Evening in Awasa settles around the lake. As the light goes, chairs appear on the street where Piazza Road meets the water, music starts up, and plates of fish come straight off the boats and into the pan.
Awasa's nightlife is modest and outdoorsy rather than polished. It suits travellers who want a sunset, a cold beer and a plate of fresh fish more than those looking for a long, structured night of venues. The city is also a university town, so there is a younger crowd alongside families and visitors.
Where to go out in Awasa
1. The lakeshore where Piazza Road meets the water
This is the main place to spend an evening. A row of small bars sets chairs out on the street, plays music and serves beer; some also fry fish fresh from the lake. It is the obvious choice for a relaxed night, and the setting faces the water so you can watch the sun go down over Lake Awasa.
Practical point: a half litre of St George draft beer was reported at 10 birr here, though that figure dates from 2013 and should be treated as a rough guide only.
2. Bera Beer
A microbrewery in town, described as smart and popular as a drinking place. It draws a crowd that comes for the beer rather than the kitchen.
Practical point: the same source advises not bothering with the food, so plan to eat elsewhere.
3. The fish market and its outdoor cafes
On the south-west edge of town by the lake, the fish market is a daytime and early-evening draw with outdoor cafes beside it where you can eat freshly caught and cooked fish. It is a good fit for an early, low-key meal before or instead of a proper night out.
Practical point: guides at the market are keen and their asking price is high; a source notes an apparent 50 birr entry fee if you do not engage a guide, and fish at the cafes for around 30 birr. These figures were reported in 2020 and may have changed.
4. The small park beside the fish market
A small park sits right beside the fish market and is worth an hour or two of strolling. It works as a calm pre-dinner stop rather than a night out in itself.
Practical point: entry was reported at 50 birr in 2020.
How a night out unfolds
The sources do not describe a fixed timetable for eating and going out in Awasa, and no closing times are given. What they do show is that the evening centres on the lakeshore: sitting outside with a drink and watching the sunset over the lake, with fried fish available at some of the same bars and at the cafes by the fish market. Plan your evening around daylight fading rather than around a late night.
Frequently asked questions
Where do people go for a drink in the evening?
The lakeshore where Piazza Road meets the water is the main spot, with small bars, street seating and music. Bera Beer, a microbrewery in town, is also named as a popular drinking place.
Can I eat while I am out drinking?
Some of the lakeshore bars serve fried fish fresh from the lake. The outdoor cafes beside the fish market also cook fresh-caught fish. At Bera Beer, the advice is to skip the food.
Is there anything to do before the bars?
The fish market and the small park beside it make a natural early-evening combination on the south-west edge of town by the lake.
Do I need a guide at the fish market?
You are not required to engage one, but guides are persistent and their asking price is high, and a source reports an apparent 50 birr entry fee if you go without one.
Decide whether your evening is a lakeside sunset with a beer or an early fish dinner by the market, and set out in good time to catch the light.