Addis Ababa Restaurants

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This place is hard to find, it’s not always open and reservations are recommended. Having said all that – it’s a real gourmet delight. All the dishes are interesting fusions of many cuisines. Rather than being a weird experiment, the fabulous chefs make it all work in harmony. The overall theme is supposed to be Mediterranean, but it’s definitely international. Set in a beautifully decorated house and your have a romantic setting.

Dinner Only and only open on Wed, Thur, Fri, and Sat

Favorite Dish:
A sushi starter with Nile perch (both pictured).

THIS IS A DAO RECOMMENDED RESTAURANT

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I ate here for lunch and had the place to myself. Looking around the beautiful dinning room inside I think I really should have come back for an evening meal. Run by a real (nice) couple from Georgia, my meal was excellent. I sat outside in the sunshine and had a cheese pastry starter and a dish with wrapped cabbage leaves. Throw in a cold beer and friendly staff, a real winner. They also have a selection of Georgian wines.

Open: Sunday To Saturday From 11:00 AM To 11:00 PM

Favorite Dish: THIS IS A DAO RECOMMENDED RESTAURANT

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This restaurant is a little gem. It is run by a nice family and the décor is a confusion of a seafood theme and nice Ethiopian art prints. It is a great food treat for the budget traveller. They do a special cannelloni made in a metal pot on several nights. A real treat and they will bring you extra meat sauce no problem.

Its a quiet little place and the menu is varied, but mostly Italian. I have eaten here many times and I have always loved every bite. Service with a smile, good food and it's cheap. You just can't beat that.

Favorite Dish:
Mixed steak (pictured). An absolute taste treat for meat lovers served with fresh injera. Its stewed beef with peppers, onions and spices. A real wow!

THIS IS A DAO RECOMMENDED RESTAURANT

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Update: Several people report this restaurant no longer exists. Sad.
Blue Tops is a first class Italian Restaurant contained within a privacy minded garden. The staff are professional, the food is divine and the atmosphere is great. They have 3 tables outside that I highly recommend sitting at. When you sit down they bring you a small platter of bread and toppings to kind of make your own bruschetta (pictured). Pasta dishes are made with the finest ingredients and the meat dishes are well seasoned and tasty. It’s a bit expensive by local standards, but a great place for a sumptuous lunch.

Closed mondays.

Favorite Dish:
Pasta starter with a mixed meat grill and a nice bottle of Axumite wine.

THIS IS A DAO RECOMMENDED RESTAURANT

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For some reason this place gets all the write-ups in guidebooks ahead of Fasika National Restaurant. I think this is second to Faiska, but still a great night out. It’s amazingly dark inside until the floor show starts. Traditional dances are performed by absolutely stunningly talents dancers and musicians. They change outfits throughout the show to represent some of the many tribes that make up Ethiopia. For the food and show, this place is scandalously cheap by European standards. If you are here for a week, make your way here. You may want to ring for reservations.

Favorite Dish: Any Injera dish. It's all good!

THIS IS A DAO RECOMMENDED RESTAURANT

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Ethiopia is renowned for its fantastic food. It’s always fresh, has lots of variety and is well prepared. Except for here. My fish was deep fried. My vegetables were deep fried. Vegetables! And a kind of salad on my plate was – you guessed it – deep fried. Salad, fried. How did they do that? I was truly shocked at how bad it tasted. I went to another restaurant afterwards. And the service? I waited for 30 minutes for my waitress to come back with my beer. I am still waiting for her now! And that was in December 2007. I finally found a bar man from upstairs to bring me a beer to go with my meal. The waitress on re-appeared in time to give me the bill (esop in Amharic).

Favorite Dish: EVERY THING IS BAD - ESPECIALLY THE SERVICE

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This place is a real treat. The do fondue for two, great steaks and fantastic french onion soup. The large menu is very international. This is an upscale restaurant with fine white linen and it’s illuminated by candlelight. The service is friendly and professional and the management let me in to take pictures while they were closed. Started in 1963, the Cottage is a great dining experience and can always expect an upscale meal and great service. I have eaten here in 3 separate years and its always great.

They also have a real wooden English Pub in the back that was shipped here from London! Impressive.


Open: 12:00-14:00 and 17:30-22:00 7 days a week

Favorite Dish:
French onion soup, steak smothered in peppercorn sauce. And a nice bottle of Axumite red wine
or a choice of cold beers.

THIS IS A DAO RECOMMENDED RESTAURANT

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This place is busy day and night. There is a very good reason for that as well. Romina make seriously good food. I have never made a reservation and they have always found me a table, inside or out. It looks like a kind of café or pastry shop, but their chefs mean business in the kitchen. Staff are lightning fast and if you give a small tip (about $1) they will remember you the next time you arrive.

They do a full Café and Bakery menu with the best coffee (Ethiopian!) in the world. So if you want a light snack or just a coffee, this is a nice place to go.

They also do breakfast.

The main reason to come here is definately dinner. They have a solid menu of Ethiopian favorites. On warm nights you ca ndine outside. If its rainy, have a seat downstairs. This restaruant just makes you feel good.

Favorite Dish:
The Romina Special! Injera with several sauces and rice. A samplers delight. Washed down with a cold St. George’s.

THIS IS A DAO RECOMMENDED RESTAURANT