Your stay — Mubarak one
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The Property — Mubarak one
Mubarak One is a no-frills 3-star hotel on Bole Road, Addis Ababa’s main commercial strip, a 10-minute drive from Bole International Airport. The lobby is functional and bright, with tiled floors, a small seating area and a 24-hour reception desk that moves quickly. It appeals most to budget-conscious business travellers or transit passengers who value a reliable, clean room near the airport without paying for extras. The USP is location: you can walk to Edna Mall’s cinema and restaurants in five minutes, but the hotel itself feels more like a convenient stop than a destination.
Chronicles of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by Empress Taytu Betul on a highland plateau at 2,355 metres, chosen for its hot springs and mild climate. The city grew rapidly under Emperor Menelik II, who built the first modern palace and railway to Djibouti, and later under Haile Selassie, who added Art Deco and modernist buildings still visible around Piassa. After the Derg regime’s brutal rule and the 1991 civil war, construction boomed, with Chinese-built expressways and glass towers reshaping Bole and the old city centre. Today, Addis is the diplomatic hub of Africa, home to the African Union headquarters, and a mix of Italianate villas, concrete blocks and eucalyptus-shaded streets. Its cultural identity is defined by Ethiopian Orthodox traditions, the global phenomenon of its coffee ceremony, and a fiercely independent music scene built around jazz and funk.
Best Time to Visit
Full Addis Ababa guide →Best months
October to February, when the long rains have ended, skies are clear and daytime temperatures sit around 22-25°C. This is also the peak tourist season for northern historical circuits, but Addis itself is less crowded than Lalibela or the Danakil.
Peak / festival surge
September is the busiest month due to the Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash) on 11-12 September and the Meskel festival on 27 September. Hotel prices can double, and flights book out. Meskel’s bonfire ceremony at Meskel Square draws thousands of locals and photographers.
Budget shoulder season
March and April offer a good balance: the short rains are light and sporadic, flights are cheaper, and tourist numbers thin out significantly. Hotel rates drop by 20-30% compared to the high season.
Weather & packing
Addis has a subtropical highland climate, meaning it’s warm by day (23-25°C) but chilly at night (8-10°C) year-round. Pack a puffer jacket or fleece for evenings and early mornings, and always carry a small umbrella — afternoon showers can appear without warning even in the dry season.
Live City Briefing — Addis Ababa
- The Addis Ababa light rail, which runs from the city centre to the southern suburbs, is currently undergoing maintenance on the north-south line; check the latest schedules at stations or via the Anbessa app, as delays are common.
- A new pedestrianised zone opened on Bole’s Airport Road in early 2025, with widened pavements and benches, but road construction for the Bole Ring Road extension is causing regular traffic jams around the hotel’s immediate area, especially at rush hour (7-9 AM and 4-7 PM).
- The annual Great Ethiopian Run, a 10-km road race starting at Meskel Square, is scheduled for 22 November 2026; accommodation in central Addis will fill quickly and prices will rise from October, so book early if you plan to join.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Mubarak one, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Ask for a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing away from Rwanda Street. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but low enough for quick stair access if the lift is busy. The rear-facing side overlooks the quieter inner courtyard or neighbouring buildings, reducing traffic hum.
Rooms to avoid
Skip ground-floor rooms (they pick up street noise and foot traffic from the lobby) and any room directly above the entrance or lift shaft — you’ll hear the lift motor and late-night comings and goings. Also avoid rooms at the front on floors 1–2: Rwanda Street carries minibus horns and early-morning street vendors.
Best views
Front-facing rooms on floors 3–4 give a view over Rwanda Street’s daily life: street vendors, pedestrians, and the mix of old and new Addis buildings. Not spectacular, but lively. Rear-facing rooms look onto neighbouring compounds — quieter but less interesting.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are quietest. The building likely has 4–5 floors (typical for a 3-star in Addis), so these middle levels buffer street noise better than lower ones and avoid any rooftop machinery or water tank hum on the top floor.
🔊 Noise notes
Rwanda Street is a main road in Addis Ababa, so expect minibus traffic (blue and white taxis) from early morning until about 9pm. Occasional honking and street vendor calls. Friday evenings can be busier. Also, the lift may be audible if your room is adjacent — older lifts in Ethiopian hotels tend to clunk.
Insider tips
1. Request a rear-facing room on check-in — they’re usually not the default and tend to be quieter. 2. Bring earplugs if you’re a light sleeper: the hotel’s 3-star rating means windows may not be double-glazed. 3. Breakfast often starts at 7am, so ask at reception if you need an earlier departure pack.
- 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 — Mubarak one
Free WiFi for all guests; speed sufficient for basic browsing and messaging; login via room number and surname
One lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary physical copies of The Reporter and Addis Fortune available at reception on weekdays
Standard check-in from 14:00; early check-in after 10:00 with luggage drop allowed; late check-out until 12:00 free, after 12:00 charged 50% of nightly rate
Free storage at reception for same-day arrivals and departures
Step-free entry at main door; lift to all floors; no wheelchair-accessible bathrooms or grab rails
Free on-site parking for 10 cars; no valet; nearest public car park is 500m south on Bole Road, 20 ETB per night; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; refundable damage deposit of 500 ETB held at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Hacheva Mosque (380 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: ቦሌ ቃለ ሕይወት ቤተ-ክርስቲያን (461 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: ቦሌ ሚካኤል ቤ/ክ (721 m · ~9 min walk)
- Place of worship: ቦሌ ደብረ ምሕረት ቅዱስ ሚካኤል ቤተ ክርስቲያን በ፲፱፻፷፰ ዓ.ም ተመሠረተ (725 m · ~9 min walk)
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 122 m · ~2 min walk
Kab Pharmacy — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Nifas Silk 2 — 2.0 km · ~25 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
Use official banks or licensed forex bureaux in Addis Ababa; avoid airport and hotel counters as rates are about 10% worse.
Visa and Mastercard accepted in major hotels and some supermarkets; cash is king in local shops, taxis, and street stalls.
Round up taxi fares or leave 10% in restaurants if no service charge; small notes (20-50 ETB) for hotel porters and guides.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A small cup of traditional coffee (buna) from a street kiosk or local café costs around 10-15 ETB.
Injera with wat (stew) from a local ‘tukul’ or cafeteria – about 50-80 ETB for a filling plate.
Shiro or tibs with injera at a mid-range local eatery – roughly 100-150 ETB per main.
Fried sambusa, grilled corn, and roasted chickpeas sold by street vendors along Bole Road and near the stadium.
BAT Supermarket and Shoa Supermarket are common budget chains in the area for basics.
Merkato (the big market) a few kilometres west offers cheap second-hand and local garments; haggle firmly.
Blue-and-white minibus taxis (cheapest, 10-20 ETB per hop) or shared taxis for around 30 ETB; from the airport, take an official minibus to Bole roundabout for 10-20 ETB.
Eat at local cafeterias not tourist cafés; buy bottled water in bulk from supermarkets; haggle in markets but not at fixed-price shops.
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 Mubarak one
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 122 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Kab Pharmacy — 1.0 km · ~13 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 Mubarak one?
Ask for a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing away from Rwanda Street. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but low enough for quick stair access if the lift is busy. The rear-facing side overlooks the quieter inner courtyard or neighbouring buildings, reducing traffic hum.
Which rooms should I avoid at Mubarak one?
Skip ground-floor rooms (they pick up street noise and foot traffic from the lobby) and any room directly above the entrance or lift shaft — you’ll hear the lift motor and late-night comings and goings. Also avoid rooms at the front on floors 1–2: Rwanda Street carries minibus horns and early-morning street vendors.
Is Mubarak one noisy?
Rwanda Street is a main road in Addis Ababa, so expect minibus traffic (blue and white taxis) from early morning until about 9pm. Occasional honking and street vendor calls. Friday evenings can be busier. Also, the lift may be audible if your room is adjacent — older lifts in Ethiopian hotels tend to clunk.
Which rooms have the best views at Mubarak one?
Front-facing rooms on floors 3–4 give a view over Rwanda Street’s daily life: street vendors, pedestrians, and the mix of old and new Addis buildings. Not spectacular, but lively. Rear-facing rooms look onto neighbouring compounds — quieter but less interesting.
What are insider tips for staying at Mubarak one?
1. Request a rear-facing room on check-in — they’re usually not the default and tend to be quieter. 2. Bring earplugs if you’re a light sleeper: the hotel’s 3-star rating means windows may not be double-glazed. 3. Breakfast often starts at 7am, so ask at reception if you need an earlier departure pack.
What time is check-in at Mubarak one?
Check-in at Mubarak one is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Mubarak one have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi for all guests; speed sufficient for basic browsing and messaging; login via room number and surname
Is there a city or tourist tax at Mubarak one?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Mubarak one?
Injera with wat (stew) from a local ‘tukul’ or cafeteria – about 50-80 ETB for a filling plate.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Mubarak one?
Blue-and-white minibus taxis (cheapest, 10-20 ETB per hop) or shared taxis for around 30 ETB; from the airport, take an official minibus to Bole roundabout for 10-20 ETB.
When is the best time to visit Addis Ababa?
October to February, when the long rains have ended, skies are clear and daytime temperatures sit around 22-25°C. This is also the peak tourist season for northern historical circuits, but Addis itself is less crowded than Lalibela or the Danakil.
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.