Easter dining options

Easter is upon us. While church and worship should be on top of the agenda for many, here at Hot Spots we believe that your spiritual nourishment is incomplete without food and drink.Easter is a family oriented holiday, and what better place than the Kigali Serena for that after-service brunch? Overlooking the hotel’s refurbished swimming pool is the popular Milima Restaurant, which runs a wide range of all-day buffet choices, so no need to go over yourself. The hotel’s central location in Kigali, just 10 km from Kigali International Airport is a big plus for the fly-in Easter visitor.Serena offers a wide range of family-friendly room options; children’s dining; and plenty of adventure, sports and educational entertainment for children of all ages. Their rooms are tailored to meet a wide range of family needs by means of interconnecting rooms, additional beds and cots. The Suites offer enclosed outdoor terraces, which offer a safe play area for children. On prior notice, they will gladly provide baby-sitting services for you.If your mission is simply to wow your guest with exotic food, you won’t be short of options. Zen Oriental Cuisine, past the MTN complex in Nyarutarama has curved out a decent niche as the ultimate Oriental fusion eatery of choice. They do Thai, Chinese and Japanese gourmet, and do it well. For a place that former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has visited twice, we won’t outdo ourselves in awarding Zen its well-deserved plaudits.Equally alluring is the Kiyovu-based Heaven Restaurant, which seems bent on redefining the term “world-class dining” of late. While the dining experience here is truly international, Heaven has stayed true to the spirit of Rwanda and, if I had my way, I would adopt the Radio/TV10 slogan, “Simply Rwandaful” for it. Their continental kitchen features organic, locally-sourced ingredients, while skilled local artisans provided the rich décor. You will be able to pick from a range of Rwandan-made art work, handicrafts, jewelry and clothing at a small fee. The main dining area is a picturesque terrace that “floats” over Kigali’s scenic views.The restaurant is open every day for Dinner service from 5:00 to 10:30pm and for Sunday Brunch from 10:00am to 2:00pm.Further down the leafy boulevards of Kiyovu is the rather new Urban Boutique Hotel, nested in a big, box-like four-storey flat. Urban Boutique is ideal for the budget/business/corporate traveler or that person on short vacation. They have 17 guest rooms, which is just enough for that tight, closely woven intimacy that Boutique Hotels excel at. The atmosphere is calm and soothing, and the guest feeling transforms naturally into one of a “member” once here.