Taitu Hotel

The hotel was part of Menelik II’s modernization efforts following Ethiopia’s victory at the Battle of Adwa in 1896, the Hotel was located inside the Palace complex that became the nucleus of Modern Addis Ababa city, the original hotel was bigger and was reduced in size during the Italian prompt invasion, the Italian commanders used the Western wing as their own luving quarters, after liberation Emperor Haile Selassie built a new palace next to the First Hilton Hotel in Africa and the Taitu hotel was never restored to its original size or status.

The original hotel was a hub for diplomats, journalists, and travelers, including British author Evelyn Waugh, who fictionalized it as the "Liberty Hotel" in his satirical novel Scoop. A major fire in January 2015 damaged the building, but it has since been restored close to its original form.

On 11 January 2015, a major fire broke out which caused significant damage on the main hotel properties.^[1][2]

The western wing of the original hotel, known as Baro Hotel since 1945, was featured in the movie Running Against the Wind ^[3]

The hotel offers a mix of budget-friendly rooms with air conditioning, desks, and internet access. Additionally, it features on-site restaurant and lounge with live jazz music nightly, laundry service, left luggage storage, and multilingual staff (English and Italian). Located within walking distance of landmarks like Menelik II Square, St. George’s Cathedral, and National Museum of Ethiopia.