Addis Ababa Restaurants

by leonik
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Italian-style café serving REALLY good coffee (ETB2 each for the standard or normal coffee) and great muffins! Try the coffee muffin if it's available!!!

They serve other types of coffee too: American, Famiglia, Swedish etc.

Order and pay at the cashier, who will give you a colored chip and you'll present it to the counter who will give you your coffee. Help yourself to the sugar at the counter.

Picture: Justin (from Wales) and me... enjoying a steaming cuppa (i had 3 cups!)!

In my opinion, each cup is equivalent to about a double-triple espresso shot!

It's Ethiopian coffee!

Theme: Coffeehouse

Price: less than US$10 » Currency Converter

Comparison: least expensive


	Jamaican Rastafarian: Jah Restaurant	Tip Rating: Satisfaction:

By SirRichard

on November 18, 2006

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Lamb Curry

This is (as far as I know) the only Jamaican restaurant in Addis. And what has Jamaican have to do with Ethiopia? Jamaican rastafaris (remember Bob Marley?) were descendants of ethiopian slaves brought to America and claimed to go back to their roots as a sign of liberation in the 20th century.
Ethiopia has a large rastafarian tradition and this is a main centre of it. The restaurant is located in the gound floor of a cottage where is also the Rastafarian centre.
The food is healthy and more than enough, as well as the many delicious juices. I had lamb curry and mango juice for 3,3 USD.

There is an atmosphere of "kaya" and reggae floating in the air here...

Theme: Eclectic/International

Price: less than US$10 » Currency Converter

Comparison: more expensive than average

Address: Zewditu Street, near the Atlas Hotel

Directions: Beware, the LP guide says it is in Jomo Kenyatta Ave, near Yordanos Hotel, but it recently moved to its actual new location (2006).


	Castelli's: The best Italian restaurant in Africa? The World?	Tip Rating: Satisfaction:

Updated By niamey00

on January 18, 2005

For nearly three weeks of travel outside of Addis, we had been dreaming of a meal that consisted of something other than injera or overcooked pasta. Don't get me wrong, I LIKE injera, but the craving for something different persisted. In hotel rooms from Axum to Lalibela, we would reread the description of Castelli's. Could it really be that good? When we finally returned to Addis, we went. After opening the door, and seeing a huge antipasta buffet, and an Italian grandma-type happily esconced behind the cash register, speaking nothing but Italian, we were hopeful. The food was great, especially the gelato for dessert. The next day, we pondered returning again for lunch or dinner, but we were embarrassed to return so soon. We decided to the next day, our last in Ethiopia. It was a Sunday. Castelli's is closed. We almost cried in the rain!

Theme: Italian

Price: US$11-20 » Currency Converter

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: in the Piazza area


	The place for coffee: Tomoca	Tip Rating: Satisfaction:

By SirRichard

on November 18, 2006

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Inside Tomoca

If you are looking for coffee, this is THE temple of coffee in a country famous for this product. A humble temple by the way, and very popular among locals. In this tiny cafe (there are no tables, just a bar and a few places to stand and sit on high chairs) you can find escellent coffee to drink there and to take away.
A bit expensive for the average: 2,5 Birr (25 cents USD) for a macchiato when the normal price is 1 Birr (10 cents). But the quality of the coffee justifies the unusual expense :-))
It is interesting to just seat there and see the people come and go. They ask for a black coffee with sugar (the standard here), chat for a while, read the newspaper or so and go. It was pretty full when I went there.

Theme: Coffeehouse

Price: less than US$10 » Currency Converter

Comparison: least expensive

Address: Wavel St with Churchill Ave

Directions: Near the Piazza, from there take Churchill and turn right at Wavel. Not big signs at the entrance.


	Castelli	Tip Rating:

By SirRichard

on November 18, 2006

by SirRichard
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The main gate

Some say this is the BEST italian restaurant in Africa. I can't tell as it was closed for restoration when I was in Addis, but it really is a reference point for taxi drivers, everyone seems to know it.
Reservation is required (days in advance in high season) specially at night.

Theme: Italian

Price: US$11-20 » Currency Converter

Comparison: more expensive than average

Address: At the Piazza

Phone: 563580, 571757


	ENESRA: THE BEST RESTAURANT IN ETHIOPIA	Tip Rating: Satisfaction:

Updated By DAO

on June 10, 2008

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I love this place. Great food, live entertainment, great service and surprisingly low prices. They have it all:
• Live Music – every night!
• Fantastic food. Fresh, premium cuts of meat, vegetarian options
• Great decorations of Traditional Ethiopian life
• All the friendly staff are dressed traditionally
• A huge and lively bar downstairs
• Lots of ex-pats (downstairs)
• Family oriented (upstairs)
• Performance of the Coffee Ceremony every night
• Great selection of ice cold beers and local wines
• Great prices

I have tried several dishes and they are all delicious. All mains come with 4 different sauces to add flavour. Try the local Axumite Red Wine. Semi-sweet and light.

Theme: African

Price: less than US$10 » Currency Converter

Comparison: about average

Phone: 091-165-3611

Directions: On Mickey Leland Road, Opposite Nyala Insurance

Website: http://www.whatsupaddis.com/dning.htm

Other Contact: 0911 201 122


	Finfine Adarash Restaurant:: Real Ethiopia	Tip Rating: Satisfaction:

By ardelean

on August 18, 2005

by ardelean
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Restaurant Interior

This restaurant is really attractive. It is also a hotel. The seating is traditional, with round basket-like tables (the Ethiopian word is mesob). The interior is almost a museum with traditional musical instruments and baskets on the wall.

You could try some Tej, the tradional honey wine or some Doro Wot, which is made with chicken and egg in a hot curry sauce on sour dough bread. Come here after the baths to chill out.

Theme: Local

Address: Yohannis Street, Addis Ababa

Phone: 51-47-11


	FASIKA NATIONAL RESTAURANT: IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE NIGHT	Tip Rating: Satisfaction:

Updated By DAO

on February 25, 2008

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Why here? Well, it’s close to the airport off Bole Rd, it has excellent Ethiopian food and a live music/dance show every night at 8pm. If you want to see waitresses dressed in the different tribal clothes of Ethiopia and dancers performing varied tribal dances (and in outfits), then this is the place for you. I could not believe what great value this place was for entertainment, quality & quantity of food and some great Tej! This is a fantastic night out and a real flavour of the diversity of Ethiopia. It also has a good vegetarian menu.

Please note: Haile Gabriel Selassie (fastest Marathon runner in history) eats here (pictured).

Doro Wot and Tej

Theme: African

Price: less than US$10 » Currency Converter

Comparison: about average

Phone: 011-550-9912

Directions: Off Bole Road,in front of Sunshine Building


	Jewel of India: Addis's Best Indian!	Tip Rating: Satisfaction:

By DiploTraveler

on July 6, 2005

While Addis has a surprising number of Indian restaurants -- ranging from the Sheraton's glamourous but blah Shaheen to the veteran Sangam on Bole Road, Jewel of India is currently serving the best to be found in Ethiopia. Located in an old villa, the Jewel makes up in good service and friendly ambiance what its somewhat shopworn decor may lack in elegance.

Menu highlights include to-die-for butter chicken, fabulous dahls, and first-rate starters including delicious onion bhaji (not on the menu, but available on request).

Theme: Indian

Price: US$11-20 » Currency Converter

Comparison: about average

Address: Meskel Flower Road

Phone: 251-1-513154

Directions: heading out of town on Bole Road, turn right on Meskel Flower just after the Dembel Center; the restaurant is marked with a clear sign on the right-hand side.


	ISOLA VERDE PIZZERIA: SIMPLE AND EASY	Tip Rating: Satisfaction:

Updated By DAO

on February 3, 2008

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Ok, you are probably wondering why I have a picture that is clearly not a pizza on a tip about a Pizzeria. That’s because I ate breakfast here. The picture is of Meat Fir Fir. Quite filling and relatively inexpensive. This little restaurant also does 17 varieties of pizza. Please ignore the guidebooks that say they do not open until noon. I found them open and serving breakfast – no problem.