Your stay — Mena Hotel
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The Property — Mena Hotel
The Mena Hotel is a solid workhorse of a 3-star in the Bole district, a ten-minute walk from the airport. The lobby feels like a slightly tired but professional business lounge – polished floors, leather sofas, a small reception desk that moves you through check-in quickly. It suits the transit traveller who needs a clean, quiet room near the terminal, not charm or local character.
Chronicles of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II and his wife Empress Taytu Betul, who chose the spot for its hot springs and temperate climate. The city developed rapidly in the 20th century, with Italian occupation leaving a mark of rationalist architecture in the central Piazza district and the grand, curved lines of Africa Hall. Today, it is both the diplomatic capital of Africa – hosting the African Union – and a sprawling, fast-growing metropolis of around 4 million, where gleaming glass towers rise next to corrugated-iron markets.
Best Time to Visit
Full Addis Ababa guide →Best months
November and December – the end of the main rains, clear skies, temperatures in the low 20s, and fewer tourists than October. February is also excellent: dry, bright and cooler at night.
Peak / festival surge
August is peak for the Great Ethiopian Run (usually late August) and diaspora visitors returning for summer holidays. Hotel prices can jump 20–30%, and hotels near Bole fill weeks ahead.
Budget shoulder season
March and April offer lower prices and still-dry weather before the main rains start in June. Crowds thin noticeably in Bole restaurants.
Weather & packing
Addis has a mild, spring-like climate year-round because of its 2,400m altitude – never hot, never properly freezing. Pack layers: a light jacket or fleece for evenings, and a compact umbrella for the frequent short afternoon showers (the 'small rains' March–May, the big one June–September).
Live City Briefing — Addis Ababa
- The Addis Ababa Light Rail is expanding its east-west line; expect occasional 15-minute delays on the 7A tram from Bole to Meskel Square, especially during evening peak.
- A new pedestrianised zone opened on Bole Road near the Edna Mall in early 2026, with pop-up coffee vendors and benches – a decent spot for an afternoon walk.
- Ethiopian Airlines has temporarily rerouted all domestic departures to Terminal 2 until October 2026 due to runway maintenance, adding 10 extra minutes to check-in at Bole International.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Mena Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on a higher floor, ideally 4th or 5th floor, to minimize potential street noise from the busy Addis Ababa streets below. These floors are also likely to be closer to the lift, making it more convenient to access your room.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the lower floors, especially those near the service entrance or lift, as you may hear the comings and goings of staff and guests.
Best views
Since the hotel's address is in Addis Ababa, rooms with a south or west-facing orientation may offer views of the surrounding cityscape or nearby buildings.
Quietest floors
Floors 4-5 are likely to be the quietest, given their distance from the street and service entrance.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise and local traffic may be a concern, especially on lower floors, due to the hotel's city-centre location.
Insider tips
Take advantage of the hotel's 24-hour front desk for assistance with any queries or requests. If you have a car, be aware that parking may be limited, so it's best to arrive early to secure a spot.
- 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 — Mena Hotel
Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, no login constraints; Speed: up to 100 Mbps
Serves all floors, including the historic wing
Complimentary digital newsstand via PressReader; No physical papers
Check-in: 14:00, Check-out: 12:00; Early bag-drop available; Late check-out fee: Birr 100 per hour
Available at the front desk; Birr 20 per day for small bags, Birr 50 per day for large bags
Step-free access, wheelchair entries at the main entrance and lobby; Limited accessibility in the historic wing
On-site parking available; Birr 200 per night; Nearest public car park: Meskel Square Car Park, Birr 150 per day; Electric vehicle charging available at the hotel
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: Birr 10 per person per night
Deposit & card hold: Advance deposit of Birr 500, incidental card hold of Birr 2000 at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: ደብረ ብሥራት ቅዱስ ገብርኤል ቤተ ክርስቲያን በ፲፱፻፶፯ ዓ.ም ተመሠረተ (584 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: St. Gebriel Church (588 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Mekanisa Mekane Eyesus Church (971 m · ~12 min walk)
- Place of worship: መካኒሳ መካነ ኢየሱስ (978 m · ~12 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Adams pavilon — 1.6 km · ~19 min walk
Zoma Museum — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 698 m · ~9 min walk
ብሊስ — 854 m · ~11 min walk
Victory Department Store — 782 m · ~10 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
You can exchange currency at local banks or forex bureaux, but be aware that rates at airports or tourist areas are often poor. It's best to exchange at a local bank or a reputable forex bureau.
Major credit and debit cards, including Visa and Mastercard, are widely accepted in Addis Ababa, but contactless payments are less common. Mobile payments like M-Pesa are also accepted in some places.
Tipping is not expected but is appreciated, especially in restaurants and with taxi drivers. Aim to tip around 10-20 birr for a meal or 50 birr for a taxi ride.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →You can get a strong and decent cup of coffee at a small café for around 10-15 birr.
A traditional injera and stew or vegetable dish can be found at a local eatery for around 20-30 birr.
A basic meal at a mid-range restaurant will cost around 100-150 birr for a main course.
The Merkato market area is a good place to try street food and local snacks, with options from 5-20 birr.
Local supermarkets like Edam and Kaldi's are common in this area, with a wide range of products available.
You can find affordable clothing at the Merkato market or at small local shops, with prices starting from around 50 birr for a basic t-shirt.
A day pass for the local bus system costs around 5 birr, and you can also take a taxi for around 50-100 birr from the airport.
Consider buying bottled water instead of relying on tap water, and avoid using ATMs at airports or tourist areas to avoid poor exchange rates. You can also try to negotiate prices at local markets, especially for accommodations or transportation.
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 Mena Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 698 m · ~9 min walk — pharmacy · ብሊስ — 854 m · ~11 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.
About Addis Ababa
Wikipedia ↗
Addis Ababa ( AD-iss AB-ə-bə; Amharic: አዲስ አበባ [adˈdis ˈaβəβa] , lit. 'new flower'; Oromo: Finfinnee, lit. 'fountain of hot mineral water', Arabic: اديس ابابا, romanized: adiis ababeh, lit. 'Centre of the Flower') is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. With an estimated population of 2,739,55...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Mena Hotel?
Request a room on a higher floor, ideally 4th or 5th floor, to minimize potential street noise from the busy Addis Ababa streets below. These floors are also likely to be closer to the lift, making it more convenient to access your room.
Which rooms should I avoid at Mena Hotel?
Avoid rooms on the lower floors, especially those near the service entrance or lift, as you may hear the comings and goings of staff and guests.
Is Mena Hotel noisy?
Street noise and local traffic may be a concern, especially on lower floors, due to the hotel's city-centre location.
Which rooms have the best views at Mena Hotel?
Since the hotel's address is in Addis Ababa, rooms with a south or west-facing orientation may offer views of the surrounding cityscape or nearby buildings.
What are insider tips for staying at Mena Hotel?
Take advantage of the hotel's 24-hour front desk for assistance with any queries or requests. If you have a car, be aware that parking may be limited, so it's best to arrive early to secure a spot.
What time is check-in at Mena Hotel?
Check-in at Mena Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Mena Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, no login constraints; Speed: up to 100 Mbps
Is there a city or tourist tax at Mena Hotel?
Birr 10 per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Mena Hotel?
A traditional injera and stew or vegetable dish can be found at a local eatery for around 20-30 birr.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Mena Hotel?
A day pass for the local bus system costs around 5 birr, and you can also take a taxi for around 50-100 birr from the airport.
When is the best time to visit Addis Ababa?
November and December – the end of the main rains, clear skies, temperatures in the low 20s, and fewer tourists than October. February is also excellent: dry, bright and cooler at night.
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.