<strong>Chaotic capital: </strong>Ethiopia's Addis Ababa is an energetic, electric and eclectic city with a personality and style all its own in Africa. The fashion scene is thriving. These threads are by local designer Mafi.
Chaotic capital: Ethiopia's Addis Ababa is an energetic, electric and eclectic city with a personality and style all its own in Africa. The fashion scene is thriving. These threads are by local designer Mafi.
Mahlet Afework
<strong>Ground zero: </strong>One of Addis' legendary coffee emporiums is Alem Bunna on the hip Bole Road. It sells the finest Arabica brews in an authentic setting.
Ground zero: One of Addis' legendary coffee emporiums is Alem Bunna on the hip Bole Road. It sells the finest Arabica brews in an authentic setting.
James Jeffrey
<strong>Street slurp: </strong>You can even get a decent cup of coffee from the street stalls in Addis Ababa. This seller is offering jebena bunna, coffee prepared using the black clay pot.
Street slurp: You can even get a decent cup of coffee from the street stalls in Addis Ababa. This seller is offering jebena bunna, coffee prepared using the black clay pot.
James Jeffrey
<strong>National dish: </strong>Ethiopia's staple is injera, a spongy pancake-like bread made out of teff flour. It is usually piled with various meats, vegetables and delicious hot sauces.
National dish: Ethiopia's staple is injera, a spongy pancake-like bread made out of teff flour. It is usually piled with various meats, vegetables and delicious hot sauces.
James Jeffrey
<strong>Food choice: </strong>For a rest from injera, Addis has myriad foreign eateries, such as Sishu Restaurant <em>(pictured here),</em> whose burgers pull in locals and visitors alike.
Food choice: For a rest from injera, Addis has myriad foreign eateries, such as Sishu Restaurant (pictured here), whose burgers pull in locals and visitors alike.
Azariah Mengistu
<strong>Italy on a plate: </strong>Addis has some notable Italian eateries such as <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpages%2FRistorante-Castelli-Addis-ababa%2F230715623605957" target="_blank" target="_blank">Ristorante Castelli</a>, which has fed royalty, film stars and ex-US presidents, and Grani di Pepe <em>(pictured here)</em>, a popular lunchtime spot.
Italy on a plate: Addis has some notable Italian eateries such as Ristorante Castelli, which has fed royalty, film stars and ex-US presidents, and Grani di Pepe (pictured here), a popular lunchtime spot.
James Jeffrey
<strong>Arty Addis: </strong>Alongside its vibrant fashion scene, Addis is something of an arts hub. The Makush Art Gallery <em>(pictured here)</em>, off the Bole Road, has more than 600 paintings in its collection.
Arty Addis: Alongside its vibrant fashion scene, Addis is something of an arts hub. The Makush Art Gallery (pictured here), off the Bole Road, has more than 600 paintings in its collection.
James Jeffrey
<strong>Sounds of Africa:</strong> The city's music scene is a constantly changing vortex, with everything from Ethio-Jazz to Amharic Rap. Locals love to dance, too. The many azmari bets are good places to catch<em> </em>Ethiopian iskista dancing<em> (pictured here). </em>
Sounds of Africa: The city's music scene is a constantly changing vortex, with everything from Ethio-Jazz to Amharic Rap. Locals love to dance, too. The many azmari bets are good places to catch Ethiopian iskista dancing (pictured here).
James Jeffrey
<strong>Ancient history: </strong>Ethiopians take their history very seriously, and they have good reason -- the country has one of the world's oldest Christian traditions. Inside the fascinating National Museum of Ethiopia lies the legendary Lucy, the oldest and most complete hominid skeleton ever discovered.
Ancient history: Ethiopians take their history very seriously, and they have good reason -- the country has one of the world's oldest Christian traditions. Inside the fascinating National Museum of Ethiopia lies the legendary Lucy, the oldest and most complete hominid skeleton ever discovered.
James Jeffrey
<strong>Sports mad: </strong>Cycling and long-distance running are firm favorites and always draw a crowd, while Ethiopians are soccer mad -- watching a game in the stadium at Meskal Square is a raucous experience.
Sports mad: Cycling and long-distance running are firm favorites and always draw a crowd, while Ethiopians are soccer mad -- watching a game in the stadium at Meskal Square is a raucous experience.
James Jeffrey
<strong>Spoilt for choice: </strong>A construction boom has flooded the hotel market -- with so many options it can be difficult deciding where to stay. The Sheraton and Hilton are top end but the Itegue Taitu and Ghion offer more authentic alternatives.
Spoilt for choice: A construction boom has flooded the hotel market -- with so many options it can be difficult deciding where to stay. The Sheraton and Hilton are top end but the Itegue Taitu and Ghion offer more authentic alternatives.
James Jeffrey
<strong>Escape the crowds: </strong>You can watch the sun rise from a rocky outcrop atop Yeka hill overlooking the area of Megananya to the east of the city before visiting the nearby 700-year-old rock-hewn church of Washa Michael.
Escape the crowds: You can watch the sun rise from a rocky outcrop atop Yeka hill overlooking the area of Megananya to the east of the city before visiting the nearby 700-year-old rock-hewn church of Washa Michael.
James Jeffrey
<strong>Star gazing: </strong>Addis is home to the Horn of Africa's first space observatory in the Entoto hills to the north of the city.
Star gazing: Addis is home to the Horn of Africa's first space observatory in the Entoto hills to the north of the city.
James Jeffrey
<strong>Language lesson: </strong>Ethiopia can be a mind-boggling places for linguists with more than 80 dialects, but locals in Addis will love it if you try a few words of Amharic.
Language lesson: Ethiopia can be a mind-boggling places for linguists with more than 80 dialects, but locals in Addis will love it if you try a few words of Amharic.
Ian Swithinbank/Flickr