Eatingout: The perfect coffee hideaway

Situated in the upmarket part of Kigali city, with the high rising office blocks, UN agencies, embassies, banks and crucially Minecofin, Ndaru coffeehouse is a quite restaurant and meeting place that deserves its place as one of the most enduring images of Kigali lifestyle and Rwandan coffee. Its location, service and reputed selection of juices and coffees have earned the beautiful coffeehouse many reviews in and outside the country. There is something inviting about this simply designed place but it needs the publicity for it’s hidden in the middle of office blocks meaning only the curious will find it. For the single person, if you had a weekend out on the town, there are just a handful of places where you can find decent and affordable breakfast to cure the ills of a long night out. At Ndaru you are treated to a wide choice, to name just a few: scrambled eggs, Halaal sausages, natural juices and salads of all kinds all ranging from Frw2,500 to Frw5,000. For the family person, the coffeehouse offers a good ambiance for members to interact in a close environment. The in house ‘waterfalls’ and well-tuned music selection are handy if you are in need of mediation. The service at Ndaru is very efficient and hygiene is a high priority here, and it is not just cleanliness that the owners of the coffeehouse emphasise. The spirit of courtesy around the coffeehouse is so strong that on the day I was there an official working in the bank next to the coffeehouse was willing to give me a lift home without asking. Ndaru is renowned for serving the best traditional meals for lunch from Monday to Friday and its juices are also worth a try. A glass of fresh juice goes for only Frw500 while buffet meals range from Frw1,800 to Frw2,500. Ndaru is located right in front of the BCR headquarters and is open seven days a week. Contact: donmuhinda@yahoo.com