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Restaurants in Amman

Like most Arab countries, Lebanese cuisine features heavily in traditional Jordanian venues. Not that Western influences have been left out entirely. If visitors search enough expat spots, there’s still a chance of finding some fish and chips. Most restaurants double as nightclubs and shisha haunts.

The Amman restaurants below have been hand-picked by our guide author and are grouped into three pricing categories:
Expensive (over 12JD)
Moderate (5JD to 12JD)
Cheap (up to 5JD)

These prices are for a three-course meal for one, including all taxes, service and half a bottle of house wine or equivalent where available.

Many restaurants add on a 10% service charge, but not much (if any) will make it to your waiter. Try to leave another 5-10% in cash if the service was good.

Expensive

Fakhr El-Din

Cuisine: Lebanese

Housed in a charming old renovated house in a swanky section of Amman, this is one of the finest restaurants in the capital and popular with diplomats and business people. The food is Lebanese and as good as it gets in Amman: a great variety of mezzas, meat and chicken grills, as well as fish imported freshly from the Arabian Gulf, and delicious Lebanese desserts. It's pricey, but worth the money. Reservations are essential.

Address: Jebel Amman, Second Circle, Taha Hussein Street, Amman,
Telephone: (06) 465 2399.
Website: http://www.fakhreldin.com

Kan Zaman

Cuisine: Jordanian

This place may be a hike from the city centre, but if you’re after a Jordanian buffet with classy morsels, it’s certainly worth making the trip. Kan Zaman, located 15km (9 miles) south of 8th Circle, is predominantly pitched at tour groups, though anyone can join in with the feasting. Set in a traditional inn with rugs and wall tapestries, its musicians serenade the crowd with time-honoured songs as patrons tuck into lamb and spinach stew, chicken with sumac and onions, and other local dishes.

Address: Al-Yadoudeh village, Tlaa al-Ali Jubilee Gardens, Amman,
Telephone: (06) 412 3838.

Rodeo Grill

Cuisine: American, European

Enjoy steaks and grilled meats in a fine dining establishment, with the freshest ingredients from prime aged beef to roasts, all of which are cooked in a signature Josper wood fired oven. It is a good option if you want to enjoy truly authentic dishes with excellent service.

Address: Shmeisani, Black Iris Street, Al Abdali, Amman, 11190
Telephone: +962 6 520 8888
Website: https://www.rotana.com/rotanahotelandresorts/jordan/amman/ammanrotana/dining

Moderate

Al Quds

Cuisine: Bedouin

Ordering can be a bit of an adventure in this traditional restaurant as the menu is written in Arabic. Whatever you choose though, the food will be first class and reasonably priced, and the service quick and efficient. All meals are freshly made and the mansaf (a traditional, yoghurt-based Jordanian dish) is particularly good. Desserts are a draw here too, so finish off with the layaly libnan (semolina pudding with caramel syrup and a pistachio nut topping).

Address: Downtown, King Hussein Street, Amman, 11118
Telephone: (06) 463 0168.

Tannoureen Restaurant

Cuisine: Lebanese

Although expensive for Amman, the superb Lebanese food, extensive menu and first-class service mean Tannoureen Restaurant is great value for money. Delectable dishes such as cheese with thyme, muhammara (hot pepper dip), fried halloumi cheese, fish kibbeh (fried croquette stuffed with fish), and maqluba (layered vegetable, chicken and rice torte) ensure repeat patronage. This is one of the city's best dining experiences, so booking is advisable, especially if you want to eat on the lovely outdoor terrace.

Address: near Sixth Circle, Shatt Al-Arab Street, Amman,
Telephone: (06) 551 5987.

Wild Jordan Cafe

Cuisine: International

If you've got a hankering for the tastes of home, Wild Jordan plates up healthy choices like soup, wraps and salads. Vegetarians should plump for the freshly prepared Ajloun spinach and mushroom salad, while meat eaters will be spoilt for choice. If you've worked up a thirst, Tchaba tea, Arabic coffee and smoothies all go well with the café's devilish desserts. Its outdoor terrace and floor-to-ceiling windows make this a wonderful interlude at any time of the day, especially as the views over downtown Amman are so clear and crisp.

Address: Jebel Amman, Othman Bin Affan Street, Amman,
Telephone: (06) 463 3542.
Website: http://www.wildjordancafe-jo.com/food.htm

Cheap

Cairo Restaurant

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Dishing out hot, hearty fare to locals and travellers alike, what you get here is great value food, no fuss and simple surroundings. Plain, clean and busy, the restaurant is great for budget travellers as it allows diners to try a variety of local dishes such as chicken and lamb shwarma (slow-grilled meat), mutton stew and stewed fava beans, all at very reasonable prices.

Address: Downtown, Al-Malek Talal Street, Amman,
Telephone: (06) 462 4527.

Habibah

Cuisine: Middle Eastern desserts

Join the crowds at this legendary dessert joint where sweet treats satisfy even the most honeyed tooth. Specialising in Middle Eastern puddings, the creative variations on the region’s most famous confections await the judgement of your palate. Its most famed offering is kenafeh (a cheese pastry soaked in gooey syrup) but there are other pastries and variants of baklava on offer. The long queues, especially on weekends, are a testament to the quality of its fare. There are a number of outlets in the city.

Address: Downtown, Al-Malek al-Hussein St, Amman,
Telephone:

Hashem

Cuisine: Falafel

This long-established, cheap and cheerful diner has very limited choice, but everything it does serve up, it excels at. An Amman institution, Hashem is always packed, mainly because it makes the best falafels in the city, though its hummus and fuul (fava bean paste) are equally as good. A contender for the cheapest place to eat in Amman, Hashem counts the Royal Family amongst its patrons, so it's certainly doing something right.

Address: Downtown, Opposite the Cliff hotel on Alamir Mohamed Street, Amman,
Telephone: (06) 463 6440.
A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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Corp Amman Hotel

Located opposite the Royal Cultural Centre, the Corp Amman Hotel has 108 rooms, so if there's nothing on across the road, it opens up ample bargaining opportunities for nabbing a knocked down price. Sleeping quarters approach apartment sizes, and each comes with a large TV, free Wi-Fi and soundproofed windows. The small gym and swimming pool is enough to keep guests primed during their stay, while the rooftop lounge is best at dusk.

Four Seasons Hotel Amman

Undoubtedly the city's most luxurious hotel, the Four Seasons knows its place as it sits atop the highest of the Amman's Jabels (hills). Naturally, the hotel's signature service, beds and ambience are otherworldly, but you can't put a price on its wonderful views. Dead Sea mud treatments and salt scrubs are available in its spa and its run of excellent onsite restaurants might mean you don't eat anywhere else.

ibis Amman

With a solid stamp of standardisation, ibis Amman works hard to provide perennial hotel needs: quiet rooms, decent beds and clean bathrooms. The location is central enough, while Wi-Fi and breakfast is included as part of the deal. Funky, Ikea-like furniture adorns the public spaces and staff are super helpful.

Toledo Hotel

Modern with a hint of faux-Moorish architecture, this moderately priced, 4-star hotel combines a great location with tasteful decoration and air-conditioned bliss. Under the shadows of some 5-star stalwarts, Toledo Hotel offers decent room dimensions, a restaurant that marries East and West, plus a spa with a lap pool, Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna.

Crowne Plaza Hotel Amman

At Crowne Plaza hotel, you can overlook the white city of Amman. International fast food restaurants, the main shopping area of Sweifiyeh, and the popular Gold Souk of Um Utheina are within walking distance. This 5 star hotel is an acclaimed destination for business trips, family visits and even solo travels to Jordan.

The Amman Pasha Hotel

Look past the floral bedspreads, and rise above the dodgy water pressure, and The Amman Pasha Hotel is a bit of a bargain. Leaning towards the hostel side of accommodation, rooms are clean and staff are friendly, and there’s a lovely roof terrace. The quirky café is adorned with stained glass windows, and Arabian carpets and onsite cooking classes are worth a few hours of your time. Toss up between rooms with views of the Roman Theatre or those away from the hubbub of the road outside. Breakfast is included.