Name: Seven Olives Hotel
Address: Lalibela, Ethiopia, Lalibela, Lalibela, Lalibela, 00100, Ethiopia
Rating: 7

Smoke-free property

Garden

Terrace

Private check-in/check-out

Fire Extinguisher

All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)

Outdoor furniture

General

Non-smoking rooms

Room service

Family room

Rooms

Laundry

Luggage storage

Services and amenities

Restaurant

Meals

Hiking

Picnic area

Sun Deck

Recreation

Parking

Parking nearby

Massage

Beauty and wellness

Location

At the hotel

Lalibela Airport

Seven Olives Hotel

Lalibela

I use reviews much more than I write them, but thought this was very important to relay to anyone considering leaving possessions in their room. I've been coming to Lalibela for many years as I live in Addis, and this really shocked me as Lalibela is a personal haven.

I was sat in the restaurant garden with 3 friends and while we waited for our food to be brought, we wandered to the edge of the garden to look at the view. When we got back to our table about 5 minutes minutes later the food had arrived and my sunglasses had been stolen. There was only one elderly couple in the area, who we'd have seen approach our table, so it had to be the waiter. So I asked an old local friend to come and help, and asked for the manager. We were told to wait in an office, and after 15 minutes he turned up and asked us to move to an area out of earshot of staff, tourists or locals (I complied, which was a mistake).

We explained that my glasses had gone missing, my friends confirmed they'd seen them on the table, and we showed him the empty glasses case I still had in my pocket. The manager explained that (a) the hotel was a Christian establishment so it was impossible that my glasses had been stolen, (b) that the waiter in question had left the hotel grounds and couldn't return, (c) that an old Ethiopian saying says that sometimes what seems unlucky - i.e. the theft of my glasses - turns out to be God doing me a favour. He promised to speak to the waiter and call me back. It is now 6 days later and I have received no call.

If the manager had acted on my complaint, even if unsuccessfully, this wouldn't be so worrying. But the inaction and worse still ridiculous excuses mean theft is tolerated by management, which is why I thought it important to leave this review for people considering staying here. I have never experienced anything like this in any other establishment in Lalibela. The hotel has a nice view, shabby tired rooms, half of which get a lot of noise from people entering the restaurant. But as it is the largest budget hotel they needn't worry about custom, as it is where all the overlanders are put.

Waiter stole my glasses, manager just made excuses for him

Very nice house, price to negotiate (announced at $30!), reduced to 500 bihrs without forced, and still it's barely worth it. Old rooms, moulded bathroom, but the garden and central position are nice.

That's nice.

We had lunch here in the time the churches were closed. The first three things we ordered they didn’t have that day. I had a chicken burger in the end which was expensive and not particularly good. They did have a good view in a nice garden, and as a bonus there was wifi that wasn’t as sluggishly slow as most places. 

Okay place for lunch while you wait for the churches to open again

Needless to say, the manager and I have never taken our rooms.

Not really recommended.

We checked at least 7 rooms but we decided it was too dirty and old to stay there. The worsr side where the bathrooms. Wifi is poor but it is quite normail in Ethiopia. We found a nearby hotel, slightly more expensive, brand new...
Food is ok, we came here for eating.

it is ok for eating but for sleeping

I stayed here for 10 days and would stay again. This hotel is over 50 years old and has character. The garden is beautiful and many species of birds visit as the staff feed the each morning. It is a relaxed place and the staff are helpful and friendly. There are a few issues with plumbing and the bathrooms are not modern. However, the character of the place made up for this for me, and so did the staff. I felt at home here.

Beautiful garden

this hotel has an amazing restaurant with so friendly service amazing traditional and western food. and the boy who serves me so help full he told me all about the information  in and out of lalibela he is really help full specially for solo traveler i have his contact number is +251914673559 you can call him he can help you every thing.

good for lunch

The room was wet and dark, no pillows, the hot water was just a promise, and in the evening we thought it would be morning, but in the morning we were asked to take a shower in another room closer to the reception, and oh, it was taking a shower in an occupied room that wasn't cleaned.

Hot water?

It can do better. Hotel ideally located in the heart of the city. Beautiful garden. The rooms themselves are basic and clean. It's a shame that the windows are not bigger to have more light. High price for what it is but apparently it is the case with all accommodation in Lalibela. The restaurant is fine but nothing more. For breakfast and lunch, I preferred the John Café (50 m from the hotel)

Well located but.....

I've been to this restaurant twice for lunch and I've found myself very well. The restaurant is simple but in a beautiful and cool garden even when it's very hot outside. The food is simple and good. In addition to the local cuisine there are dishes of all kinds: from pasta to oriental rice to a simple seasonal salad. Eritrean and international cuisine. Good prices. Very kind staff and fast service. I recommend it!

Seven Olives Hotel

Main amenities of the hotel

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Description of the hotel

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