The 5 best restaurants of Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa has incredible food. Addis Ababa has old, charming restaurants that will teleport you to the 1950s, or older, for that matter. That’s what’s nice about Addis Ababa: you don’t feel like you’re living in 2023. You live in the days we long for, with jukeboxes, checked floors and vintage posters. The restaurant experience you will live in Addis is unique, nostalgic, and most importantly, delicious. Your taste buds will embark on a marvelous adventure thanks to the cosmopolitan nature of the food experience in the Ethiopian capital. From phenomenal french cuisine to incredible italians, from marvelous belgian restaurants to, of course, the unskippable ethiopian cuisine, I can guarantee you will love the charming and tasty adventure you’re about to embark on.

1. Castelli

Castelli is the most authentic Italian restaurant you will find on the African continent. It's situated in the historical Piazza, the capital’s old town remaining from the brief Italian occupation in the mid 20th century. Castelli was established in 1948, and though it has been renovated since, every visit to the old restaurant feels like a time travel to 1948.

The food is to die for. Few places even in Italy compare to Castelli’s quality. The pasta in particular will leave you craving for more. Castelli has original recipes and rich flavors. I recommend the saffron spaghetti, which is my personal favorite after having tried many, many dishes in this restaurant. The saltimbocca alla romana is another item in the menu that makes my mouth water when I think of it. The starters and the deserts are also divine. The flavors are not to be missed. Foodwise, the quality is exceptional.

The atmosphere is warm and comfortable. Small tables in small rooms with wooden parquets, tall ceilings and flowery curtains, just like in the 50s. Bright and charming during the day, dark and cozy in the evening. Beautifully retro.

The prices are high compared to other restaurants in Addis, but it’s still perfectly fine for the experience.

Castelli is a wonderful restaurant for some good wine, good food and good conversation.

2. Yod Abyssinia

Yod Abyssinia is a well known traditional restaurant in Addis. With traditional tables, chairs (carved wooden stools, so charming!), food and, most importantly, music and dancing, this restaurant gives you the whole Habesha cultural experience. It doesn’t have the best injera of Addis, but that’s not the essence of Yod Abyssinia. The purpose is to watch the fascinating traditional dances and listen to invigorating Ethiopian music while eating traditional Ethiopian food.

Speaking of, if you’re not familiar with Ethiopian food, let’s dive into the interesting cuisine of Abyssinia:

Ethiopian cuisine characteristically consists of spicy meat dishes and vegetables served on top of injera, a fluffy, sour, pancake-like flatbread. Injera is the staple: it’s used to pick the dishes poured on top of it. It’s made of teff flour, which is gluten-free and rich in iron, a characteristic that made it popular in the West.

The show in Yod Abyssinia is fantastic. It’s a whole experience, and you don’t feel time going by. I strongly recommend this restaurant for an exciting cultural experience.

3. Mamma Mia

Mamma Mia! This restaurant has my heart! By far the loveliest restaurant in Addis. It’s unbelievably refreshing to sit in the green, quiet, peaceful little garden of Mamma Mia on a sunny day. However, my favorite thing to do is sit inside. Mamma Mia is a charming old villa of Addis Ababa, with purple walls, windows overlooking the garden, a picturesque chimney, and old wooden parquet. Again, we have a wonderfully retro atmosphere that is so enchanting, you’ll stay here for hours. And I definitely recommend staying here for hours. Mamma Mia is the place for long, lazy lunches.

The food is marvelous. The pastas are delectable: I recommend the orecchiette bolognaise. I’ve never tasted anything like it. You can thank me later. The meats are good as well.

As usual in Addis, this restaurant will be a time traveling experience. The charming, picturesque old villa will transport you to the 1940s.

The owner, Bruno, welcomes you with a big smile. The hospitality, the good food and beautiful atmosphere make Mamma Mia my personal favorite, not only in Addis, but in Africa.

4. Louvre Restaurant

Louvre Restaurant is a charming French Brasserie, beautifully decorated, with old parisian metro plans as posters, red, checked table cloths, vintage posters, authentic parisian furniture from the 20th century, lovely mural paintings, and vintage posters.

Louvre Restaurant also has a great terrace with high chairs and tables, making it a relaxed, breezy place to eat some good food and converse.

I think it’s best to visit the cozy brasserie in the evening, for dinner, as it usually has a vibrant, electrifying energy. Its nostalgic, intimate atmosphere, paired with the dynamic conversations that fill the restaurant, with people laughing, debating, reminiscing, is incomparable. Louvre Restaurant’s popularity makes it an exciting place to go to.

This brasserie serves traditional French cuisine. From Boeuf Bourguignon to Quiche Lorraine, the selection of french foods is satisfying, with generous portions.

5. Nekhla Restaurant

Ethiopia and Yemen share a long and complex history that dates back to ancient times. Their proximity and significant differences have led to consequential cultural, economic and political ties over the centuries.

Yemeni culture is present in Addis Ababa: communities have settled in Ethiopia throughout history, particularly in the areas of trade and commerce. These two countries were connected by a network of ancient trade routes, resulting in Yemeni merchants and scholars settling in the major trade centers of Ethiopia.

Thankfully, this history with Yemen has also made Addis Ababa one of the best places in Africa to relish in the divine Yemeni cuisine.

With its rich flavors, complex spices and unique ingredients, Yemeni cuisine is one of the most underrated cuisines in the world. In Nekhla Restaurant, an authentic Yemeni restaurant, you can try out the highlights of this delicious cuisine.

My recommendation is trying out Nekhla’s Mandi, which is a combination of rice, meat, and spices, slow-cooked in an underground oven. Mandi, a staple food in Yemen, is usually served during special occasions or festivals. The meat used in Mandi is usually goat or lamb, and the spices used to marinate the meat include cumin, cardamom, turmeric, and cloves. The rice is usually cooked in the same pot as the meat, which infuses it with the delicious flavors of the spices and meat.

The portions are delicious and generous. The Mandi I ate here was truly one of the best meals I’ve ever tasted.