Tunis

El Mrabet Cafe has been the Medina's social hub since the 1600s, its vaulted stone halls whispering with centuries of tea-sipping intellectuals. By day, the shaded courtyard serves mint tea with honey-soaked pastries; by night, the rooftop transforms into a hookah lounge with Al-Zaytuna Mosque views. Live Andalusian music drifts through the arches on weekends, when locals gather over shared plates of ojja and brik. While proudly billed as Africa's oldest café, its true charm lies in the unhurried rhythm. Arrive at sunset for the golden hour over the rooftops of the Medina.

Café du Souk offers everything its overhyped neighbour (Cafe Panorama) does: jaw-dropping Medina views, photogenic tiles, the call to prayer reverberating overhead — but with actual hospitality. Tucked behind an unassuming storefront between Sidi Youssef Dey Mosque and Al-Zaytuna Mosque, it unfolds across three floors: a smoky ground-level lounge (standard for Tunis), quieter middle floors with plush seating, and a rooftop where mint tea costs a fraction of Panorama’s prices. The menu spans proper meals, not just beverages, and staff treat tourists like guests rather than photo-op transactions. For the full effect, arrive before sunset to watch the light gild the mosque’s minaret while sharing a shisha with locals.

Café De La Vigne distills the soul of the Medina into a single shaded alley. Claim a wooden bench beneath the vine-woven canopy — nature’s answer to air conditioning — and join locals sipping mint tea. Unlike rooftop competitors, this veteran café trades views for authenticity: plastic stools serve as tables, seasonal juices (pomegranate in autumn, blood orange in winter), and the hum of conversations between friends. The menu sticks to classics like lemonade, shisha, syrupy coffee, with prices that haven’t budged in years. No frills, just the Medina’s rhythm at eye level.

Bleue! offers respite from Sidi Bou Said’s tourist-clogged lanes, serving honest Tunisian staples where the blue-and-white charm feels earned, not staged. The kitchen nails classics like smoky shakshuka and roasted aubergine salads. The iced teas, infused with local herbs, cut through the coastal heat. By day, it’s a caffeine hub for digital nomads at adjoining Sociale (a co-working space with weekly film nights). In the afternoon, locals linger over mint tea on the tucked-away terrace. No sea views, no inflated prices — just reliable food and the rare luxury of space to breathe.