What to Expect
Ilala Lodge's restaurant sits on the edge of the Victoria Falls National Park, and reviewers regularly describe animals wandering past the tables while they eat. John (April 2026) had a ground-floor spot near the gardens where “we had hippos, elephants, and warthogs wandering right past us” within hours of arriving, and Diane (April 2026) called the food “exceptional & 5*” with birds, elephants, hippos and warthogs visible from the grounds during meals.
The kitchen covers breakfast through dinner with an extensive menu, and Wendy (September 2024) noted “great choices for breakfast and an extensive menu for lunch and dinner”. Stephanie (September 2025) found the restaurant “pretty good value” for delicious food, and a pianist plays most evenings, a detail Andrea (February 2026) called instantly soothing. Lance (July 2025) enjoyed the food but only heard about the carrot cake after checking out, wishing Lance had ordered it sooner.
Service is a constant theme across reviews, with staff members named individually, including servers Tanaka and Basil the longtime bartender. The restaurant sits inside the hotel at 411 Livingstone Way.
Quotes are from Google reviews, credited by first name and month.
The Menu
Menu photos
Prices change, so confirm when you order.
What Diners Say
from 998 Google reviews
★★★★★
We only stayed one night at Ilala Lodge Hotel—and that was our biggest mistake. We should have stayed longer. From the moment we arrived, the staff were exceptional—warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. It set the tone for what turned out to be a truly memorable stay.
★★★★★
Where to begin? From the time we arrived we were treated with kindness. Jane at the front desk did everything she could to make sure we were comfortable. She is an incredible host and I'm so grateful for her kindness and care.
★★★★★
Very comfortable rooms. Excellent poolside bar, great restaurant with a piano player in the evenings. Well kept grounds. Very tidy, and above all else very welcoming, helpful, attentive and friendly staff.
★★★★★
The rooms are sensational. Looking across the garden we saw baboons, mongoose, antelope and wart hogs. The property is conveniently located to Vic Falls.
★★★★★
Had a wonderful 2 night stay with the folks at Ilala Lodge Hotel two weeks ago. The reception staff were phenomenal and the activities office staff were great in dealing with the short notice questions and excursions of a solo traveler. Great food in the restaurant!
