Cucina officially reopened its doors on May 10, following a brief closure during which it underwent a complete transformation. Located within the Kigali Marriott Hotel, the Italian restaurant returns with a reimagined menu, a refined interior, and a bold new culinary vision led by executive chef, Adil Shaikh. The relaunch introduced handcrafted kinds of pasta, artisanal wood-fired pizzas made with sourdough, and a renewed focus on fresh, local ingredients. With a redesigned ambiance, elevated service, and upcoming additions like leisurely Italian-style brunches, Cucina invites Kigali to rediscover the heart of Italian dining in a space where tradition meets innovation. ALSO READ: Kigali’s global table: International cuisine reshapes the City’s food scene According to Aditya Chacko, Cluster General Manager for Kigali Marriott, the relaunch of Cucina was driven by a desire to transform the restaurant’s identity completely. After nearly a decade of operations, the hotel team saw an opportunity to breathe new life into the space and reintroduce it to Kigali with fresh energy. The timing aligned with a quieter business period during commemoration week, which made it ideal for a full renovation. “The idea was purely to give it a new look, a reimagined, revamped look altogether. We’re still proudly Italian at our core, but we’ve given the cuisine a more modern and refreshed outlook on the plate,” he said. He emphasised that they now have a new chef leading the kitchen and that the restaurant has embraced a more seasonal and curated approach to its menu; however, the food and the wine list have been completely renewed to compete with Kigali’s growing culinary scene. “We want to offer an exceptional dining experience—not just a meal, we’re excited to welcome everyone back and show them what the new Cucina is all about,” he noted. ALSO READ: Turkish Cuisine Week celebrated for the first-time in Rwanda Shaikh, the executive chef, highlighted that the restaurant is on a mission to elevate the city’s dining scene using the finest local Rwandan produce and timeless Italian tradition, adding that guests can expect a dramatically expanded menu that pays homage to regional Italian flavours while also embracing broader tastes. “My role is to bring new concepts and uplift the dining experience for our guests in Kigali. Whether you're a vegetarian, a meat lover, or into pork, we have something for everyone. Like today, we had a five-course tasting featuring seafood, beef, and Cucina’s signature dessert, the classic Italian bomboloni, offering a snapshot of what’s to come,” he said. He also added that looking ahead, Cucina will introduce a relaxed, Italian-style brunch concept where guests can unwind with antipasti buffets, wood-fired pizzas served tableside, and curated main courses, all without leaving their seats. “It’s a lazy brunch where you don’t have to get up—we serve everything at your table so you can just relax, and the menu is larger, the flavours are fresher, and everything is homemade. Nobody will leave Cucina disappointed,” he noted. Sylvie Sugira, a travel content creator and digital marketing consultant, was pleasantly surprised by her experience at the revamped Cucina. Known for being selective with vegetarian meals, noting that she found the food exceptional. “It’s rare for me to enjoy a vegetarian meal outside my home, so I’m super happy that I got to enjoy this, I came with low expectations due to past dining experiences in Kigali, but I liked it, particularly the pasta, and they paid attention to the fact that I’m a vegetarian, this might be my new go-to spot,” she noted.
