The Retreat by Heaven

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.