Ngala Lodge Restaurant

Ngala's restaurant has been rated among West Africa's top 50 for two decades, and a meal on its cliff-top terrace, watching the sun drop into the Atlantic, explains why. The menu changes with the daily market — expect grilled local snapper with lime-caper butter, or lamb with harissa jus — alongside a celebrated wine list and proper vegetarian and vegan options. It's fine dining without stuffiness, the sort of place that works for a special occasion or simply a long, lingering dinner with a view. Reckon on around £35 a head, very fair for the cooking and the setting, and book at least a day ahead, as the terrace tables go quickly in high season. Open to non-residents as well as hotel guests, it draws a loyal crowd of expats and visitors alike. For the best sunset dinner on the Gambian coast, this is the one.