Dar Kenza

Don't be fooled by the beautiful pictures on some books about maison d'hôtes. This place does not even by far meet the standards of Tunisian guest houses: beach is not kept clean; staff is rude when not outright aggressive; food is served late; even when you book half board you will still have to pay for food; breakfast was merely a boiled egg, some Ricotta cheese and Chemia. We left half way through our holiday.

Dar Kenza is a beautiful little oasis at one of the sandy Kelibia beaches. The service the weekend I visited were unfortunately poor with own arrangement of tables, lack of cutlery after asking for it, food not coming for the whole table. The dinner was delicious but the breakfast was only one omelet, baguette and coffee.

We had a quiet and relaxing stay at this beautiful guesthouse, loved the convenient access to the private beach, and the kind hospitality of the owners. The place is great for couples, families, and groups seeking a laidback beachside hideaway. The network in the room was weak and wifi was not working, so better to plan to disconnect while there. The property is splendidly designed with a traditional architecture and decor, and plants everywhere. It has a small swimming pool. Rooms are spacious and comfy, and each is unique in style and character. They all have AC. Water flow was poor upstairs early in the evening. The common area has plenty of indoor and outdoor sitting corners for privacy. There’s a direct access to a private, sandy beach, equipped with umbrellas and folding chairs (next to the neighbouring guesthouses’ private beaches on either side). The area is much less crowded than other spots in Kelibia, which is a privilege. Photos can’t do justice to the crystal clear, clean and calm waters. Unfortunately we saw plenty of trash left on the sand for days (empty cigarette pack, cigarette butts, straws...). I would expect the guesthouse to undertake daily cleaning of its private beach. The food was quite good. A half board includes breakfast, which is set, and a TND 30 voucher for either lunch or dinner. For breakfast, we had coffee or tea, mlawi (Tunisian flat bread) with margarine, quince jam, sesame halva, ricotta, and a boiled egg. On the second day, we also had “assida” (sweet cream made of semolina). With regards to lunch/dinner, there’s a fixed menu with several main meal options (fish, seafood and meat based, no vegan) at different rates ranging from TND 30 to TND 45. They come with a set salad as a starter and fruits as desert. We could directly get the chef’s recommendations and personalise our choices. The bar prices are reasonable (e.g. TND2.5 for a cup of tea). Alcoholic beverages are served. Overall the service was correct. The staff were generally nice and friendly. The owners, Sam and his wife, were extremely caring and helpful. I definitely recommend the place, would come back and look forward to it!

This place is really good. It has one of the best quality/price ratios. The rooms are extra vast and comfortable. It will give you a home vibe when you get in. The food was good as well except for one dish (one of the fish menus) The bar prices are very cheap and really good quality is present at the bar. It also provide hammam and massage for people looking for relaxation. And it's good quality of service. The working people there are very friendly and helpful. I would recommend to everyone. Side note : it's preferable to go with a car, as it is close to Kelibia and that can provide extra fun for people visiting.

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