ArchitectureAbidjan

Hôtel Ivoire

Sofitel Abidjan Hôtel Ivoire

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Designed by the Israeli architect Moshe Mayer and opened in 1963, it once had an ice rink, a cinema and a conference centre. It is now run by Sofitel and has a casino; a new renovation was announced in September 2026.

It was Houphouët-Boigny's showcase of the 'Ivorian miracle' to the world. Soon after it opened, The New York Times called it perhaps the most dazzling hotel in Africa. It rose and fell through the crisis years and reopened under the Sofitel brand in 2014.

CE QUE VOUS VERREZ · What you will see

A 25-storey white tower on the lagoon in Cocody, where national conferences, launches and weddings all take place.

POURQUOI · So what

It is still the nation's social stage: MASA and FEMUA launches, Art Week partnerships and foreign delegations all pass through.

SAVOIR-FAIRE · How to use it

When hosting senior guests, a drink here while talking about its era makes better conversation than any new hotel.

Asian and European parallelsLike Taipei's Grand Hotel: the national showpiece of an era.

Where to experience itCocody, overlooking the Ébrié Lagoon.

On these routes

A Day of the Ivorian Miracle