Picture this: it’s been a long a week and you’re seeking a place to relax, an oasis in a sea of client meetings and spreadsheets. You make it to a nearby cocktail bar, but thanks to your overworked mind, you are unable to choose the perfect drink for calming your nerves. The barista approaches, tells you not to worry, and whips up a cocktail you could only dream of; sweet, simple and exactly what you needed.
It is no dream. At Iriba Bar and Terrace, the bartenders and baristas happily create the perfect cocktail or coffee for every guest in need of a de-stressing beverage, even those who cannot articulate exactly what they want.
Patrick Rukumbiri, a barista and Emmanuel Hakilimati, a bartender are some of the mixologists who make cocktails and coffee happen at Kigali Marriott Hotel.
The cocktails
Emmanuel Hakilimati has been a mixologist since 2011. There are special cocktails for customers’ arranged parties such as birthdays, dates and other special events. "Some guests trust us and just tell us the event they are organizing and the guests they expect to host then we make the perfect beverages,” said Hakilimati. It’s as simple as that: trust the bartender, and you will have the best drink ready on your table.
Iriba Bar and Terrace’s mixologists work hard to ensure that every visit is an interesting one. For those on the hunt for a different kind of beverage, every month features new specialty cocktails. The bar even offers a cocktail of the day and special offers on drinks on Ladies Night every Thursday with a live band.
While there are many options, Hakilimati recommends trying a refreshing mojito for those who love a bit of the exotic. "I mix rum, mint leaves, lime juice and simple syrup at a certain quantity each and then Mojito madness is ready,” Hakilimati explained. If you are willing to try it, mojitos are offered at a 30 percent discount during "Mojito Madness,” every day from 5pm to closure.
However, Kigali is enamored with one particular drink at Iriba Bar and Terrace. "Most people prefer the Kigali Punch cocktail,” according to Hakilimati. "I remember one Ladies Night,” he said, "when I mixed vodka, strawberries, lime juice, simple syrup and soda water in my art of mixology. People liked it so much. It’s now ordered a lot here.”
Hakilimati’s passion in bartending comes with the excitement of guests, especially when one loves his drink and says, "Please, can I have another? "One may come stressed and just say that they need a drink but not know which one,” Hakilimati said. "I ask them sweet, dry, cold or hot then I can mix it for them by looking at their expression.”
For the beer lovers, Iriba offers two beers at the price of one during its popular Happy Hour (5:30pm-7:30pm) every day.
At the coffee point
Iriba Bar and Terrace is more than just cocktails. It’s also well-known for its delicious, full-bodied coffee. The secret behind a good coffee is the art of the maker. Patrick Rukumbiri has been in the barista business since its inception in Rwanda in 2008 "when NAEB (National Agriculture Export Board) was training baristas to make good coffees in Kigali.” Today, he has a variety of his own coffee that he makes for clients at Kigali Marriott with designs that people cannot find anywhere else.
"My most loved coffee is called Peppermint Mocha which is preferred by people who like flavored coffees. However, for those who want the real taste and aroma of roasted coffee, cappuccino is perfect. Many people call me and alert me to prepare them a coffee before they arrive and it is a wonderful feeling to know people choose to come to Iriba for the coffee,” Rukumbiri said.
Both Rukumbiri and Hakilimati started their jobs with people mocking them that they had chosen the wrong career but "now we’re one of the most sought-after staff in Kigali.” Marriott provides them with training that has benefitted them through more knowledge and skills.
Iriba Bar and Terrace not only provides guests with a friendlier and more approachable welcome in Kigali Marriott Hotel, but also inspires them to relax, work, and play in a stunningly stylish and multidimensional setting. Iriba’s day and night bar adapts to fuel your food and beverage needs, from jump-starting the day with coffee to providing a lively setting for drinks in the evening. A short distance away, Internet accessible quiet zones with a variety of seating and table options are a haven of relaxation, creating a productive setting for catching up on work or gathering for an informal meeting.
Emmanuel Hakilimati, a bartender.
Patrick Rukumbiri.
You can meet Patrick or Emmanuel any time of the day at Iriba Bar and Terrace for the perfect cocktail or cup of coffee.