The story of Tunisia’s hip trend for dar hotels –­ Tunisia’s answer to Morocco’s riad hotels –­ starts right here, in the winding medina of Nabeul. The Belgian-­Tunisian owner and designer Sabri Oueslati has a great eye for aesthetics; he chanced upon a disused pottery house six years ago and transformed it, with handsome results, into the country’s first boutique dar hotel.

Like riad hotels, dar hotels draw on the tradition of living around a central courtyard. At Dar Sabri, the four sumptuous suites span two levels, each looking out onto the calm, white central oasis. But the focus here is more than just the beautiful courtyard; design is present in everything from the bubbling rose petal feature to the rooftop swimming pool, with its peep­show glass floor panels that tower above the communal breakfast table. There’s a hammam on the roof, including a hot steam room that’s decked out with warm, fluffy towels in moody shades of blue and brown, and tubs of hip body products including mud wraps and artisanal loofahs.

The suites, each individually tailored, are fabulous. We loved the long and narrow Gold Suite, which features a central sunken bathtub and a huge, comfortable bed that’s carved into the wall, surrounded by gold leaf woodwork and stone portico columns. The Silver Suite, across the way, is embellished with fine hand-sewn throws and includes a wet room with shower heads as wide as clouds; you can create your own summer rainstorm within its walls. And thanks to the heavy wooden shutters, you’ll sleep soundly despite being minutes from the noisy medina.

Nabeul is a pretty little beach town that has proven itself as a good alternative to its neighbor, Hammamet. And although the good beaches are just a 10-minute drive away, we challenge you to tear yourself away from the pool loungers and sofas on Dar Sabri’s rooftop space. After dark, it’s a great spot to share a bottle of wine –­ Sabri or the hotel staff can arrange this ­– before heading out to taste Nabeul’s restaurants. Snooze as long as you like and you still won’t miss breakfast the next morning; along with the usual morning delights, we were served bowlfuls of fresh pomegranate seeds bathed in orange blossom water, chocolate brioche, Tunisian honey and gentle infusion teas imported from Belgium.

But there was something we liked about Dar Sabri even more than its love of good design and its attention to detail: the warm welcome. We were barely through the doors before the lovely staff rustled up a welcome cocktail and their signature snack. That vibe continued throughout our stay, making us feel pretty darned special indeed. I think we’ll be back.