There’s something beautifully bittersweet about celebrating Thanksgiving thousands of miles from home. You miss the familiar, your mom’s stuffing recipe, the chaos of too many people in one kitchen, the sound of football in the background. But here in Lagos, you discover something unexpected: Thanksgiving isn’t about where you are. It’s about who you’re becoming and what you’re grateful for in this moment.
If you’re an expat, a business traveller, or a visitor finding yourself in Lagos this Thanksgiving, you’re not alone. And more importantly, you don’t have to choose between honouring tradition and embracing where you are right now.
The Gift of Thanksgiving Abroad
Let’s be honest, Thanksgiving away from home can be a bittersweet experience. You scroll through photos of family gatherings back home, and there’s this pull in your chest. But here’s what many expats discover: celebrating Thanksgiving abroad gives you permission to reimagine what gratitude looks like.
Maybe it’s gathering with other expats who understand exactly what you’re feeling. Maybe it’s inviting Nigerian friends to experience your tradition for the first time, watching their faces light up at pumpkin pie. Maybe it’s simply taking a moment on a Lagos beach at sunset, reflecting on the courage it took to be here in the first place.
That’s worth celebrating.
Honouring Tradition at The GoodLife
At SRS Collection, we understand that food is memory. It’s comfort. It’s home on a plate. That’s why The GoodLife Restaurant creates a Thanksgiving experience that honours American tradition while celebrating where you are, right on the Lagos waterfront.
Our Thanksgiving menu isn’t trying to be something it’s not. It’s a genuine, lovingly prepared feast featuring:
Perfectly roasted turkey with all the classics, stuffing made from scratch, cranberry sauce that strikes that perfect sweet-tart balance, and gravy that makes everything better.
Traditional sides include buttery mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and sweet potato casserole that tastes like home.
Pumpkin pie for dessert, because it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without it.
But here’s what makes it special: you’re not eating in some generic hotel ballroom. You’re dining with the Lagos waterfront as your backdrop, feeling the ocean breeze, hearing the gentle sound of waves. You’re experiencing Thanksgiving through a new lens, one that reminds you that gratitude can flourish anywhere.
Creating Your Own Thanksgiving Story
Whether you’re staying with us at Seattle Residence or Pier Harbour Residences, or simply joining us for dinner at The GoodLife, here’s how to make this Thanksgiving meaningful:
Start a New Tradition
This is your opportunity to create something entirely your own. It could be a morning walk along the waterfront before dinner. It could be calling home right after breakfast so you can be part of both worlds. Maybe it’s writing down three things you’re grateful for about your Lagos experience. Small rituals become cherished traditions faster than you think.
Share the Tradition
One of the most beautiful things about Thanksgiving abroad? You become an ambassador for gratitude. Invite your Nigerian colleagues or friends. Explain the traditions. Watch their curiosity and appreciation as they experience something meaningful to you. These cross-cultural moments create bonds that last far beyond a single dinner.
Connect with Fellow Expats
There’s something incredibly comforting about being around people who just get it. Who understands why you’re a little quiet today? Who knows exactly what you mean when you say you miss home, but you’re also exactly where you need to be. The GoodLife becomes a gathering place for those seeking both tradition and community.
What Makes a Lagos Thanksgiving Special
Here’s something that might surprise you: many expats tell us their most memorable Thanksgiving wasn’t at home, it was abroad. Why? Because when you celebrate Thanksgiving away from home, you’re not just going through the motions. Every element becomes intentional. Every moment of gratitude feels earned.
You’re grateful for the familiar meal in an unfamiliar place. For the people who showed up, whether they’re family by blood or by choice. For your own resilience in building a life somewhere new. For the adventure that brought you here, even on the days when adventure feels exhausting.
That’s the gift of Thanksgiving in Lagos: it strips away everything superficial and reminds you what the day is about: acknowledging where you’ve been, appreciating where you are, and being grateful for the journey itself.
Making It Happen
If you’re planning to join us for Thanksgiving at The GoodLife Restaurant, we recommend booking early. Our waterfront dining space fills quickly with expats, international visitors, and locals who’ve adopted this beautiful American tradition.
And if you’re travelling to Lagos specifically for business or leisure around the Thanksgiving holiday, our serviced apartments provide the perfect home base. After dinner, you can retreat to a space that feels like yours, spacious, comfortable, and peaceful. Watch a movie, call home with the time difference finally in your favour, or simply sit on your balcony and reflect on this unique chapter of your life.
The Bottom Line
Thanksgiving in Lagos won’t look like Thanksgiving at home. And that’s okay. Because this year, you’re building something new, a memory that’s uniquely yours, a tradition that bridges cultures, and a moment of gratitude that acknowledges both where you’re from and where you’re going.
You’ll taste familiar flavours against an unfamiliar backdrop. You’ll feel homesick and adventurous at the same time. You’ll realise that home isn’t just a place, it’s a feeling you can create wherever you are, especially when you’re surrounded by good food, good people, and the kind of gratitude that only comes from stepping outside your comfort zone.
This Thanksgiving, we’d be honoured to be part of your story. Whether you’re joining us for a traditional feast at The GoodLife or making our properties your home away from home, know that you’re not just another guest. You’re part of a community of people who understand that sometimes the most meaningful celebrations happen exactly where you least expected them.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at SRS Collection. May your gratitude be abundant, your turkey be moist, and your Lagos adventure be everything you didn’t know you needed.
Reserve Your Thanksgiving Experience
Contact The GoodLife Restaurant to book your Thanksgiving dinner or inquire about our holiday accommodation packages at SRS Collection.
