You can get in via airport.

Groceries

Most of the things that one needs can be found in one of the stalls in the Central Market. Stiff bargaining is needed to get it for the right price.

Small supermarkets can be found all over town. They normally stock luxury items at a luxury price.

The largest supermarket in town is Dimitri on the little roundabout of Chaussee Prince Louis Rwagazore and Av du Congo. Do not expect too much, but Dimitri has shopping carts!

The Greek owned 'Boucherie Nouvelle' on Av du Congo is worth is worth a visit. Always busy, but then it offers a wide variety of meat, cheese and charcuterie. Opposite the butcher you find vendors with exclusive and rare vegetables and in the rainy season wild mushrooms of all kinds. Be prepared for a real hassle and 'persusive' sales techniques.

Souvenirs

• The best place to buy souvenirs is the small curio market on Av de Stade.
• Another small curio market is found on Chaussee Prince Louis Rwagazore, opposite Library St. Paul.

• Le safran, Av Kukiko 38 (Rohero II), ☎ +257 22 213 999, [2]. 8-1430 / 18-22:30. Le Safran, Av. Kukiko 38 (Rohero II), ☎ +257 22 213 999, [new]. 8-1430 / 18-2230. At Av. Kukiko in quartier Rohero II you'll find this quality restaurant with a buffet every friday evening. The cozy bar with pooltable has a happy hour between 18:00 and 19:00 hours. medium. medium.  edit

Bujumbura is most likely the best place to enjoy the French/Belgium colonial food in East Africa. The people in Bujumbura love their food and enjoy eating out with friends or family. A beef or fish brochette, chips or fried plantain and a fresh salad is available in all restaurants. But take your time. All food is freshly prepared and the cooks take time. Waiting an hour before the food arrives is certainly not abnormal.

Restaurants are scattered all over town, but the best are located in Rohero and Kiriri.

Some traditional restaurants that are worth a visit are:

• Belvedere, Avenue de Belvedere. Dining with a superb view over the city. Also open for lunch.
• BBQ, Avenue Muyinga. Interesting menu and cosy ambiance.
• Chez Andre, Chaussee Prince Louis Rwagasore. Once the best in town, but can no longer compete.
• Pont Muha, (continue Bld de la Liberte till you reach the river Muha). Best brochettes in town. If you are hungry take the brochette Hoteliere.
• Cercle Nautique de Bujumbura, Avenue de la Plage. The food is nothing to impressed with, but the views (on a clear day) on Lake Tanganyika and the mountains of Congo (DRC) are unforgettable.
• Le Cayor, Chaussee Prince Louis Rwagasore (Opposite Centre Culturel Francais). Busy for lunch. General Burundian dishes, but also Cameroonian food.
• Ubuntu, Avenue de la Plage. Nice garden restaurant with the best pizza's from Bujumbura. The garden also houses several turtles and has some resident Uganda Cranes.

Other restaurants:

• Shanghai, Avenue Mwaro. Best chinese in town. Very fast service (in and out in less than an hour), also open for lunch.

• Le Safran, Av. Kukiko 38 (Rohero II), ☎ +257 22 213 999, [3]. 8-1430 / 18-2230. At Av. Kukiko in quartier Rohero II you'll find this quality restaurant with a buffet every friday evening. The cozy bar with pooltable has a happy hour between 18:00 and 19:00 hours. medium.  edit

Several bars are located on Av de l'Universite (between Bld de l'Independence and Blv Mao Tse Tung). For an upclass drink with the 'ladies' one best goes to the bar of the Novotel.

The best known places for a transnight dance are l'Archipel and Havana. L'Archipel can be found at Blv de la Liberté and Havana is located on Blv de Uprona (around the corner of the Novotel).