We stayed at the “Capital Hotel and Spa”:http://www.capitalhotelandspa.com/, Addis Ababa three times during our trip around Ethiopia: for two nights at the beginning, one night between our southern and northern tours and for a night before flying out to Kenya.
Although we stayed in three rooms on different floors, all were identical. They were a good size and, even with a large double bed, there was plenty of room for a desk, easy chair and coffee table. The décor was a little beige and in our first room, the rather loudly patterned yellow floral carpet could have done with a clean where someone had obviously had a major spillage of a dark substance! Perhaps a strategic rug might have helped. The lampshades had seen better days and lots of things were wonky including lamp shades and loo roll holders. It’s definitely not the 5 star advertised on the website. The large bathroom had a separate shower with plenty of hot water and was well equipped with reasonable toiletries and fluffy towels but a poor hairdryer.
The rooms also had quirks: one robe and set of slippers in a double room and strangely the TV was showing not our hotel details, but one in Copenhagen as it advertised the Bar Cafe Still and Nordic Storm restaurant. There was a mini bar but you had to ask for it to be unlocked. The sheet was on top of the duvet but having re-made the bed, we discovered why: the duvet was not big enough to cover the bed, let alone hang down the sides. Needless to say, we both had to sleep tight together in the middle to ensure we both were covered.
However, there were some plus points: the fastest ever rom service which supplied ice and tonic for our duty free gin within a couple of minutes, plenty of UK style plug points, effective air conditioning and lots of room to sit.
Security was tight in the hotel with airport style body and bag scanners each time we went in and out and according to the information booklet, room doors were bullet proof! Comforting!
The hotel had a health centre with outdoor heated swimming pool and a small cafe bar with a menu of salads, wraps, sandwiches, pizza etc. We ate there twice and found the food tasty, reasonably priced, and with generous portions.
There was a good restaurant on the ground floor, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast was an extensive affair with lots of hot dishes on offer and on our last visit we shared breakfast with the Ethiopian National Football team. We had two evening meals in the restaurant (an Ethiopian and western style meal) and both were good.
The Sky Bar on the top floor (9th) was large, but for some reason, was really dark and we needed to get our torches out just to read the drinks list. The music was also a little noisy.
In the lobby a bank with long opening hours was helpful at the beginning of our trip as we were unable to take Ethiopian Birr into the country.
Although the location is central, there is nothing around it in terms of shops or restaurants and rooms on the busy Haile Gebresilassie Avenue, were a little noisy.
Whilst not particularly impressed with the hotel the first time around, it was amazing how a run of simple and basic hotels during our tour changed our opinion when we were back with lights that worked, air con, hot water, tea and coffee making facilities, hairdryers, safe, TV, Wi-Fi etc.
