8 Kinshasa rooftop bars with river views (2025)

Kinshasa does drama well especially when the Congo River does its golden-hour thing. From Gombe high-rises to floating decks, here are eight rooftops where you can sip, stare at Pool Malebo, and pretend you’re scouting film locations.

FYI: New openings kept the scene lively this year one launch video even teased a “nouveau rooftop incontournable… piscine panoramique.” We’ll take that energy.

1) Kaukau Rooftop Bar, Novotel Kinshasa La Gombe

Novotel’s Kaukau is your no-fuss, river-facing perch: think post-work DJs, themed jazz/rumba nights, and a sightline that slides across the Congo toward Brazzaville. It’s modern, social, and actually tells you up front that the rooftop looks at the river a refreshing bit of honesty in a city that loves mystique.

Practical: dress smart-casual; expect themed nights most weeks (2025 programming is ongoing). Cocktails run approx. USD $12–15 / ≈ CDF 36,000–45,000; beers from about USD $5 / ≈ CDF 15,000 (2025 approx.).

Tip:

Ask for a table at the railing just before sunset; the glow hits the river then the skyline.

2) La Vue rooftop & pool bar, Hilton Kinshasa

The Hilton’s rooftop has “date night with a panorama” written all over it. Guests rave about the combo a lovely rooftop bar and pool and the hotel sits right above the riverfront corridor, so the views do what they need to do.

The Hilton Kinshasa isn’t just a hotel it’s a skyline statement. Towering over Gombe’s business district, this $50 million five-star landmark brings global polish to the Congo Riverfront. With 178 rooms (including 13 suites), 11 meeting spaces, two restaurants, three bars, and a pool with a view, it’s as much about power lunches as it is about poolside prosecco.

Practical: ride the elevator to the top; non‑guests can usually access the bar (policies vary). Drinks land around USD $14–18 / ≈ CDF 42,000–54,000; mocktails from USD $8 / ≈ CDF 24,000 (2025 approx.). Local tip: if there’s a game on, the vibe pivots to buzzy grab a high-top away from the pool for the clearest river line.

3) Rooftop Bar, Pullman Kinshasa Grand Hotel

Pullman’s sprawling complex towers over Gombe with the kind of height that turns “is that Brazzaville?” into a guessing game. It’s one of the city’s few hotels listed in 2025 as having a bona fide rooftop bar and yes, you can clock the river from up here on clear days.

Pullman Kinshasa Grand Hotel isn’t just another upscale address it’s an award-winning design statement. Crowned by the LIV Hospitality Design Awards in 2023 for “Best Interior Design Hotel Luxury,” this Gombe landmark fuses Congolese artistry with sleek modern flair. Step into its lobby and you’re greeted by sculptural wicker lights, earthy textures, and bold contrasts that feel both global and grounded.

Practical: expect a polished, international crowd. Signature cocktails sit around USD $13–16 / ≈ CDF 39,000–48,000 (2025 approx.).

Tip:

Pullman runs regular live‑music/DJ programming; call ahead to snag a riverside table when weather cooperates.

4) ChaCha Bar, Immeuble Forescom

A classic. ChaCha perches on the 9th floor of Central Africa’s first Art Deco tower (1946), and it comes with two terraces one facing the city grid, the other throwing you straight at the river. It’s moody lighting, vintage bones, and very Kinoise.

Practical: they keep inventing reasons to come back (2025’s “Paint & Vibes” nights, salsa included, first drink on the house). Expect cocktails from approx. USD $10–12 / ≈ CDF 30,000–36,000.

Tip:

Arrive just before 17:30 commuters are stuck below while you toast above. As the event post teased: “La première boisson est offerte.” Facebook mirror via Bars10, 2025.

5) Majestic River (floating top‑deck lounge)

Okay, not a building but the boat’s upper deck is a literal rooftop over water. Sunset sails and docked evenings serve Congo‑wide skies and Brazzaville twinkles. 2025 programming includes Thursday salsa‑and‑rumba sundowners and a two‑for‑one cocktail hour.

Some drinks come with umbrellas; this one comes with a view. Majestic River’s signature cocktail — bright, boozy, and perfectly posed against the Congo sums up Kinshasa’s sundowner spirit. It’s not about precision mixology here; it’s about rhythm, river breeze, and the feeling that time just slowed down.

Practical:

check dates for the Sunday buffet (often around USD $50 / ≈ CDF 150,000 in 2025). By‑the‑glass cocktails hover around USD $8–10 / ≈ CDF 24,000–30,000 (2025 approx.). Local tip: stand on the up‑river edge at golden hour; you’ll get the widest Pool Malebo sweep. Their 2025 feed puts it simply: “1 cocktail acheté = 1 cocktail offert.” Facebook mirror via Foodyas, 2025.

6) IKOS Restaurant & Lounge Bar, Matrix Tower

Rooftop‑ish, Mediterranean‑leaning, and perfectly placed: IKOS lives high in Matrix Tower itself a complex “overlooking the Congo River” so order that spritz and let Gombe’s lights do their thing. It’s one of 2025’s talk‑about spots for skyline dining with a real sense of occasion.

Practical: reservations recommended on weekends. Figure cocktails at approx. USD $12–14 / ≈ CDF 36,000–42,000; mezze plates from USD $8–12 / ≈ CDF 24,000–36,000 (2025 approx.). Tip: request a window‑side banquette; the river line is clearest after 7 pm when the haze lifts.

7) Eloge Towers Rooftop Patio Bar

Eloge is residential‑luxury, but the rooftop’s patio bar when accessible for residents’ guests or private events serves knockout panoramas: downtown Kin, the Congo River, Brazzaville, and an infinity‑edge pool straight out of Singapore. It’s the city’s most cinematic “if‑you‑know‑someone” sky fix.

Practical: access is typically limited to residents/guests or for booked events ask politely; sometimes it works. When you do get in, expect cocktails around USD $15–18 / ≈ CDF 45,000–54,000 (2025 approx.). Local tip: bring a light layer the rooftop breeze can be surprisingly cool after 21:00.

8) Executive Lounge, 22nd floor, Fleuve Congo Hotel

High above the diplomatic quarter, the Fleuve’s 22nd‑floor lounge is a hushed, clubby vantage for river‑watching with a side of canapés. It’s an executive‑access space, but the page confirms the venue and floor; set inside a riverfront tower, so the Congo views are a given.

Practical:

Access is for eligible room categories or through meeting/event bookings; call ahead to confirm. Drinks trend hotel‑premium: approx. USD $12–16 / ≈ CDF 36,000–48,000 (2025 approx.). Tip: late afternoon is best haze drops, ships move, and the river turns copper.

Before you go: quick price math and local smarts

Kin’s rooftop drinks skew hotel‑led; plan for USD $10–18 / ≈ CDF 30,000–54,000 for cocktails, a touch less for beers.

Pro tip:

Thursday is the sleeper night the city is out, but it’s not manic; watch for 2025 promos like Majestic’s 2‑for‑1 sundowners, or creative evenings at ChaCha that sneak in a free first drink. As one 2025 post put it: “nouveau rooftop incontournable… piscine panoramique.”