Kigali, Rwanda· Kigali
Nearest park
Nyungwe Forest National Park
Rating
4.5 (432)
From
$200/ night
The Retreat by Heaven is Kigali's most distinctive boutique hotel, tucked into the leafy Kiyovu neighborhood on one of the city's characteristic hills with panoramic views across Rwanda's dynamic, rapidly modernizing capital. An extension of the beloved Heaven restaurant — long considered the best dining destination in Kigali — The Retreat delivers a hospitality experience that is as thoughtfully curated as it is warmly personal. The fourteen rooms and suites are individually designed, each telling a different story through Rwandan art, textiles, and craftsmanship. Rooms feature handmade furniture by local carpenters, imigongo wall art, Kitenge fabric accents, and modern amenities including rain showers, high-speed internet, and Nespresso machines. Suites add private balconies with cityscape views, living areas, and outdoor soaking tubs framed by tropical gardens. The hotel's crown jewel is its restaurant, which has anchored Kigali's burgeoning food scene for over a decade. The menu celebrates Rwandan ingredients through a contemporary lens — think grilled Lake Kivu tilapia with plantain puree, mountain honey-glazed duck, and passionfruit panna cotta. The rooftop bar, with its 270-degree views of the city's hills, is the place to be at sunset, where craft cocktails made with Rwandan gin and honey are served as the city lights flicker on. The Retreat is also a social enterprise, training and employing young Rwandans from disadvantaged backgrounds in hospitality and culinary arts. This mission gives every stay an additional layer of meaning, knowing that your visit directly supports Rwanda's next generation of hospitality professionals. The hotel's central location makes it an ideal base for exploring the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Inema Art Gallery, vibrant local markets, and the city's thriving coffee culture.
Award-winning Heaven restaurant
Rooftop bar with city panorama
Social enterprise training mission
Individually designed rooms with local art
Central Kiyovu neighborhood location
Rwandan craft cocktail program
Gateway to Kigali's cultural scene
WiFi
Restaurant
Rooftop bar
Laundry service
Airport transfers
Nespresso machine
In-room safe
Concierge service
Garden terrace
Event space
Heaven Restaurant is one of Kigali's top dining destinations, serving contemporary Rwandan cuisine with international influences. Highlights include fresh Lake Kivu fish, locally sourced meats, and creative vegetarian options. The rooftop bar serves craft cocktails, Rwandan coffee, and a curated wine list. Breakfast is an included hot and cold buffet.
Activities include visits to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Inema Art Gallery, Kimironko local market, Rwandan coffee tasting tours, city cycling excursions, cooking classes at Heaven's kitchen, and day trips to Akagera, Nyungwe, or Volcanoes National Park arranged through the concierge.
While Kigali itself is an urban destination, the hotel arranges excursions to nearby wildlife reserves. Akagera National Park (2.5 hours east) offers Big Five game drives. Nyungwe Forest (5 hours southwest) is home to chimpanzees and 13 primate species. Volcanoes National Park (2.5 hours northwest) provides mountain gorilla and golden monkey trekking.
Kigali enjoys a pleasant, spring-like climate year-round at 1,500 meters elevation. The dry seasons of June to September and December to February are the most comfortable for city exploration. The Retreat is an ideal overnight stop before or after gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
