Ubuki Residence Hotel

My sister and I stayed at Amata twice while passing through Kigali, and each time Charlotte and Francine, the proprietors, were there to greet us at check-in. They were so kind, and the staff throughout were friendly and helpful. It felt like a little oasis, a real gem of a boutique hotel. The whole stay was exquisite. 10 out of 5 stars, and I hope to return ;—)

It’s a lovely place to spend time, and I really enjoyed being there. Anyone, whatever their job or line of work, would want to relax somewhere this beautiful.

The pool is excellent, and the service was great. This charming boutique hotel is beautiful and friendly. I’ll definitely come back.

The location is in a lovely neighborhood, though there isn’t much nearby, so getting to most Kigali attractions means a long walk or a taxi. Still, we had a lovely stay. It’s a cute, rough-around-the-edges boutique hotel, and I don’t think most people would be disappointed. But if they’re charging tourist prices and catering to Westerners, they should improve the AC, washcloths, and hair dryers. The lobby and shared spaces are very nice. We had two rooms, and the AC barely worked in either. We had to ask for hair dryers, and they were forgotten before eventually being brought. When we asked for washcloths, we got one worn cloth with what looked like a brownish orange stain. The staff were somewhere between hospitable and shy and quiet, but never rude. The pool looks great behind the small restaurant, though in winter it was so cold that swimming didn’t seem reasonable. It’s also nice knowing they cook for you and perhaps the few other guests, since the hotel only has a handful of rooms. The food was quite good, though not amazing. My wife would give the place three stars, while I think it deserves about four. The airport car transport felt like a ripoff: it costs at least $25, while a taxi you arrange yourself might be only $2-3. The hotel doesn’t have its own car and simply books a taxi, paying the driver. You can arrange your own, but taxi drivers commonly quote tourists high US prices in Kigali, so you’d need to negotiate. Presenting a booked taxi as their own car service was unappealing, especially with a markup of about ten times.