La Parisienne

Addis Ababa


If you’re staying in the Bole Rd part of town (in fact, even if you’re not), then there’s only one place for breakfast and that’s this megapopular terrace cafe with superb coffee, fair impersonations of croissants and freshly squeezed orange juice. There are several other branches throughout the city but this one is considered the best.

If the waitresses could only develop more of a Gallic ‘I can’t be bothered to serve you’ shrug then you’d think you were on the Champs-Élysées.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Addis Ababa attractions

1. Addis Ababa Museum

0.57 MILES

Despite only being founded on Addis' centenary in 1986, the Addis Ababa Museum is the city’s scruffiest museum. That said, perusing candid portraits of…

2. 'Red Terror' Martyrs Memorial Museum

0.62 MILES

‘As if I bore them all in one night, they slew them in a single night.’ These were the words spoken by the mother of four teenage children all killed on…

4. Africa Hall

0.9 MILES

Built in 1961 by Emperor Haile Selassie, Africa Hall (near Meskal Sq) is the seat of the UN’s Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The Italian-designed…

5. Presidential Palace

1.04 MILES

This is where the Ethiopian president lives. Don't even think of taking a photo.

6. Lion of Judah Monument

1.15 MILES

Long the symbol of Ethiopia’s monarchy, the Lion of Judah is ubiquitous throughout the country – and although images of the almighty animal abound in…

7. Bete Maryam Mausoleum

1.53 MILES

The Bete Maryam Mausoleum is located just south of Menelik’s palace and offers what could be an enchantingly eerie experience for travellers (were it not…

8. Derg Monument

1.6 MILES

The towering Derg Monument is one of the more poignant reminders of the country’s painful communist rule. Topped by a massive red star and emblazoned with…