Video Guide: Using Google Maps Lists
All our recommendations throughout this site link to curated Google Maps lists. This short video shows you how to save them and use them while you're in the city.
Cultural Restaurants
Our Favorite Cultural Restaurants Our picks on Google Maps →
A night at Yod Abyssinia, 2000 Habesha, Totot, or Haile Grand is one of those experiences that stays with you. The format is dinner-with-a-show: a full spread of injera, wats, tibs, and side dishes, paired with live performances covering Ethiopia's diverse dance traditions. Expect the shoulder-shaking eskista, regional dances from across the country, and a traditional coffee ceremony to close the evening. The energy builds as the night goes on. Go hungry, stay late.
Museums
Map of Museums Our picks on Google Maps →
The city's museums serve as guardians of Ethiopia's remarkable history, from ancient civilizations to modern independence movements. The National Museum houses the famous fossilized remains of "Lucy" (Dinkinesh), along with artifacts spanning millions of years of human evolution and Ethiopian cultural development. The Ethnological Museum, Red Terror Martyrs Memorial Museum, and various cultural institutions preserve and present different aspects of Ethiopian heritage, offering visitors comprehensive insights into one of Africa's most historically significant and culturally rich nations.
Ethiopian Food
Our Favorite Ethiopian Food Our picks on Google Maps →
Ethiopian food is one of the most distinctive cuisines in the world, and Addis is where you eat it at its best. These dishes are a starting point; there's far more to discover once you're here.
- Doro Wat - Ethiopia's undisputed national dish. It is a spicy chicken stew with hard-boiled eggs, slow-cooked with berbere spice blend. This is the dish that defines Ethiopian cuisine internationally.
- Kitfo - Ethiopia's version of steak tartare. Kitfo is minced raw beef served with spices and often accompanied by ayib (cottage cheese).
- Shiro Wat - The most beloved vegetarian dish. It is one of the most widely consumed dishes in Ethiopia.
- Tibs - Pan-fried sliced beef or lamb that represents Ethiopia's approach to meat dishes. It is one of the famous foods in Ethiopia and is traditionally served to show respect to someone.
- Tej - Ethiopian honey wine that's been produced for thousands of years, representing the country's ancient fermentation traditions.
Coffee
Our Favorite Coffee Places Our picks on Google Maps →
Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, and Addis Ababa lives and breathes the coffee culture. The traditional coffee ceremony (bunna maflat) performed in homes, restaurants, and cafés, is a slow, aromatic ritual involving roasting green beans over charcoal, grinding by hand, and serving three rounds of increasingly mellow coffee to guests.
The city is filled with excellent local coffee shops, from iconic spots like Tomoca (open since 1953) to modern third-wave cafés such as Hadero and Dukamo, where you can taste single-origin beans from Yirgacheffe, Sidama, Harrar, and Kaffa.
Parks & Nature
Parks & Nature Our picks on Google Maps →
Addis is a high-altitude city ringed by mountains, and it shows. These are the best spots to get outside without leaving town. Check the map for more.
Unity Park
Located inside the old imperial palace, Unity Park blends culture and nature.
You'll find historic exhibitions, manicured gardens, a mini zoo with lions and
baboons, and plenty of cafés and rest areas.
Friendship Park
This peaceful park offers open lawns, walking paths, and panoramic city views.
It's great for a jog, a casual stroll, or watching the evening fountain and
light show.
Entoto Park
Set in the cool hills above Addis, Entoto Park has hiking trails, bike paths,
and adventure sports like ziplining. Or just relax at a café and take in the
forest views and fresh air.
Art Galleries
Art Galleries Our picks on Google Maps →
Addis has a lively contemporary art scene, a mix of established institutions and scrappy independent spaces. Ethiopian artists are increasingly gaining international recognition, and the galleries here are a great way to see what's happening. Worth visiting:
- Lela Gallery: one of the most respected contemporary art spaces in the city, with rotating shows by established Ethiopian artists. Bole area.
- Netsa Art Village: a creative compound of studios and small galleries with an open, collaborative feel. Artists often work on-site.
- Asni Gallery: long-running gallery in a pleasant garden setting near the Sheraton. Strong collection of Ethiopian contemporary painting.
- Alliance Ethio-Française: not just a language institute; they regularly host exhibitions, film nights, and cultural events. Follow them on Instagram for upcoming shows.
Most galleries are free to enter. Opening hours vary, so it's worth checking their social media before visiting.
Event and music venues
Event & Music Venues Our picks on Google Maps →
Addis Ababa has a dynamic live music and event scene that ranges from jazz and traditional music to reggae and electronic nights. Venues like Fendika Cultural Center and African Jazz Village host regular live performances, while larger spots such as Skylight Hotel and Ghion Hotel often serve as spaces for concerts, expos, and festivals. Be on the lookout for events, especially on nights and weekends.
Mystery Box
Mystery Box Map Our picks on Google Maps →
Are you up for something random? Whether you're looking to buy finely crafted leather goods and handmade souvenirs, saddle up at a local horse stable, join an energetic dance class, plug into a dynamic co-working space, or unwind with a game at one of the city's bowling alleys, there's something interesting to do. This list is a mystery box of fun places to try out.
Foreign Cuisine
Our Favorite Foreign Cuisine Our picks on Google Maps →
Addis has a solid international food scene, with Italian, Indian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern all well-represented. Use this map when you want a break from Ethiopian food.
Food & Drinks
Food & Drinks Our picks on Google Maps →
One of the best ways to understand a city is through what it eats and drinks. This curated map covers our favorite spots, from hole-in-the-wall tej houses and market kitchens to rooftop bars and riverside cafés. Use it as a jumping-off point, then let yourself wander.
Theatres
Theatres Our picks on Google Maps →
Theatre in Addis blends classical stage performance with distinctly Ethiopian storytelling, drawing on oral tradition, history, and sharp social commentary. Most performances are in Amharic, but the energy and spectacle come through regardless of language.
- National Theatre the flagship venue, hosting drama, dance, and large-scale musical productions. Check their page for current shows. Located near Meskel Square.
- Hager Fikir Theatre: one of the oldest theatres in Africa (est. 1935). Stages plays rooted in Ethiopian history and everyday life. A beloved institution for locals.
- Goethe Institut & Alliance Ethio-Française: both regularly host theatrical performances, often with international collaborations and English-language or subtitled productions.
Tickets are generally inexpensive by international standards. Even if you can't follow the dialogue, a night at Hager Fikir is a genuinely local experience.
📸 Instagram-Worthy Spots
Addis Ababa rewards photographers and curious wanderers. These are the spots that consistently produce the best shots and memories, with notes on when to go for the best light and atmosphere.
- Entoto hilltop at sunrise: Drive up before 6am. The eucalyptus forest is still quiet, women carry firewood on their backs, and the city spreads out below in morning haze. One of the most atmospheric scenes in Addis.
- Meskel Square during the Meskel festival (September 27): Tens of thousands gather in white traditional dress. The bonfire (Demera) is photographed from every angle. Even from the edges of the square the scale is breathtaking.
- Friendship Park fountain light show: Every evening at 7pm the fountains come on with coloured lights and music. Families, couples, joggers all gather. The reflections in the water are gorgeous.
- Tomoca Coffee interior: One of the oldest coffee shops in Addis (since 1953). Dark wood, old machinery, packed with regulars. Arrive early before the lunchtime rush for quieter shots.
- Unity Park, the lion enclosure: Ethiopia's national symbol, the lion, up close inside the palace grounds. The enclosure is small and surprisingly intimate.
- Merkato street scenes: The largest open-air market in Africa. Chaotic, colourful, overwhelming in the best way. Go in the morning, stay aware of your belongings, and ask before photographing people.
- Traditional coffee ceremony setup: If you're invited to or arrange a traditional Jebena Buna ceremony, the incense smoke, clay pot, and grass-covered floor make for iconic images. Many cultural restaurants will stage this for guests.