DOLCE VITA RESTAURANT
Read moreApart from the hotel restaurants, this address is a great discovery in Awassa. Opt for the old address at the very end of the lake-side avenue. It's a small, family-run business in a pleasant setting, with a lovely outdoor terrace under the jacarandas. It serves quite good Italian cuisine, including wood-fired pizzas, a sure bet. But don't expect Neapolitan pizza - it's Ethiopian! The coffee is delicious, served in a traditional ceremony.
HI-LIFE BAR & GRILL
Read moreThis restaurant at the Hawassa Lake View hotel is one of the most popular. It offers modern cuisine based around grilled meat or fish, a specialty you really must try when staying in the Ethiopian lake region, especially tilapia, the most frequently caught perch. You can also opt for burgers, pizzas, chawarmas and salads. It's also a very pleasant place to meet at aperitif time, to sip a cocktail on the terrace, admiring the sunset over the lake.