"Kigali's original modern-African terrace, plating local Nile perch and an eggplant stack — come for the cooking and the city view."
About Heaven Restaurant
Heaven Restaurant opened in 2008 as the first hospitality-training restaurant in Kigali, built on a hillside in the leafy Kiyovu district and run as a social enterprise that has since trained thousands of Rwandans in kitchen and service work. The draw is the pairing: an open-air terrace that looks out over the city, and a kitchen that has spent more than fifteen years refining modern African cooking with local ingredients.
It sits at the centre of Kigali's dining scene. For other tables in the city, compare the tasting cooking at Meza Malonga, the contemporary plates at Nyurah and the grill at Rua, or browse the wider dining picks.
The Kitchen
The cooking is modern African built on Rwandan produce, and reviewers single out a few plates: an eggplant stack, a grilled avocado salad, a mushroom cappuccino, and local fish — Nile perch and tilapia — pulled from the country's lakes. The menu shifts as the kitchen experiments, but the through-line is local ingredients handled with a fine-dining sensibility rather than imported luxury.
Pricing is upper-tier for Kigali but fair for the setting — mains land in the mid-tens of thousands of Rwandan francs — and there are tasting and set options for a longer evening.
The Room
The terrace is the reason to come: an open-air deck strung with local Rwandan décor, looking out over the hills and lights of Kigali, best at sunset. The wider property is a four-star boutique hotel with an art gallery, a Made-in-Rwanda boutique and a salt-water pool, so dinner can stretch into a long evening. Service is warm and notably well-drilled — the legacy of its training-restaurant roots.
Not for
Not for a quick, cheap local plate or a rainy night — the magic here is the open-air terrace and the view, and indoor seating loses much of what makes Heaven special.
Frequently Asked
What is Heaven Restaurant in Kigali known for?
Modern African cooking on an open-air terrace with panoramic views over the city — local Nile perch and tilapia, an eggplant stack and a grilled avocado salad are reviewer favourites.
What should I order at Heaven Restaurant?
The local fish — Nile perch and tilapia — is the signature, alongside the eggplant stack, the grilled avocado salad and the mushroom cappuccino.
How much does Heaven Restaurant cost?
It is upper-tier for Kigali but fair for the setting: mains run roughly RWF 12,000–22,000, with tasting and set-menu options for a longer evening.
When did Heaven Restaurant open?
It opened in 2008 as the first hospitality-training restaurant in Kigali, and has since trained thousands of Rwandans in kitchen and service work as a social enterprise.
Where is Heaven Restaurant located?
On a quiet residential road in the Kiyovu district of central Kigali, set on a hillside with a terrace overlooking the city; it is part of the Heaven boutique hotel.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Heaven Restaurant
Book via the Heaven Rwanda website or by phone; terrace tables at sunset go first.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressNo. 7, KN 29 St, Kiyovu, Kigali
NeighbourhoodOn a quiet residential road in Kiyovu, central Kigali
CuisineModern African
PriceMains roughly RWF 12,000–22,000; tasting and set options available
Dress CodeSmart casual
SeatingOpen-air terrace and indoor dining room; booking advised
ReservationBooking advised, especially for terrace tables at sunset
