Kigali Province, Rwanda Food Guide: 10 African food Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Kigali

October 2, 2019 Merry Kessler

Discover Restaurants offering the best African food in Kigali, Kigali Province, Rwanda. Inhabited since the 11th-century, what is now Kigali has been the home of Twas, Tutsis and Hutus. The city sits on a series of verdant ridges and lush valleys, and has a Muslim Quarter and a bustling market. Rwanda's capital is the site of battles that left over a million, mostly Tutsi and moderate Hutus, dead. Kigali Memorial Centre is a permanent memorial to 1994's Genocide, built on a mass grave where 250,000 are buried. Kigali City Tour Bus offers an excellent introduction to this now safe, friendly city.
Things to do in Kigali

10. Lavana

KG 28 Ave Kimihurura District, Kigali Rwanda Italian, African, Pizza, Street Food Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night, Drinks Delivery, Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Free Off-Street Parking, Television, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Free Wifi, Table Service, Live Music [email protected] +250 782 062 653 http://www.lavanarwanda.com
Lavana

Artisan-style pizza cooked in our beautiful wood burning oven. Menu also includes eclectic Street Food from around the globe as well as a few East African creations. Taco Tuesday & A Movie on Rwanda's biggest HD Screen in the dining room theater. Game Nig

Reviewed By _bgonzalez98

Me and my friends actually ran into one of the managers of Lavana while at an exhibition across town. They were selling slices of their pizza and we immediately knew we had to visit the actual restaurant. We do have to say, its the best Pizza you can get in Rwanda! Its new and open enviroment made it a great time when we stopped by for the Women's World Cup Final. Fantastic service, not that expensive drinks, and yes once again, amazing Pizza!

9. Heaven Restaurant & Boutique Hotel

29 No. 7, Street KN Kiyovu, Kigali Rwanda African, International, Fusion Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch Wheelchair Accessible, Delivery, Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Buffet, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, [email protected] +250 788 486 581 http://www.heavenrwanda.com/
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 1045 reviews

Heaven Restaurant & Boutique Hotel

Heaven Restaurant & Boutique Hotel is an American-owned, private, serene property opened in May of 2008 in the lovely neighborhood of Kiyovu. Started as a social enterprise to improve service levels in the hospitality sector and create employment, Heaven

Reviewed By TonyC870

We stayed at the lovely Heaven Boutique Hotel with our two adult children, while visiting Rwanda. The brainchild of Alissa Ruxin, and detailed in the book A Thousand Hills to Heaven with her husband, the hotel is a beautiful collection of lowing buildings on a lovely hillside overlooking Kigali. Beautiful plantings accent the grounds, and the rooms are stylish and comfortable, with decent beds and large bathrooms. Right next door is another boutique hotel owned by the Ruxins (with a pool that can be used by Heaven guests), and the Heaven Restaurant. The Restaurant is simply wonderful, with delicious local food expertly prepared, a lovely outdoor seating area with views over Kigali, and an inventive cocktail list. But the staff at both the hotel and the restaurant really make the place shine, from Ghislaine at the restaurant (and all the other waitstaff, who were charming, friendly, and efficient) to Claude who headed up the new activities desk and took us on a hike up Mount Kigali as well as a tour of the areas where local craftsman like Abraham Kang, an amazing local jeweler, ply their trade. This is a truly special place, and very few other places I have visited have made me (and my family) feel as welcome.

8. Chez Lando

201 St Kg, Kigali Rwanda African, Bar, International Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Television, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service, Reservations [email protected] +250 252 589 804 http://www.chezlando.com
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

3 based on 130 reviews

Chez Lando

Hotel Chez Lando offers two dining style choices: the Chez Lando barbecue grill or La Fringale French restaurant. African specialty dishes are available with a 1 day advance notice.La Fringale RestaurantLa Fringale is an alternative to the spiced up food

Reviewed By mezaco

Although hard to base a restaurant on one meal, I was disappointed by my order of Chicken and Chips. Despite the large portion size, there was almost no meat on the scrawny bony piece of chicken (perhaps the beef brochettes would have been better but I wanted a break from beef). I would rather have a smaller portion of higher quality food than this large portion of bland. And it also took a long time to arrive. Although disappointed by the food, on the positive side, the place has a popular local vibe and is a good option if you are staying in Remera area. I would perhaps recommend it more for a place to chat and relax over some beers than a place for a good meal.

7. Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant

Avenue Lac Muhazi - Kimihurura Remera, Kigali 250 Rwanda African, Ethiopian Lunch, Dinner, Late Night Seating, Serves Alcohol, Takeout, Reservations, Full Bar, Table Service +250 788 505 293 http://lalibelaethiopianrestaurantkigali.com
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 120 reviews

Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant

Reviewed By Sawmillbloke

The staff were welcoming and the service good. The prices are reasonable but the good was somewhat bland, with the injera not sharp enough, but a good meal was had at a good price.

6. africa bite

Kimihurura, Kigali Rwanda African Lunch, Dinner Seating, Serves Alcohol +250 788 685 184
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 91 reviews

africa bite

Reviewed By Marsehv

A small 'home' like based buffet restaurant. Nice service, ability to eat inside with two more private groups like rooms and on outside terrace. A number of nice drinks available and the buffet provides a selection of nice Rwanda local food. Overall simple but clean and great value for money.

5. Pili-Pili

303 St Kg, Kigali Rwanda African, European, Gastropub, Grill Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night, Drinks Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Buffet, Seating, Street Parking, Validated Parking, Television, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Digital Payments, Cash Only, Accepts Credit Cards, Ta [email protected] +250 788 585 800 http://www.pilipili.rw
Food
Service
Value
Overall Ratings

4 based on 269 reviews

Pili-Pili

Bistro - Lounge

Reviewed By QuikAg80

No public parks for children to play in Kigali. So Pili-Pili and Club Mambo and others fill the needA swimming pool (new extra charge for using) a sand playground and other toys for childrenDrink prices are reasonable, food is OK but not exciting, service is slowBUTa nice way to spend an afternoon with friends and let the children play

4. Fusion Restaurant

No 5 KN 29 Kiyovu, Kigali Rwanda African, International, Fusion Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinks Reservations, Seating, Serves Alcohol, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Outdoor Seating [email protected] +250 782 000 001 http://www.theretreatrwanda.com
Food
Service
Value
Overall Ratings

5 based on 91 reviews

Fusion Restaurant

Fusion Restaurant is located at The Retreat, the new luxury boutique hotel in Kigali featuring farm-to-table international fusion cuisine, top notch service and magnificent poolside seating. From the owners of Heaven, Fusion provides Kigali visitors with

Reviewed By Cindy M

Fusion is the upscale restaurant associated with The Retreat - a luxury boutique hotel that's far and away the best in Rwanda. Fusion offers an incredible dining experience: there's outdoor seating poolside and covered seating in case of rain. Both were mosquito-free, with beautiful lighting, an insane view of Kigali, and mild equatorial breezes. The service was friendly and efficient. We were offered refreshing, tea tree oil-soaked hot towels upon arrival, started with fresh local cocktails (expertly prepared by the #2 tennis player in Rwanda, no less), and ordered wine from a varied and sophisticated list with a South African bent. The meal started with unique amuse-bouches (broccoli-mint or squash-ginger soup!), and served a beautifully-plated 3 course meal, with a mix of Rwandan, Indian, and Mediterranean flavors.The American proprietors - Josh and Alissa Ruxin - greeted us warmly and told us a bit about their incredible story. They actually wrote a book about it, A Thousand Hills to Heaven, which is well worth the read.All in all, it was a world-class dining experience in the most unexpected place. If you're ever in Kigali, don't miss this.Thank you Cindy for the kind sentiment. Appetizing broccoli-mint and squash ginger soup at fusion is what we provide for all our guests and are glad you you enjoyed them too. It was a pleasure to hosting you.Hope you will come back some time.Best wishes,IgnaceGuest relations

3. Heaven Restaurant & Boutique Hotel

29 No. 7, Street KN Kiyovu, Kigali Rwanda African, International, Fusion Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch Wheelchair Accessible, Delivery, Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Buffet, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, [email protected] +250 788 486 581 http://www.heavenrwanda.com/
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 1045 reviews

Heaven Restaurant & Boutique Hotel

Heaven Restaurant & Boutique Hotel is an American-owned, private, serene property opened in May of 2008 in the lovely neighborhood of Kiyovu. Started as a social enterprise to improve service levels in the hospitality sector and create employment, Heaven

Reviewed By TonyC870

We stayed at the lovely Heaven Boutique Hotel with our two adult children, while visiting Rwanda. The brainchild of Alissa Ruxin, and detailed in the book A Thousand Hills to Heaven with her husband, the hotel is a beautiful collection of lowing buildings on a lovely hillside overlooking Kigali. Beautiful plantings accent the grounds, and the rooms are stylish and comfortable, with decent beds and large bathrooms. Right next door is another boutique hotel owned by the Ruxins (with a pool that can be used by Heaven guests), and the Heaven Restaurant. The Restaurant is simply wonderful, with delicious local food expertly prepared, a lovely outdoor seating area with views over Kigali, and an inventive cocktail list. But the staff at both the hotel and the restaurant really make the place shine, from Ghislaine at the restaurant (and all the other waitstaff, who were charming, friendly, and efficient) to Claude who headed up the new activities desk and took us on a hike up Mount Kigali as well as a tour of the areas where local craftsman like Abraham Kang, an amazing local jeweler, ply their trade. This is a truly special place, and very few other places I have visited have made me (and my family) feel as welcome.

Kigali Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Kigali

2. Repub Lounge

# 16 KG 674 St. Kimihurura, Kigali Rwanda African, Bar, Grill Lunch, Dinner, Late Night, Drinks Serves Alcohol, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Free Off-Street Parking, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Wine and Beer, Live Music [email protected] +250 788 388 333 http://republounge.com
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 374 reviews

Repub Lounge

Repub Lounge is a two-story restaurant and lounge boasting beautiful views, relaxed ambience, African cuisine, and live music. Ideal for large groups, date nights, and cocktail events. Repub Lounge: a must in Kigali.

Reviewed By selyoink

The vegetarian matoke stew was excellent. I ate here twice just so I could have the matoke stew again. Certainly a hip restaurant with westerners in Kigali.

The 10 Best Things to Do in Kigali, Rwanda

1. Lavana

KG 28 Ave Kimihurura District, Kigali Rwanda Italian, African, Pizza, Street Food Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night, Drinks Delivery, Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Free Off-Street Parking, Television, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Free Wifi, Table Service, Live Music [email protected] +250 782 062 653 http://www.lavanarwanda.com
Lavana

Artisan-style pizza cooked in our beautiful wood burning oven. Menu also includes eclectic Street Food from around the globe as well as a few East African creations. Taco Tuesday & A Movie on Rwanda's biggest HD Screen in the dining room theater. Game Nig

Reviewed By _bgonzalez98

Me and my friends actually ran into one of the managers of Lavana while at an exhibition across town. They were selling slices of their pizza and we immediately knew we had to visit the actual restaurant. We do have to say, its the best Pizza you can get in Rwanda! Its new and open enviroment made it a great time when we stopped by for the Women's World Cup Final. Fantastic service, not that expensive drinks, and yes once again, amazing Pizza!

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