Tunis in Tunisia is a holiday destination that is fast growing in popularity and it's easy to see why. Benefitting from a prime location, wonderful weather and plenty of stunning sites and sights, as well as amazing attractions and activities to enjoy, Tunis has a lot to offer including a dizzying array of fantastic places to eat...
Local cuisine
El Walima is a traditional Tunisian restaurant. This eatery is owned and run by a local woman whose family history goes back to the Ottoman Empire. The interior of El Walima is cosy and feels like being inside a local home. The restaurant has an attentive staff and generous portions a must while in Tunis.
Another popular restaurant for Tunisian cuisine is Dar Belhadj. Found in the heart of Tunis, this restaurant is in a former palace. The interior is decorated with local antiques and hand-painted tiles. It can be difficult to find this restaurant as it is in downtown Tunis so it may be best to ask someone at your hotel on the best way to get there.
Easy to find in downtown Tunis, El Ali is a restaurant with traditional Tunisian cuisine. This restaurant is in a remodelled home and is decorated with many of the home's items including paintings and antiques. The menu has popular items including lamb tagine served in incredibly generous portions.
Essaraya is another crowd-pleasing Tunisian restaurant. This restaurant has a menu of classics including stews, lamb and rice dishes and others. Essaraya, like many other restaurants, in the city, is located in a former home. The owners kept much of the original home's décor including photographs and artwork.
Considered the finest restaurant in Tunis, be sure to try out Dar El Jeld. The intimate yet friendly atmosphere is perfect for a big family meal or romantic dinner for two. Dar El Jeld is located near the city centre and has traditional Tunisian cuisine and a few fusion dishes to spice things up. Highly recommended.
Restaurant Dar Slah is a popular restaurant for Tunisian cuisine with plentiful portions. The menu is heavy on red meats but also has many tasty seafood options. Located in the city centre of Tunis, this restaurant also has excellent services, which may not be that easy to find in Tunis, depending on where you choose to dine. Dar Slah has a menu of Tunisian classics for a flat rate that can be an easy way to order the best of local cuisine.
Considered one of the best Tunisian restaurants in Tunis, El Firma has a traditional menu with a twist. This restaurant only uses locally grown ingredients so each course will be seasonal and fresh. The large menu comes with prices that are slightly higher than the average for the area. The ambiance and the outdoor garden area are what contribute to the higher prices.
Located in a seaside suburb of Tunis, Le Café Vert in La Goulette has spectacular fresh seafood. This intimate eatery is highly recommended by tourists and locals. The hardest part will be finding this restaurant! It is off of the beaten path but it is well worth the trip. Le Café Vert will let you select what fish you would like from their daily catch.
Located outside of the city of Tunis, the Restaurant Dar Zarrouk has spectacular views. Sitting on a hillside terrace that overlooks Tunis and the surrounding countryside, this restaurant is held in high regard for its location alone. The menu has local classics with some Mediterranean favourites thrown in to please a range of tastes. Prices are a bit higher than average due to the view but it is worth it for the pictures and excellent food.
Modern European
Chez Slah is an ideal choice for an intimate dinner for two. For a reasonable price, diners enjoy meals inspired by Mediterranean and European cuisines. This tiny restaurant is popular with tourists and locals who want a break from Tunisian cuisine. Because the restaurant is small, making reservations are strongly recommended.
La Salle a Manger has a menu of French classics. Opened in 2008, this restaurant is relatively new on the culinary scene but is growing in popularity with tourists. The French menu items are rotated with the seasonality of local ingredients and paired with wines that come from across the Mediterranean. The staff has been trained in fine dining etiquette to match the exquisite ambiance.
Considered one of the finest restaurants in Tunis, Le Golfe restaurant has an elegant menu and ambiance. The restaurant sits on the Mediterranean Sea so it is an obvious option for a romantic meal. The Sea provides much of the ingredients for the menu items as seafood dominates the restaurant's courses. The staff is trained in a European fashion so the service is faster than the average in Tunis.
La Falaise is a popular and scenic seafood restaurant in Tunis. Considered one of the best choices in the city, this restaurant sits on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The seafood on the menu is caught in the sea so it will be hard to beat this restaurant in terms of quality. These courses may not be the most authentic in the area but they are fresh and memorable.
International cuisine
Il Ritrovo degli Artisti is a fine Italian restaurant and one of the most popular establishments in Tunis because of it. The menu is filled with Italian classics like pasta, steaks and Panini. Many Italian expatriates frequent this restaurant so you don't have to worry about its authenticity. The ambiance is not quite that of an Italian bistro but the food will please everyone.
French food is at its finest at L'Astragale. This restaurant is popular with tourists and locals alike and especially regarded for its discreet and elegant ambiance. However, it is not too uptight to enjoy a relaxed dinner as a family. Delicious classics like steaks and seafood are available here at a fair price. Bon appétit!
La Bottega has a menu rife with Italian classics made with locally caught seafood. Considered some of the finest Italian food in the area, the restaurant has a higher than average price tag because of its reputation and high standards. With a menu full of items like pizza, pastas and seafood, it will be hard to decide what to order!
Le Bo M is a fine example of French cuisine in Tunis. This intimate eatery is well regarded for dining outdoors with its patio seating. French classics like ratatouille and others are executed perfectly here and presented exquisitely. This fine dining experience is less formal because of its relaxed outdoor dining.
The Comptoirs de Beyrouth is a Lebanese style bakery and restaurant that is available for dining in or carrying out. It is located near the Lake of Tunis so it will require a taxi ride for any guests that are staying in the city centre of Tunis. However, if you will make the trek, the pastries and menu items will please everyone in your party with their range of decadence and flavours.
For a menu that includes both Tunisian and French favourites, the Chez Nous appeals to many tastes. You can get a four-course tourist meal here for an extremely fair price, a price that you won't be able to beat at home! The menu features local seafood specialties and French classics and the walls are covered with pictures of celebrities.
Le Grand Café du Theatre is a favourite café for locals and tourists alike. The menu here is filled with Italian classics like pizzas, pastas and pressed sandwiches. The restaurant is set back a bit from the street so you may not get to people watch while you dine but some of the street noise will be minimized. The prices at this café are certainly fair and modest when compared to northern Europe but they are slightly higher than the average Tunisian eatery.
For another fine dining Italian restaurant, Romanesca is a natural choice. This eatery is intimate, elegant and has a menu of traditional classics. There are antipasto appetizer options, pasta and steak entrees and even desserts like tiramisu. The restaurant is owned and operated by an Italian expatriate so it will be hard to find more authentic restaurant in the country.
For international cuisine, La Closerie is an excellent choice. This eatery has internationally influenced food with a heavy emphasis on French cuisine. The ambiance in this club can be dampened by loud music but it is pleasant and sophisticated otherwise. When compared to other restaurants in the area, this restaurant may not be considered as good of a deal because the generous portions of other eateries.
Chez Gerry, despite its French name, is an Italian restaurant. The restaurant has a range of Italian entrees from the casual items like pizzas and sandwiches to formal entrees like steaks and seafood. There is something for everyone at this restaurant so it has become a favourite among tourists and expatriates who want a change of pace from the French and Tunisian restaurants.
An unexpected restaurant in Tunis is Origami. This Japanese restaurant has a wide range of sushi entrees that are made with fresh catches from the Mediterranean. There are also cooked entrees for those who do not want to eat raw fish. Due in part because it is a rare site in Tunis, making reservations is recommended.
Considered a novelty in Tunis, Mamie Lily is a welcomed of change of pace. This restaurant is completely kosher while using local ingredients. This blend of Jewish and Arabic food is not accompanied by the often lofty price tag on fusion food either. Mamie Lily is affordable and unique.