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.
Fondouk El Attarine
A restaurant and craft gallery in a restored merchants' inn in the perfume souk, serving Tunisian dishes under a covered arcaded courtyard.
At a glance
- Type
- Tunisian
- Area
- Medina, Tunis, Tunisia
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
Good to know
- Covered courtyard
- Craft shop
- Reservations recommended
Why we recommend it
Fondouk El Attarine occupies one of the medina's old fondouks, the inns where travelling merchants stored their goods and slept. This one stands in Souk El Attarine, the perfume market beside the Zitouna Mosque, and may date back to the Hafsid period. It served the perfume trade and also lodged foreign travellers, with goods and animals kept on the ground floor and rooms opening onto the galleries above. After nearly forty years of closure it was restored and converted into a restaurant and craft gallery.
The restoration kept the central courtyard framed by stone walls, arcades and columns, along with the two levels of galleries, and added a transparent roof so that the patio can be used in any weather. The result is a light, airy dining room in the middle of the covered souks, and it makes a natural lunch stop during a morning of exploring. The building also houses a craft shop selling textiles, leather goods, perfumes, carpets and pottery, which is worth a browse before or after your meal.
The menu focuses on Tunisian standards. Travel writers have mentioned brik with egg, tajines, couscous including a fish version, rice with squid, fresh mixed salads and desserts using pomegranate. In Tunisia, a tajine is usually a baked egg dish rather than a stew, so expect something closer to a firm frittata. Ask about the fish of the day and any seasonal specials.
The restaurant is run by the same owners as Dar El Jeld, and the Dar El Jeld hotel recommends it to guests as a typical restaurant and craft shop in a caravanserai. Booking ahead is recommended, especially for lunch in busy periods. We could not confirm current opening hours from an official source, so check before you go, and remember that the souks around it are quieter on some days of the week. Prices are moderate and lower than at Dar El Jeld.
The fondouk suits families, couples and anyone wanting a sit-down lunch in the souks rather than a quick snack. It is a few minutes' walk from the Zitouna Mosque, so combine it with the perfume souk, the madrasas nearby and an afternoon at Tourbet el Bey and Dar Ben Abdallah in the southern medina.
Fondouk El Attarine FAQs
What is a fondouk?
A traditional inn where merchants stored goods and stayed overnight; this one served the perfume trade.
What does Fondouk El Attarine serve?
Tunisian dishes such as brik with egg, tajines, couscous including fish couscous, rice with squid and salads.
Is there a shop?
Yes, the building includes a craft shop selling textiles, leather goods, perfumes, carpets and pottery.
Do I need to book?
Booking is recommended, especially at busy lunchtimes.
Where is it?
In Souk El Attarine, the perfume souk next to the Zitouna Mosque.
Who runs it?
It is run by the same owners as the Dar El Jeld restaurant and hotel.
Is it good for lunch with children?
Yes, the covered courtyard is spacious and the menu includes simple dishes such as salads and brik.
What are the opening hours?
We could not confirm hours from an official source, so check before you go.