Eatingout: Medi’s Motel: The true spirit of Kimironko

Situated in the middle of the busy Kimironko suburb and right in front of the main market, Medi’s Motel is famous throughout Kigali for Rwandan traditional cuisine and hosting major social functions like weddings for residents in Gasabo district and beyond. Medi’s Motel doubles as the leading restaurant and major hangout venue in Kimironko. There is also a sports bar, but it is very unpopular with patrons as management is erratic. Alfred Mugabe, a client, explains that the TV is often switching off mid match. The proprietor Bosco Mbanyimfura has been known to tell patrons “you can go back to your homes; I own my bussiness and I decide what my customers watch.” The restaurant, in the middle of Kimironko’s business district, faces the local Bank Populaire branch and just a stone’s throw of the main road junction in Kimironko. Medi’s motel serves meals and drinks to many white collar executives working around the Amahoro National Stadium and the UN ICTR offices nearby. Many Rwanda Defense Forces senior officers are also regularly hosted here. Medi’s bar is different from many Kigali bars, the upper section of the motel serves as ballroom which hosts conferences and events, on the ground floor is a small counter which has a variety of drinks, here chicken, fish and beef brochettes are served with ice cold Amstel beer. There are also private cabins for patrons in need of privacy. The sad thing about Medi’s, like so many bars in Kigali, there is no music, or any sound apart from the television. The menu is concise with a variety on offer by in house chefs. There’s full chicken which can cost you about Frw6000, while a full fish will cost you Frw4500. Whiskeys and wines range between Frw2000 to Frw5000. Medi’s motel has small but safe parking space, you are advised to watch out in the main road if you are driving. There is also very good breakfast at Medi’s motel; the restaurant serves modest coffee chips, brochette and many other snacks. Just below the motel is Medi’s supermarket. The supermarket is one of the biggest shopping centres in Gasabo district. They have a selection of samosas, vegetable and beef pizzas and sausages. Clients can order snacks and drinks from the supermarket and sit in the open on the verandah above as you watch over Kigali’s expansion in Nyarutarama and Kibagabaga. Medi’s motel is open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner; however the supermarket closes on Friday evening through Saturday evening as the proprietors are staunch Adventists. Contact: donmuhinda@yahoo.com