Country Lodge Hotel

Hill Station rises above Freetown on Sierra Leone's Atlantic coast, and The Country Lodge Hotel sits at one of its highest points. Built in 2003, the hotel occupies ground once used for colonial administration, a district now given over to hotels, clubs and embassies. The sea is visible from most of the 51 rooms and suites, which range from a compact standard room to the Royal Suite at over 700 sq ft. Each has air conditioning, Wi-Fi and a private balcony. Two swimming pools sit among the grounds, along with a tennis court, a gym and a children's playground. Terrace 51 serves sushi and cocktails on an open-air deck with hillside views; Eden Restaurant covers local, Asian and Lebanese dishes for breakfast and lunch. Conference rooms and event space take business and diplomatic groups, a role the hotel has held since the 2000s. From the terrace, you can watch the sun drop into the Atlantic while the city lights come up below. It is a working hillside address as much as a scenic one, with Aberdeen and Lumley beaches a short drive down the slope. Rooms are quiet at night, cooled by the altitude rather than closed windows. Airport transfers and secure parking are standard, and the front desk runs around the clock.