Must-see restaurants in Tunis

  • Dar El Jeld

    Tunis

    Pass through the bee-yellow front door in this 18th-century mansion and a magnificent courtyard dining space will be theatrically revealed. Start with the…

  • Le Carnot

    Tunis

    Heralding the long overdue arrival of contemporary chic in Centre Ville, this hybrid bistro/cafe/bar in the Institut Française de Tunisie will come as a…

  • Café Culturel El Ali

    Tunis

    This is indeed a cultured hideaway. A converted house with atmospheric wood-beamed ceilings, stained-glass windows and a rooftop terrace, it serves…

  • Chez Slah

    Tunis

    Though located in an unprepossessing pocket of Centre Ville, this fish restaurant in a 19th-century villa is worth seeking out. Super-fresh fish of the…

  • Doken

    Tunis

    There are many delights in the medina, but very few are food related. An exception to this rule, Doken serves excellent Mediterranean-accented food …

  • Tchevap

    Carthage

    This classy restaurant is much-loved by local residents in Carthage, the most affluent neighbourhood in Tunis. The vibe at lunch is agreeably laid-back;…

  • La Cuisine

    Tunis

    Hidden away on the 4th floor of an average-looking building, this excellent restaurant and its young chef take good food seriously. The small seasonal…

  • Mezza Maison

    Tunis

    Tucked away at the back of the Odeon car park, this Lebanese restaurant is on the expensive side for Tunisia, but the food quality and quantities justify…

  • La Seine Patisserie

    Tunis

    Dessert lovers with dietary requirements should make a beeline for La Seine, which caters to a range of intolerances. It's possibly the only place in…

  • Bistro Nippon

    Tunis

    Oozing simple Japanese cool, Bistro Nippon serves up a wide range of tasty and hearty soup and noodle dishes in this small but trendy restaurant. Well…

  • Ivy

    Tunis

    Hipster hotspot Ivy hits the breakfast spot with vegan friendly smoothie bowls and a range of fresh juices. The menu has a focus on healthy but tasty…

  • Lapero

    Tunis

    A welcome addition to the casual eating scene in Tunis, this new tapas and pintxos restaurant already has a firm fan base among La Marsa residents. There…

  • Breizh Bistrot

    Tunis

    Excellent galettes (savoury buckwheat-flour pancakes) and crêpes can be enjoyed in this friendly, attractively designed cafe whose comfortable sofas and…

  • La Villa Bleue

    Sidi Bou Saïd

    This hotel restaurant in Sidi Bou Saïd's upper village is a real treat. Set in a beautifully restored dar, the lavishly tiled dining room is a comfortable…

  • Le Chargui

    Sidi Bou Saïd

    There's great budget dining at Le Chargui, where you can feast on brik (savoury filled pastries), tasty fish couscous, fresh salads or grilled merguez …

  • Gourmandise

    Tunis

    Though a branch of a big national chain, this modern bakery and cafe is worth a visit for its delicious, freshly made sandwiches and its keenly priced…

  • Neptune

    Carthage

    There is a classically charming feel to Neptune, with waiters in bowties ready to serve with a smile. Whilst the interior may be uninspiring, in the…

  • Fiat Caffè

    Tunis

    Quirky and unique, this lunchtime favourite is situated at the back of a Fiat showroom. Undiscovered (except by locals in the know), this place offers up…

  • Il Gelato

    Tunis

    In an area densely packed with ice-cream shops, Il Gelato stands out not just for its range of flavours, but also for its dairy- and sugar-free options …

  • Chez Nous

    Tunis

    Endearingly old-fashioned, this local institution first opened its doors in 1935 and ever since has been serving reliably prepared classics such as steak…

  • Fondouk El Attarine

    Tunis

    Managing to please both locals and tourists is a skill that few restaurants in Tunis have mastered. Fortunately, this meticulously restored funduq …

  • Chez Mounir

    Tunis

    Forget the medina's expensive tourist restaurants – the food is better at this tiny and unassuming place, which is packed with shopkeepers every lunchtime…

  • Dar Slah

    Tunis

    A welcoming bolt-hole on the medina's busiest thoroughfare, this restaurant in an old house is operated by the city's most prominent family of…

  • Chez Mohamed Abid Sfaxi

    Tunis

    The most popular of the budget Sfaxoise eating establishments that line this stretch of Rue du Caire, this bright and friendly place offers a good…

  • Les Ombrelles

    Tunis

    This restaurant's seafront location draws plenty of clients, and fortunately the good-quality French-influenced food keeps them happy. We like the fact…

  • La Salle à Manger

    Tunis

    Wildly fashionable, this upmarket choice offers two dining spaces: a formal restaurant at the front and a more casual (and noisy) wine bar in the larger…

  • Gourmandise

    Tunis

    This branch of the upmarket pâtisserie (bakery) chain has an attractive and comfortable attached cafe space with indoor and terrace seating. Friendly…

  • Lodge

    Tunis

    Located close to the Instituto Italiano de Cultura, this hybrid restaurant and lounge bar keeps its neighbours happy with good-quality Italian cuisine,…

  • Mahdaoui

    Tunis

    The tables at this friendly, central and cheap place fill a narrow alley by the Zitouna Mosque. The simple daily menu offers couscous, grilled fish, roast…

  • Madame Hachicha

    Sidi Bou Saïd

    French-style gâteaux, macarons, calissons and a huge range of jewel-like Tunisian pastries made with almond, hazelnut, pistachio and pinenut tempt those…

  • Uranium

    Carthage

    One of a cluster of slick contemporary cafes on either side of Ave Habib Bourguiba, this cafe has an elevated outdoor terrace where young locals enjoy…

  • Bambalouni Sidi Bou Saïd

    Sidi Bou Saïd

    Follow the locals' lead and join the cluster of customers in front of this blue hole-in-the-wall stand to order a freshly fried, sugar-dusted bombalouni …

  • Masmoudi

    Tunis

    Resembling a bijou, violet-coloured boudoir, this branch of the national chain sells traditional Tunisian pastries, biscuits and macaroons that are packed…

  • Saveur Sidi Bou Saïd

    Sidi Bou Saïd

    Tasty mana'ich (Lebanese-style flat bread) is grilled on a saj (convex griddle) and stuffed with savoury fillings at this busy food stand on the main drag…

  • Patisserie Zitouna

    Tunis

    This much-loved hole-in-the-wall pâtisserie sells delectable fruit and chocolate tarts.

  • Au Bon Vieux Temps

    Sidi Bou Saïd

    Both the ridiculously romantic terrace and elegant dining room at this upmarket restaurant command amazing water views, although there is a nostalgic old…

  • Tam Tam

    Sidi Bou Saïd

    Near Sidi Bou Saïd's train station, this place has a modern-diner design, music-video-pumping flat-screen TVs and a menu of fast-food favourites (burgers,…

  • El Khairat

    Sidi Bou Saïd

    Try a fresh fig-and-strawberry fruit whip or date smoothie to go from the friendly crew at the juice-and-sandwich stall El Khairat, or stay for a…

  • Dar Zarrouk

    Sidi Bou Saïd

    This upmarket choice scores big on atmosphere: its large sea-facing terrace is filled with cloth-draped tables and comfortable wicker chairs, and the rear…

  • Le Golfe

    Tunis

    A glamorous step-to-the-sand setting and contemporary chic decor make this restaurant a place to see and be seen in Tunis. The cashed-up expats and locals…

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