"A restored medina townhouse serving Tunisian classics and lamb with apricots, with a rooftop cafe looking onto the Zitouna Mosque."
About El Ali
El Ali is a Tunisian restaurant and cafe set in a restored heritage townhouse on Rue Jamaa Ez Zitouna, inside the historic medina of Tunis. The restaurant takes the first floor and the cafe the rooftop, where the terrace looks across the old city to the minaret of the Zitouna Mosque. It is a longstanding cultural address in the medina, cooking Tunisian classics from the local markets in a room dressed with traditional tilework and furnishings.
This is honest Tunisian home cooking in a characterful old-city setting. For more of the city's best tables, compare the grand Tunisian dining at Dar El Jeld, the medina cooking at Fondouk El Attarine and the traditional plates at Essalhi. For an easy night out, see our guide to a relaxed first date.
The Kitchen
The kitchen cooks Tunisian classics from fresh market ingredients, leaning on fish and meat. The signature is a lamb with sweet dried apricots, grapes and almonds, a dish that captures the country's love of sweet-savoury cooking; around it sit a chicken brik roll, a seabream couscous and the everyday staples of couscous, tagines and grilled meats. Main courses run around 20 to 35 Tunisian dinars, which makes it an affordable way to eat well in the medina, and the cooking is generous and home-style rather than refined. It is the kind of menu that rewards a table that orders a couple of classics to share - a brik, a couscous and a tagine - with the rooftop and a mint tea to follow.
The Room
The setting carries the meal: a carefully restored townhouse within the old city walls, its rooms dressed in traditional Tunisian tilework and furnishings, with the restaurant on the first floor and a cafe on the rooftop terrace. From the roof the view runs across the medina to the Zitouna Mosque, a fine spot for a long lunch, a sunset drink or a mint tea after dinner, and live music plays on some evenings. Service is warm and relaxed, in keeping with the cafe spirit of the place. El Ali sits on Rue Jamaa Ez Zitouna, one of the medina's main lanes; because the rooftop is popular at golden hour, arriving early or booking ahead is wise for a terrace table.
Best for a Relaxed Evening
The medina setting, the rooftop view and the easy Tunisian menu make El Ali a romantic first date or relaxed anniversary, and a characterful table for a team dinner in the old city.
Not for
Not for a formal fine-dining evening - this is a relaxed medina cafe and restaurant built for classic Tunisian cooking and a rooftop view, not a tasting menu.
Frequently Asked
What is El Ali known for?
El Ali is known for Tunisian classics in a restored medina townhouse on Rue Jamaa Ez Zitouna, with a rooftop cafe looking onto the Zitouna Mosque. Signature dishes include lamb with sweet dried apricots, grapes and almonds, a chicken brik roll and seabream couscous.
Where is El Ali in Tunis?
El Ali is on Rue Jamaa Ez Zitouna, one of the main lanes of the historic medina of Tunis. The restaurant sits on the first floor of a restored heritage townhouse, with a cafe on the rooftop terrace that looks across to the Zitouna Mosque.
How much does El Ali cost?
Main courses run around 20 to 35 Tunisian dinars, making it an affordable way to eat Tunisian classics in the medina. Sharing a few dishes - a brik, a couscous and a tagine - with a mint tea on the roof keeps the bill modest.
What food does El Ali serve?
El Ali serves Tunisian classics cooked from fresh market ingredients - couscous, tagines and grilled meats - with signatures such as lamb with dried apricots, grapes and almonds, a chicken brik roll and a seabream couscous. The cooking is generous and home-style.
Does El Ali have a rooftop?
Yes. The cafe occupies the rooftop terrace, which looks across the medina to the minaret of the Zitouna Mosque - a fine spot for a long lunch, a sunset drink or a mint tea after dinner. Live music plays on some evenings.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at El Ali
Arriving early or booking ahead is wise for a terrace table at golden hour; El Ali is on Rue Jamaa Ez Zitouna in the medina, near the Zitouna Mosque.
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Practical Information
AddressRue Jamaa Ez Zitouna, Medina of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
NeighbourhoodMedina, near the Zitouna Mosque
CuisineTunisian
PriceMains around TND 20-35
Dress CodeCasual
SeatingFirst-floor dining room and rooftop cafe terrace
ReservationRecommended for the rooftop
