This week, about 2,000 delegates have flocked to Kigali for the 73rd FIFA Congress taking place on March 16, as well as other side events.
Delegates are attending different sports related activities, which will climax with the FIFA Congress on Thursday. On Friday, the Veteran Clubs World Championship (VCWC 2024) will unveil the captains of the eight teams expected to feature in the tournament next year.
While most activities are sport-related, delegates and visiting officials will conclude business as the weekend is setting in. As they say, all work and no play makes life dull.
While in Kigali, delegates can explore different social activities beginning Thursday evening, through Friday. And for those staying for the weekend, there is a lot more to explore outside Kigali.
Here, The New Times lists a few places the delegates can visit to enjoy and explore Kigali’s nightlife.
Enjoy local music
If you are in Kigali and want to have a full experience of Rwanda, check out some of the places that have bands playing starting Thursday and get to enjoy ‘Igisope’ and ‘Karahanyuze,’where bands do renditions of some of the most revered classic Rwandan songs.
Lemigo Hotel, located in Kimihurura, right opposite Parliament buildings has a band playing by the poolside, giving patrons a true ‘gisope’ experience, mixed with a variety of modern, local and international jams.
Other places with live bands include 2 Shots Bar and Club, right opposite BK Arena. Delegates would not have to move a long distance to enjoy good live music while devouring tasty meat delicacies and local beer.
In Remera, Fuchsia Lounge, commonly known as ‘Kwa Jules’, located near CSS Zigama, has live music from Thursday while for the most adventurous, an excursion into the Nyamirambo zone of Kigali will open doors to many joints and pubs with live band performances.
Karaoke nights
For those who love to sing their voices hoarse, a variety of bars have karaoke nights where patrons can sing the night away, belting away their favourite songs (sometimes with the help of the host), while enjoying tasty food and drinks.
From Burrows near King Faisal Hospital to Bugaloo, located at Rwandex, Kicukiro and Iwacu 250, karaoke nights remain the most popular and fun evenings and you don’t want to miss the action.
Clubbing and outing
Apart from lively bars with music, Kigali offers a variety of vibrant nightclubs which can give visitors and delegates a true clubbing and nightlife experience.
Voltage, located in Gaculiro is a good club to wind up the night, enjoying invigorating music from a variety of DJs on the decks, who play till dawn. At Voltage, you will meet most of Kigali’s ‘nocturnal’ and who-is-who. The party never ends at Voltage.
Envy, located in Kimihurura, below Papyrus Lounge is an ideal nightclub to experience Kigali’s nightlife. The club boasts of the best DJs in town and the crowd there never disappoints. A long night at Envy ends with a mouthwatering roadside barbecue by Chef Issa, popular with clubgoers.
People located in Kacyiru, near the former Umubano Hotel, remains a popular night spot for party lovers who want to enjoy a little bit of music till dawn. The club is a popular spot for people visiting Rwanda for the first time and want to have a bit of fun.
New Cadillac Club, located in town at Kigali Investment Company mall, formerly UTC offers night animals an opportunity to wind the night in the Central Business District while Gisimenti, Remera is also a hotspot of nightspots with DJs playing for revelers.
For people who want to dance without going to a club, places like Riders Lounge at Kigali Heights, Boho in Kimihurura, Chillax in Nyarutarama, Green Lounge in Kicukiro at Silverback Mall and Maison Noire, delegates will have very many options to enjoy an evening out
Eating out
For those wishing to enjoy food while listening to soft music, Sundowner located in Kimihurura is a great place to enjoy ‘nyama choma’ and ribs as well as an assortment of meat and food.
For pizza lovers, Sole Luna in Remera, 360 Pizza at Kigali Heights and Kabana Club in Kacyiru are ideal places to eat a good pizza in Kigali. For Indian food lovers, Kurry Kingdom and Khana Khazana are the places to go.