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Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa
Cotonou, Benin · Sofitel · High Luxury
The Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa opened in September 2024 on a 29-hectare Atlantic-facing park — the first five-star international hotel in Benin to open to a Michelin-starred chef. Georgiana Viou, who in 2023 became the first Black woman in France to earn a Michelin star (for her Nîmes restaurant Rouge), curated the menu at the hotel's L'Ami brasserie, bridging West African and French flavors. Located five minutes from Cotonou's international airport, near the Esplanade des Amazones and the historic slave-trade port of Ouidah.
- 200 rooms
- Opened 2024
- Neighborhood: Les Cocotiers
About Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa
- Chef Georgiana Viou — Cotonou-born, self-taught, and in 2023 the first Black woman in France to be awarded a Michelin star — returned to her hometown to curate the menu for L'Ami at this hotel, describing the project as building a bridge between West African and French cuisine using local Beninese ingredients.
- Benin was the heartland of the Kingdom of Dahomey (circa 1600–1894), which controlled the primary Atlantic slave-trade port at Ouidah — a town accessible as a day trip from the hotel; Ouidah's 'Route des Esclaves' and its Python Temple make it one of West Africa's most culturally significant historical sites.
- The hotel opened in September 2024 on a 29-hectare natural park within the city — an unusually large urban footprint — with 198 rooms, 14 suites, and 5 duplex suites with private pools, making it the largest and most comprehensively appointed luxury hotel in Benin.
History
Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa is the flagship luxury hotel in Cotonou, the largest city and economic capital of Benin in West Africa. Positioned along the Atlantic Ocean waterfront with marina access, the hotel caters to business travelers, diplomats, and international organizations active in the country. Benin's rich cultural heritage — particularly the Kingdom of Dahomey and its role in Vodun (Voodoo) religious traditions — gives the country a fascinating context for culturally curious travelers. The hotel's opening represented a significant upgrade to Cotonou's international hospitality standards.
The Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa opened in September 2024 on a 29-hectare Atlantic-facing park — the first five-star international hotel in Benin to open to a Michelin-starred chef.
Restaurants and bars
- L'Ami — Restaurant · Gourmet · Chef Georgiana Viou
- Corniche — Restaurant · Mediterranean
- Byblos — Restaurant · Asian fusion
- Vivo — Restaurant · Thematic cuisine (Indian, Mediterranean, Levantine, Asian)
- Muse — Restaurant
Experiences
- Sofitel Spa Signature by KOS Paris — Spa offering bespoke treatments combining French expertise and natural ingredients.
- Restaurant L'Ami — Gourmet signature restaurant; menu by Michelin-starred chef Georgiana Viou.
- Indoor Heated Pool — Heated indoor pool with sleek design and panoramic glass walls.
- Sofitel Fitness — Well-equipped fitness centre with expert trainers.
- Muse lobby bar — Chic lobby bar with cocktails, wines and live lounge music.
- Club Millésime executive lounge — Executive lounge on the 7th floor for Club Room and suite guests, with afternoon tea and evening cocktails.
Amenities
- Spa
- Indoor pool
- Sauna
- Fitness center
- Tennis
Awards
- MICHELIN One Key (2026)
- AHEAD MEA Event Spaces (2025)
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