La Locanda

Amazing service, I messed up the reservation and Alberto went a whole extra mile helping us. Delicious home made Italian food. A home away from home.

Is a very nice place to stay in if you visit Rwanda especially on Friday when churpa and zelena are singing.

Amazing service, great live music, delicious food (woodfired pizza was the dish that day). Alberto was so welcoming, even though we weren't staying and just made reservations. We even came like 45 minutes late since my girlfriend's taxi was late arriving to Musanze, but Alberto still accommodated us. Very reasonable prices, especially since the beautiful Italian architecture is gorgeous. Make a reservation, even if you don't stay, trust me, you won't regret it. 10/10, will definitely be back (and my girlfriend wants to plan a girls trip there).

If you prefer cosy, warm hospitality to the more sterile hotel options on offer then this is the place for you. Meeting other guests in front of a warm fire with soft jazz playing gently in the background, is a great way to unwind & reflect on the day’s activities in the park. Thank you Alberto for being a great host.

A Hidden Gem in Musanze – Unforgettable Stay!
I had an absolutely amazing experience at La Locanda Hotel in Musanze! From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with warm hospitality that made me feel right at home. The staff went above and beyond to ensure my stay was comfortable and enjoyable.
The rooms were clean, spacious, and beautifully designed with a cozy, rustic charm that perfectly complements the peaceful surroundings. Waking up to the birds singing and tranquility was an unforgettable experience.
The food at the hotel was exceptional! Every meal was fresh, flavorful, and made with locally sourced ingredients.
The peaceful garden, relaxing ambiance, and excellent service made my stay truly special. Whether you’re visiting for a cycling adventure, gorilla trekking or just looking for a serene retreat, La Locanda is an excellent place to stay.

I had the most wonderful time at La Locanda. I was in Rwanda for work — my first time in Rwanda. And LaLocanda was perfect. Right near where I had a meeting for a week. In a wonderfully quiet and beautiful setting. The dining area / common space in particular was idyllic.
I had breakfast and dinner there every day for 8 days and it was always really good, simple food, peaceful and beautiful. Lots of interesting birds in their gardens too.
The staff was excellent — my rooms were also very nice (I switched rooms midway because I was originally scheduled to move to different place after a few days but I liked LaLocanda so much o asked if o could stay and there was a different room available so I moved to that one.
And I met a few guests each day and had wonderful chats with them in the common area. I plan to come back in a few months and will be staying here again.

Incredible stay! Wonderful accommodations, great service, excellent food, gracious hosts. Will recommend to all as a must-do for Rwanda!

I've been thinking all day on what to write in this review. I considered not leaving one because I did not want to negatively impact the jobs of the incredible local staff who work there, but I feel it only necessary for you to truly understand what you're going to experience if you stay here. I'll start with the positive.
The Service — we received EXCELLENT service from the local staff working here. Specifically, Kevin and Carrell were true professionals. We ate breakfast and dinner here all three of the days we stayed, and received exceptional service from them every time. We had the opportunity to speak to both of them individually, and got to know them more as people. I can't say enough good things about them. They deserve all of the praise given to them.
Additionally, I will say that our rooms were cleaned, beds made, and bathrooms tidied every day. Too bad that the areas they cleaned were in need of so much more. Details on that in a bit.
The food and drink — the food, as others have noted, is mostly Italian, and considering what they have to work with, was good. Was it amazing? No. But it was good. The best dinner was the eggplant with marinara and cheese. The best dessert was the homemade ice cream. Breakfast was mostly the same each morning, but was also done well. Fresh eggs, toast, avocado, tomatoes, and a pancake were standard, and tasted good. Coffee and tea were available and delicious each day. It was also nice that all drinks were included in your reservation.

My husband and I traveled from Kigali to Musanze for a 3 day stay during our first trip to Rwanda in July. We found La Locanda in a Google search and had a fantastic stay.
Pre—Arrival Communication:
Kevin was exceptionally communicative via email and helpful in coordinating our transport to/from Musanze and our drive to the headquarters for gorilla trekking. Having all the transportation squared away before our arrival led to an even more enjoyable experience — highly recommend coordinating with the LaLocanda team for ease of travel.
Accommodations:
Lovely, quiet, rustic and beautifully simple. This place is more like an oasis or retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city and an affordable but equally relaxing option from the expensive gorilla lodges. I loved the use of local resources to build the hotel and the gardens and paths were peaceful. The staff are very helpful and friendly and do an exceptional job.
Food and Dining:
Dinner, breakfast and drinks are all included in the room rate which is amazing deal and delicious. Dinner is Italian food with South African wine options and Virunga beer. Coffee, tea, and non-alcoholic drinks too. Dinner is 3 courses and very good. Breakfast is balanced with coffee, eggs, small pancake, fruit and vegetables. Service is excellent!
Spa and Wellness:
I had an amazing hour long massage at a very affordable rate. Perfect after trekking or traveling or just to feel the harmony of this retreat.

The location of the hotel is convenient to art galleries and cafés. From the hotel to the entrance of the volcano national park is about 25 minutes drive. The hotel is very charming, very clean and the staff are fantastic. The food was great, breakfast and dinner were included. This is not a luxury hotel, and it’s slightly overpriced.

We had a lovely stay at La Locanda. They have excellent customer service and a wonderful all inclusive approach to their hospitality. The food was incredible. This is a little oasis in Musanze.

Amazing location close to the gorillas (30min), nice room and some staff was great. The food is delicious! Sometimes the staff just gave a plate to me at dinner without telling what it was, it’s nice to hear what you’re eating.

A fantastic place which needs to focus on the food!
A small bed and breakfast kind of place with one of the best staff I have seen anywhere — including in fancy hotels.
Thoughtfully laid out and equipped rooms — though there is no kettle. Nice homely garden. Lots of birds. Very relaxed atmosphere!
Staff and management are very helpful. Always smiling. Never refused a request. And very well trained.
Their menu is limited. Limited choice of dishes. And they offer mostly Italian dishes. Difficult for non Italians! The chef is helpful and made some Indian chai for us.
Would repeat it anytime!

La Locanda is a wonderful and rustic hideaway in Musanze — perfect for a quick stop pre. Gorilla trek (20 min drive to HQ) or for a longer stay.
The staff (Kevin and Richie) are professional and accommodating, the rooms spacious and warm, and the food is excellent.
I’ll definitely be staying here for future Musanze visits.

This is my fourth time staying here, and it gets better each time. The staff are lovely, it's peaceful and quiet, the rooms are comfortable, and it's in a convenient location. Highly recommend!

The staff were amazing! Our experience was great! We would definitely stay there again. They only had a double bed s room available for our nights so we booked it, the room was small with not much space around the bed, but we didn’t stay in there much anyways because the common areas were great and very cozy (giving home vibes).
They helped call a taxi for us whenever we needed it. Cleaned our shoes and clothes after the hike. Friday night was pizza night and there was a live show by local performer, they offered chocolate cake on Friday. Dinner on Saturday was an Italian dish with soup and icecream. It was delicious. Breakfast is your choice of eggs + vegetables + toast + fruits/fruit juice + — pancakes. Coffee and tea were also included. Everything was great and Wi-Fi was fast!

What a brilliant stay we had here.
The team are so friendly and welcoming.
My best team member would be Gala the cat and after 2 days we became very good friends.
We enjoyed our room that had a wonderful balcony where we sat each evening for sundowners.
The rate includes breakfast and a 3 course evening meal with beer and wine.
Let’s talk about the record collection, I spent a few hours going through it and enjoyed listened to music after a busy morning walking.
Great people.
Thanks team.