Warning: food puns ahead. I hadn't done much research on where to eat in Amman before we left - but luckily we fared really well. Our guest house was near Rainbow street, located in a semi-artsy district with good eats and vibes on the lively side at night.
The first day we ventured out into the hilly streets and found ourselves feasting in the beautiful café Rakwet Arab in Jabal Weibdeh. Gleaming interiors and traditional, antique fixtures take you back in time. There was of course hummus, mint tea and shisha to be had - the menu is quite extensive. Hours are 9:30 AM to 2:00 AM every day except Sunday (9AM-12AM).
In the same neighborhood is an absolutely charming local honey/preserve shop called Namliyeh. Bright cheerful walls and beautifully packaged local products adorn the shop, plus the staff will feed you endless samples off of tiny antique teaspoons. We bought some delightful preserves including a cardamom jam, lemon lavender marmalade and a jar of the local Jordanian honey. The loose leaf herbal teas come with dreamy descriptions and are full of flowers, spices and leaves galore - sure to leave you feeling cozy and content. Namliyeh is open every day from 9AM-9PM except Friday (closed).
For a treat on the fancy side head to Sufra back on Rainbow St. Make a reservation for dinner, they tend to get very busy. We tried so many dishes our first time there (yes we went back it was that good) we rolled ourselves home. One afternoon we ducked in around 4PM and asked for a pot of mint tea and Kanafeh (traditional dessert with thing noodle like pastry doused in syrup on top of cheese sprinkled with nuts). Typically they don't take tables that aren't ordering a full meal but if you go at an off time, get seated and ask very nicely you might just get lucky with a sweet treat! Hours are 12PM - 11PM except Friday and Saturdays (10AM-11PM). Plus if you want to spend the night in your hotel but need some of that sweet sweet Kanafeh - they deliver!
One of our favorite spots was Falafel Al-Quds, a tiny shop that only serves up falafel sandwiches. Some of the best street food I've ever had. No seating can be found in the restaurant, it's simply to-go and you find a bench or piece of curb to devour your spicey, salty, herby, saucy sandwich ASAP. Go back for seconds (I did) since the sandwiches are .5 JD and it will give you a chance to take in the falafel frying right in the front window. Hours are 8AM-9PM (except Fridays 1PM - 9PM) if you look on google but I've found sources that state "open til late" meaning they stop making when you stop eating ;). We went pretty late at night so just take your chances, I promise it's worth it.
If you're looking for a sweet treat, check out Mr. Lollies! Down the Rainbow St. strip, they're open late and offer awesome flavored ice cream pops with as many coatings and toppings as you can imagine.
Thanks for reading! If you like, please share with friends, family, coworkers or anyone who needs some tips for Jordan. Happy Eating!