get it fixed. Fridge malfunctioned and still didn’t get a replacement. Asked for ice, and it never showed up. The shower stall also had what looks like mold (or tiling in need of caulking stat) which isn’t great. The tv wasn’t working and we needed to call IT to fix that as well.

We have three more nights here and I am so annoyed that we’re stuck here. We checked into this hotel after a few days at another lovely boutique hotel on admiralty road (google it if you want a fantastic alternative to black diamond or see my other reviews; name is a synonym for “boat”) and honestly considering checking out and heading back there...

I had the pleasure of being on the 13th floor. The view from my room was absolutely breathtaking! Waking up to the sight of the city skyline and the shimmering waters in the distance was a highlight of my stay. It was the perfect backdrop for both relaxation and productivity.

The service at the hotel was top-notch. From check-in to check-out, the staff was courteous, professional, and always willing to assist. I was particularly impressed by their prompt response to requests, which made my stay even more comfortable.

Now, let’s talk about the food, one word: delicious! The hotel’s restaurant offers a fantastic variety of local and international dishes, and every meal I had was well-prepared and flavorful. Whether it was breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the quality and taste never disappointed.

However, one thing that stood out (and not in a good way) was the state of the interior. While the hotel still exudes a certain charm, it’s clear that the facilities have seen better days. The furniture, carpets, and even some fixtures in the room and hallways are beginning to look outdated and in need of an upgrade. A little renovation here and there would make a world of difference in maintaining the hotel’s reputation as a top-tier destination. Their WiFi is terrible 😔, don't depend on it.

Overall, my stay was splendid, and I would definitely return. The views, service, and food were exceptional, but I do hope the management invests in refreshing the interior soon. With a little facelift, this hotel could easily be one of the...