My stay at Ras Dika: The best hotel in Djibouti City
Ras Dika Hotel is hands down the best hotel in Djibouti City. There is a reason it is so loved by visitors from all around the world. When you’re arriving in a country that doesn’t have much information available online, the owner is incredibly helpful in helping you understand the city, safety, culture, and local connections.
We stayed here for three nights total. The first two nights were at the beginning of our 12-day Djibouti itinerary, and the third night was our final stay before heading to the airport.
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Getting to Ras Dika Hotel
If you’re flying in from Addis Ababa, you’ll likely arrive in Djibouti in the afternoon. Organize your airport transfer directly with the hotel. They offer the transfer service for $15, which is a much better price than the set airport taxi rate of 3,500 DJF ($20 USD).
There was a cat outside the hotel in the potted plant
Because the hotel is in a central location by the mosque, all the taxis will know where to drop you off, no matter where you go.
Why I Recommend Ras Dika
First, it’s easy to book online.
The managers and staff speak English. The manager is absolutely amazing, knows everyone, and gave us great advice for our stay. Check-in was seamless as we had paid online in advance.
We booked a double room and it was decorated so cutely when we arrived with “I love you” spelled out in rose petals for our first two nights. This was the only hotel during our 12 days that had AC, which was a very welcome relief from the heat.
The bathrooms are clean with warm water. Soap is provided but bring your own shampoo.
Just a heads-up: the call to prayer from the nearby mosque is noticeable in the morning, so if you’re a light sleeper, bring your earplugs! It didn’t bother us but just so you know.
Food at Ras Dika
I love the breakfast at Ras Dika Hotel. It was my second favorite breakfast in the entire country (right after Ras Bir!). The chapati bread was excellent, and they served a delicious dahl lentil dish with it. I also really enjoyed the tea here.
What to do around Ras Dika Hotel
The hotel is in the perfect location to explore Djibouti City. It’s on a popular street that might seem quiet in the afternoon heat but really picks up in the evening when things cool down. It’s safe to walk around, and there are several restaurants and souvenir shops nearby.
Evening vibe
When you arrive, you can take out some initial cash at the airport, but there are plenty of ATMs around the hotel as well. You’ll need cash to pay for everything (except the hotel).
Souvenir Shopping
I bought a Djibouti patch for my backpack at a local shop, Artisanat Djibouti while wandering around here, and also tried on some traditional camel shoes.
The Yemeni souvenir shops are also fantastic. Don’t miss the honey at Ali Baba Treasures. I bought the best black sesame honey of my life there and regret not buying more. Chez Mask est Africa also has some cute items.
This street has sports clothing for a Djiboutian soccer jersey.
Check out Yayah souvenirs for cool jewelry (I bought a few things at the end of our trip) or Bab AL-Yemen Jewelry for gold pieces.
Sightseeing
Ras Dika hotel is right next to the oldest mosque in the country, Mosquée Al-Hamoudi. You aren’t allowed to take photos of it from the street; I was actually stopped by a police officer and told to delete my photo! However, the rooftop of Ras Dika Hotel has the best view of the mosque in town.
From the corner of the balcony, you can also see the newly built Turkish mosque in the distance.
We walked around the entire city and had a few taxi rides in between. Check back for my post on what to do in Djibouti city.
Where to eat and drink around Ras Dika
The food in Djibouti is a mixture of traditional Afar dishes and Yemeni flavors. The most common dish is Mukbassa: an open-flame grilled, split fish with spices. While “Mukbassa” actually refers to the banana/bread dip served on the side, everyone uses the name for the whole meal. Bring cash to pay for all your meals. During our three nights in the city, we ate at:
Mukbassa Chez Youssouf
Chez Youssouf was the first place we tried the fish, and it was incredible. We paid 6,000 DJF for a medium fish, tomato sauce, bread, a yogurt drink, and water. The vibe was very local; we were the only foreigners there and everyone was so kind. Two people even offered us a taste of their yogurt dish when they saw us looking at it!
Al Basha
I loved the Mukbassa here at Al Basha. They served the flatbread whole with three dipping sauces (green chili, red chili, and the banana mixture) and free tea at the end. When we asked for a menu, the waiter told us, “No, I am the menu,” and helped us choose. Dinner here was 3,550 DJF.
Sunshine Coffee
Head to Sunshine Coffee for a traditional coffee. We had such a fun interaction with the owner and went back twice. Even though Djibouti is surrounded by Ethiopian and Yemeni coffee, I personally preferred the tea, as the local coffee is often mixed with spices that didn’t suit my taste. Wilhelm liked it though. A coffee is just 250 DJF.
Egg Wrap Stall
If you turn left when exiting the hotel in the evening, you’ll see someone preparing a chapati/egg wrap. It was a simple, cheap, and fun local dinner for our last night.
Beach Club
For a drink with a view, head to the Beach Club run by Ethiopians. They serve beer and have cool artwork on the walls. It was 2,200 DJF for two drinks.
Got any questions about staying at Ras Dika hotel? Just let me know!