Forget the dancefloor, the real action in Nigeria’s nightlife scene is happening in front of the bathroom mirror. Across Lagos, Abuja and even conservative Kano, clubs and lounges are discovering that their restrooms are no longer just functional spaces — they are revenue drivers.
According to AFP the trend found that owners are investing in marble walls, floral wallpaper, oversized mirrors and chandeliers, all with one goal in mind: to turn bathrooms into selfie factories. In a city like Lagos, where image is everything, a photo taken under the right lighting can do more to attract new customers than a billboard.
Zaza, one of Lagos’s most flamboyant lounges, has taken things a notch higher. Its restroom comes with multiple mirrors for different angles, lush wallpaper and even a champagne button , press it, and a complimentary glass appears through a window. “The décor plays a huge role, especially for Nigerian ladies,” said Johnny Franjeh, assistant general manager. “We try to attract as much as we can.”
And it works. When Rococo, another upscale spot, posted a photo of its chandelier-decked bathroom before launch, the club was swamped with over 200 booking requests within hours. Many assumed the restroom was the actual venue. “We invented that trend,” boasts Rococo’s CEO, Ghada Ghaith.
For influencers, the restroom is now the first destination of the night. “I quickly go to the restroom with my friends so I can take pictures,” said Instagram personality Comiebarbie, who has more than 100,000 followers. Each photo becomes free promotion, multiplying a club’s visibility with every repost.
Even in Kano, where nightlife is more restrained, lounges like Antika have joined the arms race, installing tropical wallpaper and flattering lighting to keep patrons posing. The outfits may be modest, but the ritual is the same: mirror, pose, post.
