I spent my final night in Ethiopia at the Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa, a very nice hotel in the heart of the capital city.
Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa Review
I stayed at the Hilton during my first trip to Addis Ababa and since then, Hyatt opened its first property in Ethiopia, a Hyatt Regency.
My nightly rate was about 150 USD, which seems high in Ethiopia, yet is the going rate for most nicer hotels and seemed a better deal than using 12,000 points (the hotel is a Category 4 property) and I did not have any Chase free night certificates available.
The lobby is spacious and nicely decorated:
Still Globliast at the time, I was upgraded to a Regency Suite. More importantly, I was granted an 8:00 pm checkout, which helped avoid long waits at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport ahead of my flight to Frankfurt.
Guest Room
I was assigned room 309, a spacious suite that included a living room, guest bathroom, bedroom, and master bathroom. The bedding was excellent, a/c worked well, and there was even a French Press with Ethiopian coffee available in the room, but my favorite aspect of my room was the fresh-cut flowers in the living room and bathroom, which was a very nice touch.
Welcome Amenity
Speaking of coffee, I found a bag of coffee and a bowl of strawberries in my room as my welcome gift. I love how someone long ago put on my profile that I love berries and coffee and I’ve been treated to delicious berries at Hyatts around the world.
And I’m not blind…obviously Hyatt probably also has in my profile that I am a blogger, but in talking to other Hyatt loyalists it seems to be more a Globalist thing than a blogger thing….
Restaurants
The hotel offers several dining options.
Lobby Lounge/ The Market
Adjacent to the lobby, Ethiopian coffee, tea, pastries, wine, dried fruits, and spices are available.
The Kitchen
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served buffet-style in The Kitchen. I ate breakfast here and it was quite a treat, including my usual staples like freshly-squeezed juice, omelets, fresh fruit, and barista-made coffee. I actually skipped the Ethiopian food here after eating so much of it over the preceding week.
The Oriental
The hotel describes The Oriental as “a contemporary restaurant where Western BBQ meets the finest of Asian cuisine. With our BBQ grilled prime meats and Asian bites, guests can experience our culinary expertise in the two cuisine cultures.”
I took the group out here just before I flew out…all for the lamb. I ordered “Ethiopian Highland Lamb Shoulder In Casserole” and it was fabulous…though my friends clearly thought I was an idiot (though were thankful for the treat) for spending so much money on dinner. I can’ blame them. The Ethiopian Birr has devalued greatly in the last year, but it was much stronger in April.
Cascara Coffee & Cocktails
A second coffee shop offers outdoor terrace seating and focuses on coffee-inspired cocktails.
Pool Bar & Lounge
Poolside service (food and drink) are available.
Room Service
24/7 room service is available, with a more limited menu available between 11:00 pm and 6:00 am.
Pool
An outdoor heated pool is open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Fitness Center
After five nights in Awassa, I was happy to have a gym that had some modern LifeFitness strengh-training equipment.
Wellness + Spa
A full-service spa is available, but I just took advantage of the sauna inside the men’s locker room.
Regency Club
While so many Hyatt Regency properties in the USA have shuttered their Regency Club lounges, this hotel had a nice Regency Club with coffee, tea, and soft drinks available all day and alcoholic beverages and hors d’oeuvres in the evening. The lounge is located on the lobby level.
Business Center
Next to the Regency Club is a business center with despot computers and printers (complimentary).
CONCLUSION
I quite enjoyed my stay at the Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa and would gladly return. Hyatt Globalists are treated very well here and I enjoyed the comfortable accommodations, nice amenities, and warms service. In fact, I don’t even have any constructive criticism as to how my stay could have been better…so yes, this is a recommended hotel.
$150/night is a very good rate although I assume that is without taxes, which are quite high. US government per diem rate for lodging in Addis is $250/night. It used to be $315.
Matthew, did you have problems with the dusty air in Addis? I was always blowing my nose with dirt coming out. The attendant in the Hilton lounge said ginger tea would help. She made me a pot of hot water with fresh ginger. I drank it, returned the cup & thanked her. She insisted I eat the ginger. That really cleared my sinuses! An easy cure.
I’d love to return. I don’t think I can after the Tigray massacres. Ironically, the Tigray people were responsible for ending the Red Terror & saving the country.
I love the Ethiopian people and hope the best for them.
I’m jealous, I can’t wait to visit
I, too, have been impressed with Hyatt Regency locations in… let’s say… ‘off the beaten path’ destinations, like Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, and Port of Spain, Trinidad. Even better if you can use a Category 1-4 free night award from the Chase card to cover the stay.
The outdoor portion of the Regency Club might be the actual best place to hang out and have a cocktail in all of POS.
How long was your stay in Ethiopia, and did you get beyond Addis Ababa? If so, where did you go, how did you like it outside the capital?
Looks like a lovely hotel overall.
I thought you went to Ethiopia to help poor people better their lives. But then you splurge and stay at the nicest hotel there.
You are an expert in virtue signaling
And in a later post you go to the premium plaza lounge and give a review saying it is below you to even be there.
@Janiie jacboson: It’s truly pathetic that you have nothing better to do than chase me around the internet to put me down. God bless you.