Villa Didon

Villa Didon is a small, design-led hotel on the Byrsa hill, the historic heart of ancient Carthage, and it offers something very different from the large resorts along the coast. There are just ten suites, and all of them face the bay, so the views over the Gulf of Tunis are part of every stay. The hotel takes its name from Dido, the legendary founder of Carthage.

The suites are the main draw, and the small number keeps the atmosphere quiet and personal. Public spaces include La Proue, the terrace and pool area above the gardens with the sea below, as well as spaces called Le Perchoir and Le Light Bar. The spa offers treatments inspired by the Tunisian hammam.

The restaurant, Le RestÔ, is a destination in its own right. The kitchen follows the morning market, cooks over open flame and uses nothing frozen, and the dining room has floor-to-ceiling windows facing the sea. Lunch is served looking over the bay and dinner by candlelight, and couscous is served on Sundays. Non-residents can book a table, so the restaurant can be busy even when the hotel is quiet.

The location is ideal for anyone interested in archaeology. The Byrsa hill is at the centre of the Carthage archaeological site, and the Antonine Baths, the Punic ports and the Dermech museum are a short taxi ride away. Sidi Bou Said is also close, and the TGM train stations of Carthage link the area with central Tunis and La Marsa. Note that the National Museum of Carthage on the same hill is closed for rehabilitation, so check its status before planning your days around it.

Villa Didon suits couples, design lovers and travellers who prefer a small, calm hotel with a good restaurant to a full-scale resort. It is less suited to families with young children who want a beach on the doorstep. Book through the hotel's website, which uses an online booking engine, or contact the reservations team by email or phone, and reserve your table at Le RestÔ at the same time if you are visiting in a busy period.