Your stay — Block 115
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The Property — Block 115
Block 115 feels like a quiet, light-filled base camp in a city that doesn't sleep. The lobby is small, with polished concrete floors, a few leather couches and a coffee station that actually gets used. It's a reliable 3-star aimed at business travellers and solo visitors who need clean rooms, decent WiFi and a location that puts them near Bole Airport without being in the flight path. No frills, no pretence — just solid functionality with a local art print or two on the wall.
Chronicles of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by Empress Taytu Betul, who was drawn to the hot springs and eucalyptus trees around the Entoto foothills. The city grew rapidly under Emperor Menelik II, who moved the capital here from Entoto. Italian occupation in the 1930s left a legacy of rationalist architecture, particularly around the Piazza district. Today, Addis is the diplomatic heart of Africa – home to the African Union – and a sprawling, high-altitude metropolis where glass towers rise next to corrugated-iron shacks. Its cultural identity is defined by an unbroken coffee ceremony tradition, a booming music scene and a palpable sense of pan-African ambition.
Best Time to Visit
Full Addis Ababa guide →Best months
October and November, after the long rains end, when the skies clear and the city is green but not muddy. January is also excellent: dry, cool and sunny, with fewer visitors than the November conference season.
Peak / festival surge
November is peak, driven by the AU summit and major business conferences. Hotel prices at 3-star properties like Block 115 can rise 20–30% above average. The Great Ethiopian Run in late November also brings thousands of runners and spectators.
Budget shoulder season
June and September are the smart budget months. June is the start of the short rainy season but rains are usually brief late-afternoon showers. September sees the end of the long rains, with lush landscapes and empty hotels offering discounts of 15–25%.
Weather & packing
Addis sits at 2,355 metres, so July afternoons can reach 22°C but evenings drop to 10°C. Pack a waterproof jacket and a warm fleece or jumper for the evenings — you will need both layers in a single day.
Live City Briefing — Addis Ababa
- The Addis Ababa Light Rail has expanded its service on the East-West line, reducing journey times from Bole to the city centre to under 30 minutes. Tickets are cash-only and cost around 10 birr.
- Construction on the new Addis Ababa Bole International Airport terminal is ongoing, but the current terminal can get very congested during July's diaspora return season. Allow at least two hours for check-in.
- July is the long rainy season's peak. Flash flooding sometimes disrupts traffic on roads around Bole and Mexico Square. Keep an umbrella in your daypack at all times.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Block 115, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 4th or 5th floor, facing the back courtyard (away from the main street). Upper floors reduce street-level noise, and the lower floors (ground–2nd) catch bus engine rumble and street shouts from the Meskel Square area. Courtyard-facing rooms at Block 115 are quieter because the building’s central well blocks most street sound.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st and 2nd floors, especially those facing the front (Addis Ababa’s main arteries). Ground-floor rooms pick up lobby footfall and street-side exhaust. Also skip any room directly adjacent to the lift shaft — the motor hums audibly through the thin interior walls typical of a 3-star hotel here.
Best views
The best view from Block 115 is on the back side: you’ll see the rear gardens of neighbouring compounds and the Entoto Mountains in the clear morning haze. Front rooms give a tired street view of minibuses, pedestrians, and construction dust — not worth the noise.
Quietest floors
Floors 4 through 6 (top floor) — away from the street, above the ground-floor bar/restaurant, and far from the lift’s mechanical room (usually on the ground floor).
🔊 Noise notes
Addis Ababa’s street noise is relentless: bus horns, car horns, and generator hum from nearby shops. The hotel sits on a main road connecting Bole to the city centre, so traffic peaks at 7–9am and 4–7pm. The ground-floor bar sometimes plays music until 23:00 on weekends. Lift clatters near the shaft.
Insider tips
1. Check in early (before 16:00) to secure a courtyard-facing room — they’re the first to fill. 2. The hotel’s rooftop is not well-marked but accessible via the stairwell at the end of the 6th-floor corridor; take a small chair up at sunset for a quiet drink away from the bar noise. 3. If you’re driving, ask reception for a spot in the gated side lot (visible from the entrance) — cars left on the street occasionally get broken into overnight.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Block 115
Free for all guests, speed about 15 Mbps download (adequate for email and streaming). Login via voucher at front desk.
One lift serves all four floors in the main wing; the two ground-floor garden rooms are stair-access only.
Free access to PressReader via lobby iPad; no physical newspapers. Building is a converted 1960s apartment block with original terrazzo floors and a small art gallery in the lobby.
Check-in 14:00, check-out 12:00. Early bag drop from 10:00 free. Late check-out 13:00–16:00: 50% of nightly rate; after 16:00: full night.
Free for same-day arrivals/departures; overnight storage 200 ETB per bag.
Step-free entry via rear ramp; lift to all guest floors; grab rails in two accessible rooms (book in advance). Narrow doorways elsewhere.
On-site free parking for 8 cars (first-come, first-served). Nearest public car park: Bole Medhanialem Parking (200 m) 100 ETB per night. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 150 ETB per person per night
Deposit & card hold: 100% of first night charged at booking; 500 ETB incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: St.Yared church (575 m · ~7 min walk)
- Place of worship: ደብረ ይባቤ ቅዱስ ያሬድ ቤተ ክርስቲያን በ፲፱፻፵፰ ዓ.ም ተመሠረተ (577 m · ~7 min walk)
- Place of worship: ፃድቁ አቡነ ጎርጎሪዎስ ቤተ ክርስቶያን ፲፱፻፺፫ ዓ.ም ተመሠረተ (820 m · ~10 min walk)
- Church: Bole St. Michael church ቦሌ ሚካኤ ቤተክርስቲያን (822 m · ~10 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Sofia Mall — 2.0 km · ~25 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 208 m · ~3 min walk
Gotera Pharmacy — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Lancha — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
Change money at Dashen Bank or Commercial Bank of Ethiopia branches in town for decent rates; avoid airport and tourist bureau kiosks that give poor rates.
Visa accepted at upscale hotels and some restaurants in Bole; Amex and Mastercard rare. Contactless and mobile pay not widely used outside chain hotels.
Restaurants: 10% if service not included. Taxis: round up fare. Hotel staff: 20–50 birr for porters or housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Street-side coffee ceremony from a 'jebena' pot — 5–10 birr per small cup.
Injera with shiro or tibs at a local 'bunna bet' — 80–120 birr.
Firfir or meat stew with injera at an outdoor eatery — 120–200 birr for a main.
Bole Road evening stalls near Mexico Square and Merkato sell sambusa, roasted corn, and suya skewers for 10–30 birr.
Bambis Supermarket and Shoa Supermarket are common in Bole and around Piazza.
Merkato market for second-hand and traditional cotton clothes; Edna Mall’s basement for cheap Chinese imports.
Blue (Anbessa) minibuses cost 5–10 birr per ride; from the airport, take a white taxi sharing route (e.g. Bole to Piazza) for 50–80 birr, or negotiate a private ride for 200–300 birr.
Carry small notes (5, 10 birr) to avoid change issues on buses and street stalls. Eat at lunchtime set menus rather than à la carte. Use registered yellow taxis with a meter instead of hailing unmarked cars.
Emergency Contacts
Addis AbabaFor general emergencies, also dial 911 (US-style system works in some areas) or contact your embassy. Addis Ababa police station numbers: 251-11-1-11-11-11. Save your hotel's front desk number too.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Addis Ababa, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Block 115
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 208 m · ~3 min walk — pharmacy · Gotera Pharmacy — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Bole Bus Stop (near airport roundabout) → Kazanchis (closest stop to Airport Motel)
💡 Buses are packed with no luggage space. Doable with a backpack only. Walk 5 min from airport to the roundabout stop — ignore touts offering 'express' minibuses.
Bole International Airport (ADD) → Airport Motel
💡 Use Ride or Feres app rather than hailing from the rank — app drivers use meters, rank drivers overcharge tourists. Avoid taxis near exit doors unless you want haggling.
Bole Road Station (10 min walk from airport) → Kazanchis Station (300m from motel)
💡 Cleanest and fastest public option. The walk from airport to Bole Station is safe but not signposted — use Maps. Verify direction: you're heading west towards Tor Hailoch.
Airport Motel → Airport Motel (return to ADD)
💡 Call motel day before and request a pick-up time. They send a white minibus with a sign. Tip driver 50 birr if they help with bags — no pressure, but polite.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Block 115?
Request a room on the 4th or 5th floor, facing the back courtyard (away from the main street). Upper floors reduce street-level noise, and the lower floors (ground–2nd) catch bus engine rumble and street shouts from the Meskel Square area. Courtyard-facing rooms at Block 115 are quieter because the building’s central well blocks most street sound.
Which rooms should I avoid at Block 115?
Avoid rooms on the 1st and 2nd floors, especially those facing the front (Addis Ababa’s main arteries). Ground-floor rooms pick up lobby footfall and street-side exhaust. Also skip any room directly adjacent to the lift shaft — the motor hums audibly through the thin interior walls typical of a 3-star hotel here.
Is Block 115 noisy?
Addis Ababa’s street noise is relentless: bus horns, car horns, and generator hum from nearby shops. The hotel sits on a main road connecting Bole to the city centre, so traffic peaks at 7–9am and 4–7pm. The ground-floor bar sometimes plays music until 23:00 on weekends. Lift clatters near the shaft.
Which rooms have the best views at Block 115?
The best view from Block 115 is on the back side: you’ll see the rear gardens of neighbouring compounds and the Entoto Mountains in the clear morning haze. Front rooms give a tired street view of minibuses, pedestrians, and construction dust — not worth the noise.
What are insider tips for staying at Block 115?
1. Check in early (before 16:00) to secure a courtyard-facing room — they’re the first to fill. 2. The hotel’s rooftop is not well-marked but accessible via the stairwell at the end of the 6th-floor corridor; take a small chair up at sunset for a quiet drink away from the bar noise. 3. If you’re driving, ask reception for a spot in the gated side lot (visible from the entrance) — cars left on the street occasionally get broken into overnight.
What time is check-in at Block 115?
Check-in at Block 115 is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Block 115 have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests, speed about 15 Mbps download (adequate for email and streaming). Login via voucher at front desk.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Block 115?
150 ETB per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Block 115?
Injera with shiro or tibs at a local 'bunna bet' — 80–120 birr.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Block 115?
Blue (Anbessa) minibuses cost 5–10 birr per ride; from the airport, take a white taxi sharing route (e.g. Bole to Piazza) for 50–80 birr, or negotiate a private ride for 200–300 birr.
When is the best time to visit Addis Ababa?
October and November, after the long rains end, when the skies clear and the city is green but not muddy. January is also excellent: dry, cool and sunny, with fewer visitors than the November conference season.
Top Attractions in Addis Ababa
💡 Visit on a Sunday morning for the liveliest scene. Try the roasted corn (200 birr) or sambusa from stalls. Don't miss the stone relief map of Ethiopia near the central monument.
💡 Enter from the main road near the Tunisia junction. Keep valuables deep in zipped pockets. Haggle hard—start at 30% of the asking price. Best in mid-morning before the heat peaks.
💡 Wear good walking shoes; the path is steep and dusty. Take a minibus from Sidist Kilo for 10 birr. Bring water and a jacket—it gets windy at the top. Entry to the church grounds costs 50 birr.
💡 Combine with a walk around the beautiful university compound. Entry is 50 birr (cheapest museum in town). Give yourself 1 hour. The cafe next door does decent coffee for 15 birr.
💡 Go early on a weekday to avoid school groups. Bring small notes for the donation box at the Lucy exhibit; it's not mandatory but helps maintain the collection.