Willy's Bar & Restaurant — Gambian / Grills, Banjul
Willy's is the kind of place that exists in every African capital city and that every guidebook either misses or gets wrong. It is not trying to be anything other than what it is: a neighbourhood bar and grill that serves the community it belongs to, at prices the community can afford, with the hospitality the Smiling Coast is named for.
The grill produces chicken — whole, half, and quarter — rubbed with a house spice blend and cooked over coals until the skin chars and the fat renders. It arrives with fried plantain, coleslaw, and a piment sauce that should be applied with initial caution and then increasingly liberal confidence.
The Julbrew on draught is as cold as the refrigerator allows, which is very cold. The rounds arrive without asking once the first glass is placed. The music is always on — Afrobeats, mbalax, or Gambian kora music depending on who controls the speaker.
Willy himself is usually present and usually opinionated. He has views on the Gambian national football team, the government's recent policy decisions, and the correct way to cook chicken that he will share without invitation. His restaurant is better for it.
Best Occasion: Great for Birthdays
A full bird off the grill, a full table, cold Julbrew, and Willy's commentary on everything. The most alive evening in Banjul for those who understand that celebration needs no ceremony.
Best Occasion: Perfect for Solo Dining
Willy's welcomes the solo traveller without condescension or curiosity. A stool at the bar, a cold beer, and the grilled quarter-chicken is the correct order. The evening will develop from there.