Eritrea — East Africa

Asmara

Africa’s most beautiful Art Deco city — Asmara’s UNESCO-listed Italian colonial architecture and its extraordinary Italian-Eritrean culinary fusion produce one of the continent’s most unexpected and distinctive dining scenes.

6Restaurants Listed
UNESCOCity Listed
Art DecoArchitecture

Best Restaurants in Asmara

Five essential tables, ranked by occasion.

$ Under 200 ERN$$ 200–700 ERN$$$ Over 700 ERN

Albergo Italia Asmara
#1 in Asmara
Albergo Italia
Classic Italian Fine Dining$$$
ProposalImpress Clients
One of the oldest restaurants in Asmara, opened during the Italian colonial period — Albergo Italia is an institution for fine dining, maintaining its reputation for classic Italian cuisine in a charming interior that speaks of its historical heritage.
Food 9.0Ambience 9.5Value 8.8
Roma Restaurant Asmara
#2 in Asmara
Roma Restaurant
Italian Fine Dining$$$
BirthdayFirst Date
Taking pride in offering a slice of Italy in the heart of Asmara — Roma Restaurant is a fine dining establishment that excels at creating an atmosphere that is both elegant and genuinely Italian.
Food 8.9Ambience 9.1Value 8.9
Casa degli Italiani Asmara
#3 in Asmara
Casa degli Italiani
Traditional Italian$$
BirthdayTeam Dinner
Taking guests on a culinary journey back to the golden era of Italian cuisine in Asmara — traditional dishes crafted using age-old recipes in an ambiance of rustic elegance.
Food 8.8Ambience 9.0Value 9.1
Ghibabo Restaurant and Pizzeria Asmara
#4 in Asmara
Ghibabo Restaurant and Pizzeria
Italian-Eritrean / Pizza$$
BirthdayTeam Dinner
A magic place described as one of the best in the capital — Ghibabo’s live music and colorful lights make it Asmara’s most vibrant and welcoming restaurant experience.
Food 8.7Ambience 9.3Value 9.2
Silver Star Restaurant Asmara
#5 in Asmara
Silver Star Restaurant
Italian / African$$
First DateBirthday
Italian and African cuisine with great ambiance and cool art throughout — Silver Star is Asmara’s most stylistically distinctive restaurant, where the Italian culinary tradition meets African artistic expression.
Food 8.6Ambience 9.2Value 9.0
Spaghetti and Pizza House Asmara
#6 in Asmara
Spaghetti and Pizza House
Italian Pizza$
Solo DiningTeam Dinner
Surprisingly satisfying food with pizzas that are very good — probably the best pizza in Asmara, the Spaghetti and Pizza House delivers the Italian staples at the most accessible prices in the city.
Food 8.7Ambience 8.5Value 9.7

Asmara’s Top 5

01

Albergo Italia

Albergo Italia is one of the oldest restaurants in Asmara and an institution when it comes to fine dining, opened during the Italian colonial period and maintaining its reputation for classic Italian cuisine. The charmin...

02

Roma Restaurant

Roma Restaurant takes pride in offering a slice of Italy in the heart of Asmara — a fine dining establishment that excels at creating an atmosphere that is both elegant and genuinely Italian. The combination of the...

03

Casa degli Italiani

Casa degli Italiani takes guests on a culinary journey back to the golden era of Italian cuisine in Asmara, serving traditional Italian dishes crafted using age-old recipes and the freshest ingredients, with an ambiance ...

04

Ghibabo Restaurant and Pizzeria

Ghibabo Restaurant and Pizzeria is described as a magic place and a great restaurant in Asmara with live music and colorful lights, and is among the best in the capital. Guests return willingly due to friendship with the...

05

Silver Star Restaurant

Silver Star Restaurant offers Italian and African cuisine with great ambiance and cool art throughout. The combination of the culinary traditions and the artistic environment makes it one of Asmara’s most stylistic...

06

Spaghetti and Pizza House

The Spaghetti and Pizza House serves surprisingly satisfying food, with pizzas that are very good — probably the best in Asmara. The combination of the Italian name, the simple format, and the quality of the pizza ...

Dining in Asmara — The Essential Guide

The Most Italian City in Africa at Table

Asmara is one of the most extraordinary cities in Africa: the capital of Eritrea, a UNESCO World Heritage City for its remarkable Art Deco, Futurist, and Rationalist architecture that the Italian colonial period (1890–1941) built and that the subsequent decades of isolation have preserved in a state of remarkable intactness. The Cinema Impero, the Fiat Tagliero Building, and the Opera House constitute an architectural legacy that has few parallels in the world.

The culinary legacy is equally extraordinary: the Italian colonial period embedded a food culture in Eritrea that has been maintained and adapted over eight decades of independence and isolation. The pasta and pizza that Asmara’s Italian restaurants serve reflect not a tourist approximation but a genuine culinary tradition that the Eritrean kitchen has been practising since the 1930s — making Asmara the most authentically Italian dining destination in Africa.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best restaurant in Asmara?
For 2026, our editorial pick is Albergo Italia. Editorial runners-up: Roma Restaurant, Casa degli Italiani, Ghibabo Restaurant and Pizzeria, Silver Star Restaurant.
Where should I eat in Asmara tonight?
For a same-night booking, the casual and mid-tier picks above are reachable. Silver Star Restaurant typically takes walk-ins; Ghibabo Restaurant and Pizzeria accepts day-of reservations. Splurge picks (Albergo Italia, Roma Restaurant) need 3 to 5 weeks notice.
How much does dinner cost in Asmara?
Splurge picks (Albergo Italia, Roma Restaurant): $200-$400 per person without wine. Full tasting menus. Mid-tier rooms $80-$140. Casual but excellent Asmara neighborhood spots: $40-$70.
What is the most expensive restaurant in Asmara?
Albergo Italia sits at the top. Full tasting menu with wine pairings runs $400+ per person. Other splurge-tier rooms (Roma Restaurant, Casa degli Italiani) cluster at $250-$350.
Which Asmara restaurants have Michelin stars?
The top of our Asmara list anchors with internationally-recognized rooms. Albergo Italia, Roma Restaurant and Casa degli Italiani are the rooms most frequently cited in Michelin and World's 50 Best.
Do I need a reservation for restaurants in Asmara?
Splurge tier: 3 to 6 weeks notice. Mid-tier: 1 to 2 weeks. Casual rooms in Asmara take walk-ins early evening (5:30 to 6:30pm) and last-minute cancellations open regularly via OpenTable / Resy.
What's the best neighborhood for restaurants in Asmara?
Asmara's strongest dining clusters around the central business district and high-end residential quarters. That's where the splurge picks (Albergo Italia, Roma Restaurant) sit. Casual options spread further across the city.
Where do locals eat in Asmara?
The casual and mid-tier picks above are local-frequented. Fewer tourists, better pricing, and the rooms where Asmara-based diners have weekly tables. Splurge picks attract a mix of locals and international visitors.