The Ultimate Guide to Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa, the vibrant capital of Ethiopia, is a must-see commercial and cultural epicenter. If you have a chance to visit or happen to transit through Addis, below are a few things you shouldn’t miss.
Where To Stay:
The most famous accommodations are spread out across the city. If you are looking to stay at hotels, the best hotels in the city are Hyatt Regency, Hilton, Bellevue Hotel , Skylight Hotel and The Sheraton . If you are looking to stay in an Airbnb depending on the experience you want to have, Bole- the more upscale area is great if you want to stay close to the airport and many restaurants in this post, Haya Hulet is another area that is close to Bole and central to most places. Some people also stay in Arat Kilo to be close to museums and most shopping areas.
What To Do:
Unity Park: Located in the heart of the city, the park is in the former palace compound of Ethiopia’s rulers. I had a chance to explore the park on a Saturday morning during my recent visit. I highly suggest you visit on a weekday if you have the chance since weekends tend to be busy. You can buy tickets in advance here.
National Museum of Ethiopia: Famous for housing Lucy(Dinkinesh), the museum features many of Ethiopia’s artistic treasures. Lucy, a three and a half million-year-old bone fossils of a female of the hominin species, is the most popular archaeological find in the museum. There are also many displays dating back to the early civilizations within the region during the Aksumite period.
Addis Fine Art: An art gallery that showcases contemporary art by artists within Ethiopia and its diaspora.
Medhane Alem Cathedral: In the heart of bole stands the Medhane Alem Cathedral. This cathedral is the second-largest in Africa and the largest in Ethiopia. Although it’s a sight to see on any given day, It is even more fascinating during Orthodox Christmas and Easter. It will be packed if you plan on going during any of these big holidays but the celebrations are incredible to see in my opinion.
Coffee Ceremony: Getting Coffee is no drive thru endeavor in Ethiopia. As the birthplace of coffee, the country prides itself on having the finest Arabica coffee and unique ceremony to go with it. The Buna or Coffee ceremony is an integral part of social life that serves as a gathering for friends, relatives and neighbors.
Although there are plenty of cafés where you can get coffee, I suggest going to traditional coffee stalls or restaurants to experience the coffee ceremony. Traditionally, coffee is brewed in the Jebea-a clay pot- and served in mini cups called sini. It is served in three rounds called Abol(the first round and the strongest), Tona(the second round), and Baraka(the third round also known as “one for the road”).
If you go to any of the cultural houses I mention below, you can also experience the coffee ceremony there.
What To Do At Night:
The Nightlife in Addis is great. There is a little bit of everything to do from cultural immersion shows to a casual night out on the town.
Ethio-jazz: a fusion of Ethiopian traditional melodies with western-style jazz and funk, is played across venues around town. If you are lucky you can catch a rare appearance of the godfather of Ethio-Jazz, Mulatu Astatke at the African Jazz Village at Giyon Hotel.
Azmari Bete: a traditional tavern with a performer playing the masinko (fiddle like instrument) and rhyming playful insults over the beats of bati. Fendika Azmari Bet is one of my favorite venues for this. They also play Jazz.
Cultural Houses: Yod Abyssinia, Huletshi Habesha(2000 Habesha) and Totot are a few of the cultural houses in Addis. These are restaurants that have dinner with a cultural show and are famous amongst tourists and locals alike.
Clubs: There are a number of clubs across the city that do a good blend of African and western music. The hottest places change each time I visit so you would have to ask around to see the best places to visit while you’re out there. Here are a few notable places I heard about during my visit in January of this year: Diamond, V Lounge, Obsession, and Alona.
Where To Shop:
One of my favorite things to do in Addis is going bargain shopping.
Merkato-one the largest markets in Africa- is for seasoned shoppers. Even as an Ethiopia born visitor, I make it a point to go with a local since it can be quite overwhelming and hectic.
Shiro Meda is on the less hectic side and can be done by yourself but if you’re not the best at bargain shopping I highly recommend taking a local to avoid paying foreigner prices.
Bole and Hayahulet are great areas for shopping as well. You can find the most famous local designers at various malls in these areas.
Where To Eat:
It could be a bit tricky to suggest specific food spots in Addis because every time I go to Addis there is a new hot spot in town so the recommendations I give you might be outdated in a few months. Nonetheless, there are a few places that I absolutely love and think you should check out on your trip to Addis. Also, there is a page I follow on Instagram called @dineout that features the latest restaurants in Addis.
List of Restaurants
Breakfast: Demela for a western breakfast or Kategna for a traditional breakfast. Try the genfo (porrage), Kategna or Kunta Firfir at Kategna.
Lunch: Effoi(best Pizza spot- they also have vegan pizza that is amazing), Grub On, Yemane, Gebeta, or Tiru Kitfo .
Dinner: Yod Abyssinia(best dinner and a cultural show experience, also the most famous), Mama’s Kitchen, Castelli Restaurant(Italian), or Chanoly.
Cafes: Shifta, Bake and Brew, Treats, Savor, Enrico's(has been around for over 60 years which is rare for most food establishments and arguably has the best Italian pastries in town).
Best Local Dish To Try
My favorite Ethiopian dish is Kifto. A traditional dish from the Gurage region of Ethiopia. Kitfo is a beef tar tar like dish seasoned with Ethiopian butter and a spice called mitmita. It is traditionally served with Ayeb (local cheese), Gomen(collard greens), Kocho or Injera. It can be served raw, medium-rare (lebleb) or fully cooked.
A few of my favorite Gurage houses in Ethiopia are Teshomech, Yohanes, Tiru Kitfo or Yemane.
Where To Spend A Day Outside Of The City:
If your schedule permits, I suggest taking a day to step outside of Addis to explore a few nearby lakes and ancient monasteries.
Home to one of the oldest Christian traditions, Ethiopia has numerous Christian heritage sites. Debre Libanos Monastery, Adadi Mariam- a rock-hewn church, Tiya Stele (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), are among the few sites you can visit on a day trip.
Debre Zeit/ Bishoftu is home to crater lakes such as Lake Hora, Lake Bishoftu, Lake Kuriftu, and Lake Chelekleka. As a popular weekend getaway spot, the area is home to many lakeside resorts and restaurants. Kuriftu, Adulala, and Liesak are a few of the most famous resorts in the area.
Lake Zeway is another lake in the Great Rift Valley. You can take a boat trip to Tullo Gudo Island, which is home to Maryam Tsion church that is said to have housed the Ark of the Covenant at one point in time. If you’re lucky you can spot some hippos along the way. I also recommend trying some of the local fried fish. You can find women cooking fresh-caught tilapia near the lake. I’ve had the best fried fish in Ethiopia in this area.