Kigali · Rwanda

The Retreat by Heaven

The Retreat by Heaven

Rates on request
The Lodge

The Retreat by Heaven

Town & Country and The New York Times describe The Retreat in Rwanda as one of the top boutique hotels of the world.  The American owners of Heaven Restaurant created The Retreat, a 20-room luxury boutique hotel located on a tree-lined street steps from Kigali City Center and 20 minutes from the airport.  8 new luxury pool villas and a new wine lounge and deck are now open!   The Retreat is Kigali’s first eco-friendly resort and features solar electricity, organic toiletries, locally-crafted furniture from a Tanzanian sustainable teak farm, outdoor showers, private terraces, a yoga and meditation deck, spa, large heated saltwater swimming pool with jacuzzi and diving rocks, and an open-air fitness center.  Fusion Restaurant and its Swahili-inspired bar, located at The Retreat, offer delicious farm-to-table international cuisine, while Heaven Restaurant (reached through the Retreat’s “Stairway to Heaven”) offers an innovative modern African menu. The Retreat is the perfect choice to host guests for 1 night or several days as it offers innovative, curated cultural experiences and exciting activities in and around Kigali. Josh Ruxin is the author of the book "A Thousand Hills to Heaven: Love, Hope & a Restaurant in Rwanda" which shares the whole of the Ruxin family story.

By request

Stay at The Retreat by Heaven

This camp is offered on a tailor-made basis. Tell us your dates and a Vencha specialist will craft your stay — or a whole safari built around The Retreat by Heaven — and reply within 24 hours with a personal quote. Expert planning, not sales pressure.

Plan a stay at The Retreat by Heaven A specialist replies within 24 hours
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At the table

Dining

Fusion Restaurant (at The Retreat)

For ten years, the American founders of Kigali's top restaurant, Heaven, Josh and Alissa Ruxin, dreamed of opening a fine dining restaurant which merges culinary traditions from around the world with Rwandan ingredients.

Fusion - our restaurant at The Retreat - takes culinary traditions from Italy, Mauritius, Morocco and Rwanda and blends them into a single harmonious offer.

Perched beside The Retreat's glorious saltwater pool, rock gardens and native plantings, Fusion is the most elegant spot in Kigali to explore new flavors and experience first-class hospitality.

 

Heaven Restaurant (next door to The Retreat)

Heaven Restaurant is known as a hospitality training facility and cultural venue serving a unique modern African menu! The owners, Josh and Alissa Ruxin, custom built and opened Heaven in 2008 (13 years ago) to offer vocational training and employment for Rwandans to become the future leaders in hospitality. We have trained over 1,000 Rwandans in culinary and customer service skills and continue to train interns and others with a passion to build a career in hospitality. We are known for our famous guacamole and signature Cassava Leaf Beef Filet and also for our incredible homemade cocktails! We host cultural events from art exhibits to dance performances, we support Made in Rwanda products in our retail areas, and we have our own organic onsite garden!

Good to know

Quick Facts

  • Swimming & wilderness settings
  • Very Bespoke: No travel in groups; Pick your own dates
  • Our Award-winning, Signature Luxury Safari Lodges
  • Private solitude & wild adventure
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Rwanda guides & inspiration

How Much Does Gorilla Trekking Cost? Rwanda vs Uganda (Luxury Guide) 15 Best Things To Do in Rwanda: Gorillas, Kigali & Beyond A complete guide to gorilla trekking in Rwanda
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Enquire about staying here

Tell us your dates and a specialist will craft your stay — or a whole safari featuring The Retreat by Heaven — and reply within 24 hours. Expert planning, not sales pressure.

Simple & personal

How it works

  1. 1
    Describe your dream trip

    Where, when and how you love to travel — as much or as little as you know.

  2. 2
    We craft it around you

    A specialist who knows these places firsthand curates your itinerary.

  3. 3
    Confirm & start packing

    Refine it together until every day feels right — then we handle the rest.