Ouidah is a small town and the restaurant scene reflects that — there are no high-end dining destinations, but several reliable spots serve good Beninese cooking. Look for pâte (a thick maize porridge), grilled fish from the Atlantic, poulet bicyclette (free-range chicken), and the spicy sauce arachide (peanut sauce). The Afro-Brazilian heritage is still visible in dishes like feijão and acarajé, brought back from Bahia by returning families in the 19th century.
A handful of small Lebanese-Beninese cafés near the main square serve sandwiches, chawarma, and cold drinks at modest prices.