Dar Fatma

The hotel is right in the heart of Sidi Bou Said with super easy access. It’s a traditional Tunisian-style boutique hotel and just behind it you’ll find stunning views. I even saw several newlywed couples taking their wedding photos there. The only downside is that the area is quite hilly so you’ll need to walk uphill from the taxi drop-off point so keep that in mind if you have a lot of luggage. Breakfast is included and the room came with fresh tea leaves and welcome sweets which made the stay really comfortable. The staff didn’t speak English but they were always smiling and did their best to understand me. Definitely one of the hotels I’d recommend in Sidi Bou Said!

Our stay at Dar Fatma was overall okay, but there were several things that could have been better. When we arrived early in the morning around 7 AM (which the hotel was informed about), there was no one there to welcome us, and we had to wait a while before someone came to open the door. Luckily, we were allowed to check in early, which was nice and convenient. However, we didn’t receive any information about how the hotel works — nothing about breakfast, facilities, or check-out — which made us feel a bit unwelcome and unsure. The atmosphere from the staff wasn’t very warm or friendly either. The hotel itself is fine and has a beautiful location — the area is perfect and close to everything. The rooftop terrace is very charming and has a lovely view, but unfortunately, the pool was extremely dirty, full of birds and feathers, so it didn’t feel suitable for swimming. The beds were also quite uncomfortable and hard, which made sleeping difficult. In summary, Dar Fatma has great potential thanks to its fantastic location and nice rooftop, but the lack of hospitality and comfort made the stay less enjoyable.

This guest house certainly has a charming, quaint feel to it. The building is beautiful inside and out. Upon entering, we were greeted by the wonderful, soothing smell of jasmine, which immediately made us feel relaxed. The common areas are tastefully decorated and capture the essence of a traditional Arabic home. The staff graciously accommodated our late check-in request and we were impressed by their friendliness and attentiveness throughout our stay. However, some aspects of our stay were less than ideal. Be aware that the very small, winding staircase is not suitable for people with mobility issues or large luggage. Once we reached our room, we were surprised by how small it was. While the decor was authentic, the room felt overpriced for its size and location. We did have a nice view, though it was unfortunately obstructed somewhat by the window grates. We were disappointed to find there was no change of towels during our stay. The most significant letdown, however, was the pool on the roof terrace. Unfortunately a sizeable number of pigeons were using it as a drinking station and toilet, rendering it unusable. The pool was a significant factor in choosing the hotel. The roof terrace is an otherwise fantastic space with unmatched views over the bay and across Sidi Bou Said so this was a real letdown. Overall, the hotel offered an authentic and original experience, but it needs to, where possible, address these practical issues to justify its prices and provide a more comfortable experience for guests. Also, and whilst this is obviously outside the hotel's control, be careful with taxis. A member of staff arranged a taxi for us when we checked out however we later discovered that the fare paid was significantly higher than it should have been. Naive tourists we may have been, but if you are planning on using taxis during your visit to Tunisia you'd do well to install an app called Indrive.

A sweet boutique hotel located in Sidi Bou Said. Not only is it beautiful, but the small touches and attention to details made the experience lovely. For instance, they had loose leaf herbal tea in the room, which was a nice way to wind down the evenings. They staff remember how I liked my tea from the first day, and would serve it to me that way for the rest of the stay. They helped us find parking for the car, and even lent us a parking permit. Overall positive experience with the kindness of the staff!

Parking: The hotel is at the top of the hill, hidden in narrow streets that are more meant for walking than driving. Parking was a nightmare. There were no designated spots for the hotels so you must park in cramped driveways alongside residents. I parked where one of the hotel staff told me to leave my car and the next morning, another staff asked me if the police left a boot on my car since usually people are not allowed to park there. I was livid to say the least but thankfully there was no boot and therefore no need to escalate the situation. I would only recommend considering this hotel if you are planning on taking a taxi there. If you have a car, it is much better to stay elsewhere. Rooms: The rooms were okay. They are clean but had a damp smell during our stay. Service: service was okay but not great. We found it hard to find the people who worked at the hotel when we walked in and even when we needed things we were forced to look around the hotel trying to find a staff member. The rooftop and breakfast were the only parts of the hotel that we actually enjoyed. Fruit was fresh and delicious, and the rooftop had an amazing view of the water.

Great hotel in a very central location. Delicious breakfast and a nice rooftop pool and balcony with an amazing view of the Mediterranean. My room was on the ground floor and there was little to no wifi or cellular reception in the room though

About 20 min from airport, great section of Tunis. Weather prevented beaching and we spent only 1 night. Staff was friendly but it’s best to know some French. Great location for short stay 1-4 days. Walkable, and seemed safe enough at night— but we did take a taxi to dinner to avoid walking some lonely dark stretches of road. Small place w only 8 rooms which we liked. Comfortable beds & good breakfast. (We had an early flight and they served us breakfast early as good hospitality). ||Would recommend.

A traditional Tunisian family house tuned into a small hotel, you feel welcomed, at home, and comfortable from the start. The room is small but clean. Great view to the Gulf of Tunis. Breakfast is one of the best, with fruits, fresh lemonade, freshly made bread, pastry, omelette, butter cream, jams, and fruit yoghurt. Fantastic people. Just don't get fooled by the picture of the pool, which is actually too small to swim in. But there is a beach in the walking distance.