Friday evenings in Kigali always carry that quiet promise of escape. After a long day, I found mine at 2 Shots Club, tucked along KG 11 Avenue in Kimironko.
I wasn’t here alone. A young lady—an adventurer and travel enthusiast who has been part of my audience and even attended several Turning Pages book club sessions—joined me for the evening. We claimed a narrow balcony table, our spot overlooking a cluster of residential houses, and ordered a pair of aromatic beverages to set the tone. What followed was an easy, unhurried conversation about travel, Africa, and all the adventures that still lie ahead.
Inside, the tables were filling fast. Belgian cycling fans in their national jerseys raised glasses alongside Kimironko locals who had strolled in wearing flip-flops. The mood was unpretentious and comfortably laid-back. That’s the charm of 2 Shots—you can catch up without shouting across the table.
And the menu doesn’t pigeonhole anyone. Whether you’re in the mood for a steamy cappuccino, a giant keg, a bucket of beers on promotion, or tequila shots, 2 Shots has a way of meeting you where you are. For me, the night was less about food or cocktails and more about good company, good stories, and that effortless neighborhood vibe.
The balcony turned out to be the perfect perch. From there, the neighborhood stretched quietly below, its mix of rooftops glowing under streetlights, a reminder that Kigali’s nightlife is never about chaos—it’s about finding the right corner, the right mood. It struck me that 2 Shots is more than just a watering hole; it’s a meeting ground where different worlds casually overlap. Travelers, locals, and even sports fans all share the same air without pretense.
As the night deepened, I realized how easy it is to lose track of time here. Conversations flow without hurry, music hums without overwhelming, and the city outside moves on while you remain cocooned in this slice of Kimironko energy. By the time we wrapped up, the place was buzzing, but our little balcony table still felt like a world of its own. That’s what I’ll carry from this night—the sense that in Kigali, the weekend doesn’t just begin; it unfolds, one conversation at a time.