Amman, Amman Governorate, Jordan
What travelers are actually saying?
Downtown Amman is an experience next to none, every customer/guest experience the real traditional Middle Eastern country with authentic herbs, traditional restaurants (sweets like Knafeh and food like falafel & Shawarma) and cheap good quality clothes shops.
From grabbing a hot sandwich and drinking organic fresh juice to buying beautiful accessories and souvenir You can get anything you would ever need from here including a "souq Jara market" every Friday (summer only) just 2 minutes away from the Villa. Don’t forget to enjoy some historical sights. From there you can start walking between the shops, restaurants and coffee’s, walking towered Al Husaini Mosque you will find the most famous place doing the Kunafa (Jordanian sweet), it called Habiba and anyone on the street can help and direct you to the place which is from anywhere not more than 5 minutes walking. after you try the Jordanian best Kunafa in downtown from Habiba you can walk between the shops and visit Al Hussaini oldest mosque, beside the Mosque you can walk inside the fruit and vegetables market where you can buy some fruits in very cheap and affordable cost.
Walking in this market you will find too many restaurants for getting your lunch or dinner in too many choices of local restaurants or some other touristic restaurants like Jafra local restaurant.
Many souvenir shops are available with plenty of choices and again the rates are cheaper than any other place in Jordan.
Final advice that if you want to buy any gift or item try to barging for the rates, people in these shops accept barging and you can get up to 30% less rates. Try it. You'll feel like a savage !
In our Amman travel guide, We've included some of the best restaurants to visit:
1- Hashem Restaurant – Visited by nearly every politician, famous person, and even Jordanian royal family members, Hashem Restaurant is one of Amman’s most popular, oldest and well known restaurants in downtown. They serve falafel, ful medames, moutabel, and good quality hummus. This place is also suitable for vegetarian people.
2- Salaheddin Bakery – This is one of the oldest bakeries in Amman, In our opinion, we think that 70% Amman agrees that they make one of the best sesame seed rolls in the city which you should try it. It’s an awesome place, you walk in, grab a fresh roll, fill it with hard baked eggs, cheese, and a pinch of salt and za’atar, and enjoy its taste. Just Incredible !
3-Shawarma Reem – When it comes to a proper beef shawarma, one of the Amman standards is Reem (Located on the Second circle, 10 minutes away from the Ville). Their meat is sliced thin so it’s both juicy, crispy and a bit citrusy. Wrapped in a fresh pita, and combined with tahini, onions, and tomatoes. Yummy!
4- Habibah Sweets – what's better than a good desert? Located in downtown Amman, Habibah Sweets is an institution for fresh kanafeh, a wildly popular cheese based dessert. You buy a piece and you can sit and eat it around the downtown patio area.
5- Shams El Balad Cafe – A lovely place, it’s a cross between a restaurant and a cafe, but it has a real home feel to it. A real home means real home food. proper traditional bite. They serve mostly local, organic, and healthy Jordanian food, including seasonal specials. Both the indoor, and the outdoor patio section overlooking downtown Amman, are lovely. You absolute should try it.
6-Tawaheen Al Tawa – This is one of the largest restaurants in Amman, elegant, spaces and has a unique style within it. its also extremely popular with local Jordanians and tourists . They have two specialities, barbecue meat like shish kebabs, and they serve an awesomely delicious Mansaf – our traditional food for centures. Something you don’t want to miss eating when you’re in Amman. Eating mansaf at Tawaheen Al Tawa is one of our favorite experiences within this Amman travel guide. Thats a Fact!
8- Sufra Restaurant – Absoulty one of the highest end restaurant that serve top-notch Jordanian food, Sufra is an excellent place for dating, meeting new people and impress your soulmate. The venue, situated in an old heritage home on Rainbow street, paired with delicious food, makes it a fantastic restaurant. Try ordering the kofta bi tahini, minced meat with potatoes, and the sajieh chicken, chicken braised in olive oil and all spice. extremely next level stuff !
