The History of Castelli

The Castelli Legacy

Castelli belongs to the dining history of Addis Ababa. In the city’s historic Piassa district, Italian culinary traditions and Ethiopian skill have shaped a restaurant whose name has traveled far beyond its doors.

Passion fruit cocktail in a coupe glass garnished with half a passion fruit, resting on the keys of a black piano.

The Beginnings

Francesco and Rosa Castelli opened the restaurant in 1957, bringing recipes from their native Tortona in northern Italy to a lively commercial neighborhood. Their dining room drew the city’s Italian community before earning a devoted Ethiopian following, establishing the foundations of a lasting local institution.

Black-and-white photo of a smiling man holding a glass of white wine at a candlelit dinner table with friends.

The Kitchen

Delicate ricotta-and-spinach ravioli and the warmth of Ethiopian green chili in the Costantino dish tell two sides of Castelli’s culinary story. Working alongside the founding family, Ethiopian cooks learned and passed on the techniques behind these distinctive flavors. Their knowledge remains an essential part of the restaurant’s inheritance.

Espresso poured from a moka pot over a slice of cocoa-dusted tiramisu as a spoon scoops a bite.
Freshly baked pizza topped with shredded cheese on a terracotta dish, beside a bottle and glass of red wine.
Friends raising glasses of white wine in a toast at a candlelit dinner table.
Diner lifting a forkful of tagliatelle from a plate at a warmly lit restaurant table.

The Gathering Place

Family celebrations, diplomatic dinners, and encounters between artists and travelers have all found a setting at Castelli. Photographs and signatures preserve its celebrated visits; the loyalty of regular guests speaks to its quieter significance as a place woven into their lives.

The Next Chapter

Castelli’s renewal makes space for new occasions while respecting the character that has defined it. Refreshed dining rooms and private gathering spaces welcome returning guests and those discovering Castelli for the first time, with thoughtful hospitality guiding the experience.