Heaven Restaurant and Boutique Hotel is a small, locally owned hotel with 28 rooms across two properties on a quiet residential street in Kiyovu, close to downtown Kigali. It is known for its restaurant, which serves international dishes with Rwandan and African flavours, uses produce from local farmers and has its own organic garden for herbs and lettuce. A second restaurant, Fusion, offers fine dining. The grounds include a solar-heated salt-water swimming pool, tropical gardens with views over Kigali, an outdoor yoga deck, a fitness centre, a hot tub and massage and skincare services, and rooms are decorated with local Rwandan art and crafts. The hotel says it works to develop Rwanda's most important resource, its people, through ethical sourcing and by training hospitality staff, and it has invested in staff development since 2008.
Location and getting around: Heaven sits on a quiet street within easy reach of downtown, so you can reach the centre quickly by taxi or moto but sleep away from traffic. Operators can collect you from the hotel for gorilla, Akagera and city tours, and the hotel can help arrange them. The setting is residential, so expect a calm night.
Rooms and who it suits: with only 28 rooms, service is personal and the atmosphere is relaxed. Suites and superior rooms add space, and the garden pool is a lovely place to recover after a trek. It suits couples, solo travellers and anyone who wants a smaller hotel with real character and a story to tell. Families can stay, but the hotel is quieter and less geared to children than the large hotels.
Good to know: the restaurant is a destination in its own right, so dine in at least once. Because rooms are limited, reserve early for peak months. The property spans two buildings, so ask which wing your room is in. The price sits in the middle of the Kigali range, usually well below the Marriott. If you want a big pool complex or a conference hotel, choose the Radisson. If you want the budget option with a pool and parking, choose the Park Inn.
Why stay here
- ✓Solar-heated salt-water pool
- ✓Award-winning restaurant
- ✓Fusion fine dining restaurant
- ✓Tropical gardens with city views
- ✓Outdoor yoga deck
- ✓Fitness centre and hot tub
- ✓Massage and skincare
- ✓Local Rwandan decor
Good questions
How many rooms does Heaven Boutique Hotel have?+
It has 28 rooms, spread across two properties on a quiet residential street in Kiyovu.
Is there a pool?+
Yes, a solar-heated salt-water pool, plus a hot tub, a fitness centre and an outdoor yoga deck.
What makes the hotel special?+
It combines a respected restaurant using local farm produce with a community mission to train and employ Rwandans, in a calm, personal setting.
