Claiming the top floor of the El Hana hotel on Avenue Bourgiba central Tunis, Bar Jamaica is a perennial Tunis favorite. The name might conjure up images of a dog-eared reggae spot, but Bar Jamaica isn’t really that: it has neon, it has a great crowd and it has fantastic views.
The outdoor area, sealed by a wraparound balcony, is simpler than the interior, with basic wooden furniture and parasols. But that doesn’t seem to matter much after dark, when everyone’s either looking at each other or the twinkling lights of Tunis. From up here you can see all of the city; the road to the port of La Goulette, the ornate National Theater, the famous El Jallaz burial ground and of course, all of Avenue Bourgiba below.
It’s a mixture of table service and bar service here, according to how late you arrive and how rowdy the crowd gets. As one of the few Tunis watering holes to serve a wide range of spirits, beers and wines, Bar Jamaica is a hit with the city’s expat crowd, who like to throw around a few dance moves as the night wears on.
The drinks are good value here; our whisky-sodas went for US5 each. And the music is piped, not live, but on nights when there’s a DJ, expect a good selection of tunes; anything from hip-hop imported from the United Arab Emirates to home-grown reggae and dubstep blends produced by Tunisia’s current wave of post-revolution ‘houmani’ (or neighborhood) music.
To find it, head to the El Hana hotel and take the elevator to the tenth floor.
Expert Review
Claiming the top floor of the El Hana hotel on Avenue Bourgiba central Tunis, Bar Jamaica is a perennial Tunis...
Claiming the top floor of the El Hana hotel on Avenue Bourgiba central Tunis, Bar Jamaica is a perennial Tunis favorite. The name might conjure up images of a dog-eared reggae spot, but Bar Jamaica isn’t really that: it has neon, it has a great crowd and it has fantastic views.
The outdoor area, sealed by a wraparound balcony, is simpler than the interior, with basic wooden furniture and parasols. But that doesn’t seem to matter much after dark, when everyone’s either looking at each other or the twinkling lights of Tunis. From up here you can see all of the city; the road to the port of La Goulette, the ornate National Theater, the famous El Jallaz burial ground and of course, all of Avenue Bourgiba below.
It’s a mixture of table service and bar service here, according to how late you arrive and how rowdy the crowd gets. As one of the few Tunis watering holes to serve a wide range of spirits, beers and wines, Bar Jamaica is a hit with the city’s expat crowd, who like to throw around a few dance moves as the night wears on.
The drinks are good value here; our whisky-sodas went for US5 each. And the music is piped, not live, but on nights when there’s a DJ, expect a good selection of tunes; anything from hip-hop imported from the United Arab Emirates to home-grown reggae and dubstep blends produced by Tunisia’s current wave of post-revolution ‘houmani’ (or neighborhood) music.
To find it, head to the El Hana hotel and take the elevator to the tenth floor.