Bars & Restaurants In The Gambia
The Gambia is a developing country and the tourist industry is developing at a rapid rate. Atracted by this developing tourist industry, restaurants and bars to suit all tastes and budgets abound. Many nations are represented in the restaurant trade here. Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, German, French, Italian, English and, of course, Gambian.
Local bars and restaurants are plentiful in Gambia and have a tendancy to be cheaper than the many European owned bars, although the European owned bars tend to be livelier.
The Labato Bar / Restaurant
Budget accommodation almost on the beach. Access is along
a winding road over a hill at the junction of South Atlantic
Road and Kairaba Avenue. Accessible by taxi or a five minute
walk over the hill. The other access, of course, is from
the beach. Accommodation is reasonably priced and situated
in grounds away from the bar / Restaurant area accessed
from the beach. Run by an English guy who seems to spend
his entire life fishing, friendly enough though.
The Mango Tree
The Mango Tree is a bar / restaurant situated near Kololi.
Transport runs from SeneGambia to Serekunda and passes here
every few minutes during the day, although less frequent
late evening, but private taxis are always around. To SeneGambia
or Serekunda or anywhere along the route, ie, Palma Rima
Hotel (For the beach) £0.15 ($0.20) The Palma Rima is a
15 minute stroll from The Mango Tree and the beach a further
5 minutes. Although I have never stayed here, I understand
it is owned and run by an English couple, the accommodation
is good, the food is excellent and guests are made welcome.
There are plenty of other bars and restaurants within easy
walking distance.
Luigi's Restaurant
Situated towards the beach from the Palma Rima, Luigi's
is known throughout the Kombos area. Not just for the fine
Italian and English food, but also for the excellent accommodation
at the rear. Accommodation is comprised of double rooms
or three roomed apartments with a breakfast bar and hot
plate in the lounge, comfortable bedroom and a clean toilet
and shower. The maid will also do your laundry for a small
charge. The restaurant is quite remarkable with a fountain
inside and there is also the rooftop tables for those warm
nights. Luigi and his wife Julie will make you most welcome,
as will all the staff. A 1 minute walk will have you on
the beach where solomon's bar - restaurant will tend to
your needs whilst you soak up the sun. The only complaint
I have about Luigi's, not enough accommodation. It really
is important to arrange your accommodation before arriving
in The Gambia. TEL / FAX: 460282.Julie deals with accommodation.
Sambou's Bar & Restaurant
In Bakau near Cape Point and opposite the Palma Rima Hotel.
Offers good, clean accommodation at a reasonable price.
I've never stayed there but it's well spoken of by those
travellers that have. The one in Bakau offers more to those
that enjoy a bit of night life. whereas Sambous' near the
Palma Rima is better for the beach. Both have excellent
transport connections to Serekunda, Banjul or Fajara.
Marie's Pub
on the Cape road, Cape point, is quiet with tables inside
and outside, is more interesting than sitting inside a tourist
hotel, and only a short stroll -approximately 10 minutes
- from the hotels in the Cape Point area.
The Tropic Smile
on is a 10 minute stroll from Marie's Pub, and you will
pass another bar on the way, if you need to rest. Situated
on Atlantic Road Bakau, next to Bakau Market, has always
been popular, both with the locals and the tourists. Tables
outside at the front or in the back garden. Inside bar with
a pool room.
Kumba's Bar
is just a 3 minute walk down the road from the Tropic Smile.
Tables inside and outside at the front. Can become quite
lively as the night goes on. Not a place to go if you want
to be alone.
The Podium
is inside Bakau, close to the cinema, is another bar that
only comes to life later at night. The hustlers can be a
bit too much sometimes. It is not reccommended that you
go here alone unless you are familiar with Bakau.
Wheels
is a lively bar situated on Kairaba Avenue at Fajara. Sadly,
no tables outside, but you do have a choice of the bar area,
or a quieter room where you can catch up with the latest
news on CNN.
Kairaba Avenue
This avenue runs from Fajara, all the way to Serekunda.
At the Fajara end of the road, in the same vicinity as Wheels,
there are a variety of bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
If every single one was listed here, the information would
be out of date before you arrived in The Gambia. Such is
the pace of development.
Kotu
The area around the Kombo Beach Hotel and the Bungalow
beach Hotel, (BB) has only the one nightclub, (Belingo's)
However, in the area of the craft market, there are a couple
of restaurants, in which local bands often perform in the
evenings. Roots Manding perform here once each week.
The Amsterdam
he name says it all. A lively dutch Bar / Restaurant along
the road from the Palma Rima towards Serekunda. Local transport
can be found at the junction close to the Palma Rima. Just
tell the driver where to drop you off.
SeneGambia
The area immediately outside the Hotel SeneGambia and the
Kairaba Hotel contains so many bars and restaurants that
it is much better just to leave your hotel and wander around.
There is something to suit everybody's taste.
Serekunda
Serekunda has some of the cheapest bars in The Gambia.
In 1998 you could find a small beer for £0-40 ($0-60) in
many of the local bars. The same beer in the tourist areas
would cost you £0-60 ($0-90) or in a tourist hotel £1-00
($1-65). Quite a difference. Serekunda never seems to sleep
and it's an interesting place to see in the evening. The
only advise I can give is, don't go alone, don't keep valuables
in loose pockets, don't carry a handbag. A bum bag under
a tee-shirt is the safest way to carry money. All bars are
in busy areas so the chances of meeting a mugger are extremely
small. Well worth a visit.
Banjul
