Glass is the oldest neighbourhood in Libreville, settled by freed slaves from the British anti-slavery patrols in the nineteenth century and named (it is said) for the trader Glass. The streets are narrow, the houses a mix of old wooden bungalows and concrete infill, and the atmosphere is closer to small-town West Africa than to the polished waterfront.
A few historic churches and a small cemetery are tucked into the area. The neighbourhood is also home to some of the city's oldest cooked-food joints — ask a taxi for "Glass" and explore on foot from there.