Restaurant
Dar El Jeld
A long-established restaurant in an eighteenth-century medina mansion near the Kasbah, serving classic Tunisian dishes in a candlelit tiled courtyard.
Le Golfe
A La Marsa seafood institution since 1955, with a sea-view terrace, seasonal Mediterranean cooking and a place on MENA's 50 Best Restaurants list.
At a glance
- Type
- Mediterranean seafood
- Area
- La Marsa, Tunis, Tunisia
- Price
- $$$ · Upscale
- Opening
- Open daily · 12:00–00:00
- Official site
- restaurantlegolfe.com
Good to know
- Sea-view terrace
- Cocktail bar
- Private hire
- Reservations recommended
Why we recommend it
Le Golfe has been a fixture of the La Marsa seafront since 1955, when it was known as Le Cabanon, and it has fed several generations of local families as well as visitors. It describes itself as a beach house, and its olive-shaded terrace looks out over the sand and the sea. The restaurant has also gained wider recognition: it was placed number 44 on the Middle East and North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants list in 2025 and number 46 in 2026.
The cooking is seasonal and Mediterranean, built around local produce and fish. Dishes named on the restaurant's own site include sea bream tartare, spaghetti with bottarga, octopus carpaccio, sea bass fillet, an iced parfait and tiramisu, and The World's 50 Best Discovery guide mentions grilled sardines with lime and cuttlefish with candied lemon and capers. The menu changes with the seasons, so treat these as examples rather than a fixed list, and ask about the catch of the day.
Le Golfe has a bar with cocktails created by the mixologist Pierre Marquet, including drinks built on Tunisian flavours alongside the classics. Within the restaurant, La Table du Golfe hosts guest kitchens on certain evenings: the chef Slim Douiri cooks on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and an omakase menu from dar nikkeï runs on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. These formats can change, so check the website when booking if you are coming for one in particular.
The restaurant says it is open from noon to midnight every day, and reservations are advised, especially for the terrace at sunset and in summer. Service is unhurried, so plan for a long lunch or a relaxed evening of two hours or more. Prices are higher than in the medina's traditional restaurants, in line with an upmarket seafood restaurant. Groups and private events can be arranged through the restaurant.
Le Golfe suits couples, food lovers and anyone staying in La Marsa, Gammarth or Sidi Bou Said. From central Tunis, take the TGM train to the end of the line at La Marsa or a taxi; combine dinner with an afternoon in Sidi Bou Said or a walk along the corniche.
Le Golfe FAQs
Do I need to book Le Golfe?
Reservations are advised, particularly for the sea-view terrace at sunset and in summer.
What are the opening hours?
The restaurant says it is open from noon to midnight every day.
How long has Le Golfe been open?
Since 1955, originally under the name Le Cabanon.
What should I order?
The menu is seasonal; examples include sea bream tartare, spaghetti with bottarga, octopus carpaccio and sea bass.
Does it have a bar?
Yes, Le Bar du Golfe serves cocktails created by Pierre Marquet, some built on Tunisian flavours.
Has it won any awards?
It was ranked 44th in 2025 and 46th in 2026 on the Middle East and North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants list.
How do I get there from Tunis?
Take the TGM train to La Marsa or a taxi; the restaurant is on Rue Larbi Zarrouk near the sea.
Are there special chef evenings?
La Table du Golfe hosts Slim Douiri from Thursday to Saturday evenings and a dar nikkeï omakase on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.