Restaurant
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.
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.
At a glance
- Type
- Traditional Tunisian
- Area
- Medina, Tunis, Tunisia
- Price
- $$$ · Upscale
- Official site
- dareljeld.com
Good to know
- Courtyard dining
- Live traditional music
- Reservations recommended
Why we recommend it
Dar El Jeld is the restaurant most often recommended for a special Tunisian dinner in the medina, and it has been serving guests for more than three decades. It occupies an eighteenth-century mansion on a narrow lane near the Kasbah and the entrance to the souks, opened as a restaurant in 1987, and describes itself as the oldest and best known Tunisian specialities restaurant in the city. The same owners run the Dar El Jeld hotel directly opposite, as well as Fondouk El Attarine in the perfume souk.
The setting is a large part of the appeal. Diners sit around a whitewashed courtyard decorated with bright tiles, wrought iron and carpets, lit in the evening by candles and chandeliers, and traditional music often accompanies dinner. It is a good choice for a celebration, a romantic evening or a first taste of refined Tunisian cooking in a historic house.
The menu sticks to the classics of Tunisian home and festive cooking. Expect a spread of starters and bricks, the crisp filled pastry parcels found all over the country, followed by grilled kebabs, whole grilled fish or couscous with fish or lamb. Portions are generous, so pace yourself through the starters, and ask the staff about the day's fish if you prefer seafood.
According to the restaurant's own website, it serves lunch and dinner and is closed on Sundays. Booking is strongly recommended, especially for dinner and at weekends, and you can reserve through the website or by phone. Guides and travel writers suggest dressing smartly in the evening; this is not a casual café, and the atmosphere is calm and polished. Allow a couple of hours for a relaxed dinner. Because the house is reached through medina lanes, ask your taxi to drop you as close as possible and follow the restaurant's directions, or walk with your hotel's staff after dark.
Dar El Jeld suits couples, families celebrating an occasion and anyone who wants traditional food in a memorable setting. After dinner, the rooftop bar and restaurant at the hotel opposite is a pleasant place for a final drink with a view across the medina's roofs and minarets.
Dar El Jeld FAQs
Do I need to book Dar El Jeld?
Yes, reservations are recommended, especially for dinner and at weekends.
Is Dar El Jeld open on Sundays?
No, the restaurant's website says it is closed on Sundays.
What kind of food does it serve?
Traditional Tunisian cooking such as starters and bricks, grilled kebabs, whole grilled fish and fish or lamb couscous.
Is there a dress code?
There is no strict rule published, but smart clothing is recommended for dinner.
How old is the restaurant?
It opened in 1987 in an eighteenth-century mansion and has been running for more than three decades.
Where is it?
On Rue Dar El Jeld near the Kasbah and the entrance to the souks, opposite the Dar El Jeld hotel.
Is there music?
Traditional music often accompanies dinner in the courtyard.
Can I have a drink afterwards nearby?
Yes, the rooftop at the Dar El Jeld hotel opposite serves drinks with views over the medina.