Afrikana Restaurant at The O2 — Restaurant in London

We recently had the pleasure of dining at Afrikana at The O2, and I felt compelled to share just how incredible our experience was — not only because the food was outstanding, but because the entire evening was truly memorable for our whole family.

We chose Afrikana to celebrate a very special occasion: my son’s 11th birthday. Like any parent, I wanted to make the day feel meaningful and joyful for him, and Afrikana exceeded all of our expectations in every way. From the moment we stepped through the doors, the energy of the place felt just right — vibrant, stylish, and welcoming, with a cultural richness that made it stand out from typical restaurants. You can tell that Afrikana puts a lot of thought into creating a unique dining experience that blends modern aesthetics with African-inspired warmth and creativity.

We were greeted with smiles by the front-of-house staff and quickly shown to our table. Even though the restaurant was busy — which is always a good sign — the service never felt rushed. Our server was incredibly attentive, patient with our questions, and genuinely interested in making sure everything was perfect for our celebration. They even took time to wish my son a happy birthday, which was a small gesture but meant a lot. It added that personal touch you don’t always get in restaurants.

The menu at Afrikana is diverse and filled with flavorful, Afro-fusion options that make choosing just one dish a real challenge (in the best way). Whether you're into grilled meats, bold spices, rich sauces, or vegetarian options, there’s something for everyone — and everything feels authentic yet contemporary. As a family, we all have slightly different tastes, but every single one of us walked away satisfied and impressed.

I ordered one of the signature grilled dishes, and it was bursting with smoky flavor, beautifully presented, and perfectly seasoned. The portion sizes were incredibly generous — no one left hungry! The sides were equally delicious; from the sweet plantains to the jollof rice, every bite was comforting and packed with character. My son was especially happy with his meal — and as it was his special day, that meant the world to me. The smile on his face throughout dinner made it clear that he was loving every moment.

But it wasn’t just about the food. The ambience of Afrikana added to the entire experience. The music playing in the background created an upbeat yet relaxed vibe, and the interior décor — with its rich colors, African art, and thoughtful lighting — helped to set the tone for what felt like more than just dinner. It felt like we were part of something vibrant and cultural. It gave us something to talk about, something to remember, and made the whole celebration feel elevated without being pretentious.

And then there was the birthday element. Although we didn’t request anything elaborate, the staff still made an effort to make my son feel special. They brought out a little surprise and made sure to check in throughout the evening. It wasn’t over-the-top, but it was heartfelt, and that’s what made the difference. In a world where customer service is often transactional, Afrikana offered a personal, human experience — and that alone would bring us back.

After the meal, we lingered a little longer, enjoying the atmosphere and taking a few family photos. There was no pressure to leave or rush out, which we appreciated. It gave us the space to truly soak in the moment and enjoy time together — something that's often hard to come by in a busy city environment.

To sum it all up: Afrikana at The O2 provided the perfect setting for a meaningful family celebration. The combination of delicious food, generous portions, a beautifully curated space, and genuinely warm service made this one of the most enjoyable restaurant experiences we've had in a long time. They made a young boy's birthday feel like a proper occasion, and they gave us a family memory we’ll treasure for years to come.

We will absolutely...

We dined here before a gig, just like many others visiting the O2, around 18:30. We had prebooked but it wasn’t necessary it seems, as the name wasn’t taken and we were shown to our table which was just being cleared.

The menu shown online is not representative of the actual menu available at this branch. Even then, no smoothies or similar were available, which was a significant portion of the limited drinks menu.

Service was slow. So slow that, at multiple tables, dishes and glasses etc were not cleared even after 30 minutes after diners had left. No effort was made to clean the tables or the restaurant.

We ordered some drinks. Note that tap water is NOT an option under any circumstances, bottle or nothing. It took 15 minutes to get drinks which were bottled. During this time, the “bar man” and staff member were chatting at the bar. Little effort was made to bring us our waiting drinks, so was forced to chase them up.

The food arrived. Whilst ours arrived almost at the same time, it was notable that others were not served together with their partners. The food was really good, better than the service would have otherwise indicated.

We paid, and left our table with all the dishes still there after multiple waiters passed us. I assume they didn’t get cleared for a long while after.

The thing is about this particular experience is that the key ingredient, the food, was really good. Its clear back of house do a great job and it deserves praise. But it is horribly let down by front of house. A contrasting menu to their own website, half the drinks not available, slow service, no tap water, dirty tables sitting for a long time. It has potential, and maybe this particular team weren’t good compared to others on the FOH team who work other nights. Who knows? If nowhere else is available at O2 on gig night, and you can risk the front of house service being less than good but the food be decent, then it’s an okay option. I just wish the owners would want to do better than okay.

(A point to the owners about “no” tap water. For me, that’s a red line. I get you want to make money, yet it’s one big factor causing me to decide not to go back to you. Which is a let down because your food was good! I hope you’ll reconsider for future diners, unfortunately it...

We had a table booked at Afrikaans Restaurant at the O2 for five people at a specific time, but unfortunately, we had to wait around 30 minutes before it was ready. When we were finally seated, there were still strawberries and bits of food on the floor from previous guests — a few of us even stepped on them, which wasn’t pleasant. We ordered the sharing platter and some drinks. The drinks were prepared far too early and left on the bar for around 20 minutes, with people constantly walking past them (a bit unhygienic). The food arrived nicely presented and smelled lovely, and the drinks were finally brought over a few minutes later by a different waitress — it felt like they’d been forgotten. The dry ice effect was a fun touch for the kids, but it was rushed and not handled with care. The food itself was tasty and full of flavour. The “whole chicken” was quite small, more like a half, and definitely not enough for a family of five. The lamb chops and wings were great, but the rice portions were tiny — more like single servings than something for sharing. For a sharing platter, I expected more generous portions. What really brought the experience down was the overall organisation and environment. The table area was cramped; I was hit twice on the head by someone passing behind me, and it seemed everyone was squeezed in too tightly. The music was very loud, people were shouting over each other, and it felt chaotic. Desserts were disappointing — only two options available, and when I asked what gelato flavours they had, I was told “only chocolate.” We ordered four desserts which arrived with completely melted vanilla ice cream on hot plates — honestly unappetising. Staff should know better than to serve ice cream like that. To top it off, a service charge was automatically added to the bill (which I don’t agree with — this isn’t the USA). I’m happy to tip, but only after good service. Lastly, the toilet was in a terrible state — only one available, with paper all over the floor and urine on the seat. The food was good, but the hygiene, organisation, and atmosphere need serious improvement...