Selam Hotel

Rooms and decor

The roughly 60 rooms at Selam are simply furnished and honest to their era — pale walls, classic wooden furniture, tall windows that catch the morning light, and a few with small balconies looking over the Tiravolo district and its shady Jacaranda trees. The banisters, brass door handles, and old light fittings are mostly original, so waking up here doesn't feel like waking up in a regular hotel — it feels more like waking inside a scene from a period film. The building itself is the headline. Built in 1937 as Albergo C.I.A.A.O., it carries a curved streamline-moderne facade, thin parallel lines running the length of the balconies, a central spiral staircase intact since opening day, and a lobby bar that still keeps its original marble tables. Most striking of all, this is the building where President Isaias Afwerki declared Eritrean independence on 24 May 1991. For anyone who loves old buildings and real history, no 3-star in Africa gives quite this experience.

Food and amenities

Come evening, head down to the original lobby bar and order an Italian-Eritrean macchiato — it is done beautifully here, strong coffee cut against hot, softly foamed milk, served in a small glass on a marble table. The room is quiet, amber light filters through old glass cabinets, locals drop in for low conversation, and time seems to slow by half. Breakfast is simple and good: fresh-baked bread, fried eggs, seasonal fruit, and the fine coffee Italy left Asmara as a parting gift. Be clear on what isn't here, though — there is no spa, no pool, and no gym. The Wi-Fi is limited, and internet across Eritrea is slow in general, so this is a place to disconnect rather than to run video calls.

Location and getting there

Selam's location is an excellent base for exploring the UNESCO World Heritage city of Asmara. It sits in the quiet, handsome Tiravolo district on Maryam Gmbi street, just a 10-minute walk from the main Harnet Avenue. A few minutes from the door you reach Cinema Roma, the original Art Deco cinema still screening films. A little farther is Fiat Tagliero, the famous airplane-shaped petrol station designed in 1938 by Giuseppe Pettazzi, plus the bright-mosaic Enda Mariam church and hundreds of other modernist buildings across the centre. Asmara is one of the most rewarding cities to explore on foot in Africa — clean streets, cool air at 2,300 metres above sea level, friendly people, and classic Italian cafes tucked into every corner. The airport is only about a 10-minute drive.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide — Selam's charm is the building and the history, not the facilities. The rooms are simple and honest, with no spa, pool, or gym, and anyone expecting a new-build Asian-standard hotel may find it spare. The second point reviewers raise often is aging fixtures in a nearly-90-year-old building: showers and plumbing in some rooms run slowly, the air-con is old, and sound carries through the original walls, so light sleepers should request an interior room over a street-facing one. The third, and most important, is internet — Eritrea's connection is slow and unstable nationwide, not just here, so plan around any remote work. Finally, some guests find the in-house dining a little plain; for more variety, walk out to Asmara Restaurant or the spots along Harnet Avenue, where Italian-Eritrean food is excellent and affordable.

Our take

Pulling together real guest reviews and the architectural record, Selam Hotel sells a story, the soul of a building, and a place in Eritrean history in a way no other hotel in Africa can match. If you love Art Deco architecture, want to make UNESCO World Heritage Asmara a real destination, and understand that you are here to feel history rather than chase luxury, Selam is the right home base. From around $63 a night, it is fine value for what you carry home. If you want a modern hotel with a spa, a pool, and fast Wi-Fi, look elsewhere. Overall we give it 7.0/10 — best for history lovers, architecture fans, solo travelers wanting Eritrea in its original form, and couples who prefer a hotel with a story over a hotel with toys.