Dar El Jeld Hotel & Spa

Dar El Jeld is one of the great names of Tunisian hospitality. Originally an 18th-century notable's palace tucked deep in the Tunis medina, it began life as a celebrated restaurant — long the city's reference for high-end Tunisian gastronomy — and later expanded into a small hotel and spa.

Inside is a feast of traditional craftsmanship: hand-carved cedar doors, Carrara marble columns, intricate plasterwork (naqsh hadida), zellige tile floors and a soaring central courtyard with a marble fountain.

The hotel is suite-only, with a private spa and hammam, and the restaurant remains one of the best Tunisian fine-dining experiences in the country. It's a unique alternative to staying on the coast for travellers who want the beating heart of Tunis.