Fika Café & Niyo Arts Center

Sunday, June 29, 2025

Today was the kind of day we needed—slow, easy, and full of small discoveries. We started the morning at home. My wife caught up on some work while I tackled the laundry after breakfast. With no real agenda, we decided to head out for the afternoon and enjoy a bit more of what Kigali has to offer.

Our first stop was Simba Supermarket at the Simba Center, one of the go-to grocery stores in Kigali for both locals and expats. It’s a familiar, well-stocked spot with a mix of imported goods and local staples. After picking up a few essentials, I practiced driving around Kigali—a skill I’m slowly getting more comfortable with.

To give me more practice behind the wheel, we decided to head across town for lunch at Fika Café, a cozy, modern café tucked away in a peaceful corner of Kigali. The name “fika” comes from the Swedish tradition of taking a break for coffee and a snack, and the café lives up to that concept—warm, inviting, and full of character.

I ordered a café latte and fish and chips, while my wife went with the vegetable soup, shakshouka, and a cold Mutzig, a popular Rwandan beer brewed by Bralirwa. Since I was the designated driver, I stuck to coffee. As is common in many Rwandan cafés, the drinks arrived quickly, but the food took about an hour—a typical wait here, where meals are made fresh and time moves at a gentler pace. It’s worth the wait. The fish was crisp, the coffee smooth, and the shakshouka—an egg and tomato dish with North African roots—was flavorful and comforting.

One of the things we love about Fika is its blend of café and creativity. Inside, there’s an open space where local artisans and artists display handmade crafts, paintings, and jewelry. It’s more than a place to eat—it’s a small celebration of Rwandan art and entrepreneurship.

After lunch, we made a spontaneous stop at the nearby Niyo Arts Center in the Kacyiru neighborhood. Founded by artist and humanitarian Pacifique Niyonsenga, the center is both a gallery and a social impact hub. It provides underprivileged children with access to education and art programs, while showcasing work from emerging Rwandan artists. The colors, textures, and themes in the pieces we saw were both powerful and deeply connected to Rwandan identity, history, and resilience. It’s a place that radiates hope and creativity.

We returned home in the late afternoon, ready for a nap and some well-earned rest. It was a beautiful way to spend a Sunday—exploring art, savoring food, and soaking in the laid-back rhythm of Kigali life.