Beatrice Hotel

I still like the place, even though hotels in Kinshasa are all overpriced. Gare Central is about as central as you can get, although no trains run from the station, and the building is beautiful and well laid out. On several visits in 2015, I accompanied a guest but didn’t stay there myself. The staff were very welcoming, and my friends and I got a mocktail on arrival. The uniformed doorman chatted easily in English and said he’d taught himself. Security was quite strict about children wandering around. One thing that went badly was that, when asked, they offered a protected and endangered species as a main course. That’s not a good look for an environmentally friendly development worker. They apologized and said it was a mistake, so I’m willing to leave that in the past. Older reviews were all positive, while more recent ones have been less kind, so perhaps some issues need attention. Soundproofing, loud noise, and impolite bar staff are common in the DRC, where high standards aren’t really understood.

The breakfast is amazing, with a good range of different cuisines. It’s also a great place for meetings, though it seems to be booked most of the time.

My luggage didn’t arrive, and they offered to go with me to buy a few essentials. The service, food, and staff were all great. Thank you so much, Kinshasa, and thanks to the lovely people there.

The gym is a tiny afterthought, tucked into an unsuitable corner with poor ventilation. If keeping up with your fitness routine matters when you travel, you may need to adjust your expectations. The hotel is relatively comfortable and has a good location at Gare Centrale.