Eat · Harnet Avenue & Cinema Impero
An Italian-era pastry bar on Harnet Avenueባር
A stand-up espresso bar in the Italian colonial style: order a macchiato at the counter with a cornetto or biscuit; the fastest, cheapest way into Asmara's café culture.
last order: unknowncounterINot field-verified
Key facts
- Price
- ERN 20–60 per person (2026 estimate)
- I
- Hours
- unknown
- Walk in
- unknown
- Seating
- counter
- 28″ bags
- Painful
- Harnet Avenue & Cinema Impero
- Getting there
- On Harnet Avenue
- 0 min walk
- A genuine piece of living Italian colonial-era culture
- not a recreation
- Cheap and fast — a five-minute stop between sights
- Order: Macchiato and a pastry
- Counter seating
- Vegetarian options
- Menu with prices on Voykit
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
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Map & directions
Directions
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Plan
When you can walk in, what to order, how to pay
Walk-in windows
07:00–20:00: ok
A walk-in lunch is only planned as primary when your arrival lands outside the “impossible” window.
Paying and dietary fit
| Need | Fit | What works here |
|---|---|---|
| undefined | — | |
| undefined | — |
“Ask” means possible with care; Voykit has not tested cross-contact. Allergies: carry a written card in the local language.
On the ground
Facts
- Reservations
- false — Counter service
- Capabilities
- food · toilet
- Getting there
- On Harnet Avenue · ~0 min walk
Cons
- Standing room only at some bars — limited seating.
- Menu is coffee and light pastry
- not a full meal.
Ordering helpDish glossary · Price check · Dietary phrases · Hygiene
Dish glossary
| On the menu | What it is | Order it how |
|---|---|---|
| — | — |
Price check
Dietary: what to say
| Need | Say or show | Reality here |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetarian / allergies | Ask staff directly. | Pastries usually contain milk and egg; plain espresso is dairy-free. |
Hygiene notes
- Standard café service; no particular concern reported.
Deep dive
Questions, nearby food and sources
Questions and answers
Is this a sit-down café?
Some have a few tables; many are stand-at-the-counter, Italian bar style.
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
Answers come from Voykit editors, not from other travellers.
All places to eat in Asmara, with filters →
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
- Sleep areaHarnet Avenue (city centre)40 m · 1 min walk
- ClusterHarnet Avenue & Cinema Impero180 m · 3 min walk
- ClusterCathedral & Great Mosque quarter530 m · 9 min walk
- ClusterMedeber market600 m · 10 min walk
- Sleep areaMedeber side (west of centre)790 m · 13 min walk
- ClusterFiat Tagliero & south Asmara910 m · 15 min walk
Used as a seated rest node in Asmara in 4 days.
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage — Asmara