La Casbah is one of the best-known traditional restaurants in the Casbah itself, serving classic Algerian couscous and tagine dishes in a restored Ottoman house. The setting is the draw as much as the food: marble floors, a central courtyard, painted ceiling beams. The couscous with lamb and seven vegetables is the dish to order.
The restaurant attracts both Algerian families and foreign visitors, which means the welcome is warmer to outsiders than in most Casbah establishments. Prices are higher than the street stalls below but still very reasonable by European standards. Booking is advisable for Friday lunch.