Restaurants in Tunis

Set in a grand 18th-century mansion in the heart of the medina, Dar el-Jeld quite possibly serves the best Tunisian food in the country. Dress for dinner and eat like a pasha – the traditional seafood and lamb dishes are house highlights.

Dining out in Tunisia has rarely been so fashionable. By some degree, Le Rest'ô is the trendiest restaurant in Tunis, boasting Philippe Starck furnishings, excellent pan-Mediterranean food and magnificent views over the bay and all of Tunis.

The harbourside district of La Goulette has plenty of fishy dining options, but Lucullus is one of the most upmarket seafood restaurants in Tunis. There's a large terrace in the shade of palm trees across from the harbour, close enough to see where your dish of the day was landed.

Very nice sushi and other Asian fusion meals presented exquisitely with friendly staff. Very popular so it might pay to book in advance.

A perennial favourite among city locals (and consequently always full), Chez Slah isn't quite the easiest place to find in Tunis, but worth tracking down for simple yet beautifully cooked seafood and meat dishes. Closed Mondays.

This a grand restaurant in Tunis, in the palace style, and worth winding through medina alleyways to find. The menu doesn't stray too far from classic Tunisian offerings, though the seafood couscous is a nice twist. Alternatively, the set menu is a great introduction to the country's cuisine.

This is a reliable Italian restaurant in Tunis, serving delicious homemade pastas, pizzas and seafood. Dine in the great courtyard, and if you can, grab a table on Friday or Saturday nights when live traditional Tunisian music accompanies your meal.

There are plenty of brasseries along Avenue Habib Bourguiba, so walk along and take your pick. One of the most popular is Café de Paris Brasserie, a small yet busy restaurant serving traditional Tunisian fare, salads and pasta.

Eat in the fresh air of this restaurant in Tunis, either in the courtyard or taking in the views from the roof terrace. As it overlooks the sea, fresh fish should really be top of your order, or zing your palate with grilled merguez (spicy lamb and beef sausages).

Cheap and cheerful is definitely the order of the day at this place. Waiters whip away your plates to satisfy the constant demand for tables, all filling up with tasty grilled meat and huge piles of deeply satisfying couscous.