Ghion Hotel

The Ghion Hotel, which has styled itself the Garden Palace Hotel of East Africa, is one of the historic hotels of Addis Ababa, an imperial-era establishment set in extensive gardens next to Emperor Haile Selassie's Jubilee Palace. Its restored 1950s buildings stand among trees and lawns, it has received heads of state and other dignitaries over the years, and in its own words it has been part of Ethiopia's hospitality journey for decades.

The grounds are the main reason to stay. The hotel has a large Olympic-size pool, and Addis Fortune has written about the mineral hot spring on the site, fed from a dormant volcano, which it links to the founding of Addis Ababa itself. The gardens make it feel removed from the traffic outside, and massage and sauna services are available beside the swimming area.

Accommodation is spread across several buildings, which gives a wide choice of styles. The Imperial Block has standard queen rooms, junior suites and family suites; the New Wing has king and twin rooms; family rooms are in bungalows; and the Demera and Revera villa apartments suit families or longer stays. Dining is in the hotel restaurant, with drinks at the Swimming Bar, the Tikule Bar and the Unity Bar.

In the basement, Mulatu Astatke's Africa Jazz Club, in a traditional-style building, has hosted live Ethio-jazz on Thursday nights, with a resident band, a circular stage and life-size figures of musicians including Mulatu himself, Tilahun Gessesse, Mohammed Ahmed, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker and Duke Ellington lining the walls. Check whether it is running during your stay, as it is one of the most distinctive night outs in the city and is only steps from your room.

The Ghion suits travellers who value character, space and gardens over polish, as well as families who want a big pool. Facilities are older than at the international chains, so expect a period atmosphere rather than a contemporary design hotel. Book through the hotel's phone lines or by email, and ask which block a room is in when you reserve, as standards and outlooks differ between the buildings.