Al Balad – Downtown Amman

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People of different ages and ethnicities live in Downtown, one of Amman’s oldest neighbourhoods! It is on the border of the circles and the East (the less affluent part of the city). As a result, Downtown caters to a much larger crowd and a lot more locals than other places in Amman. The beauty is that one turn will lead to charming brunch cafes, next to a Roman Amphitheatre, and the third to the best falafel in the city. For the whole authentic experience, eat, shop, and explore here!


Downtown Amman means the old market, the vintage town; it is where you go shopping for fabrics and accessories, you will find antiques amongst electric equipment and vintage furniture, gold, and silver, and you will find all sorts of vegetables, fruits, meats, herbs, spices, and bread. The cool part is that everything is at half price from the rest of the city, and the best part is that until today which is 2014, you will feel you have gone at least 50 years back in time. Al-Balad (which stands for downtown Amman) is part of Jordan’s heritage and our culture and truly is a one-of-a-kind experience. This part of the city is one of the most interesting to meet the Jordanians and speak with them. The area contains stores, artisanal products, merchandise, coffee shops, and restaurants. You can breathe in Amman’s history and movement in the city’s historic area. You can take a stroll and learn a little more about the customs and culture of the locals in a particular area of the welcoming city.



To See:


  • Hercules Temple
  • Amman Citadel
  • Roman Amphitheatre
  • Roman Nymphaeum
  • Turkish Baths
  • Umayyad Mosque


To Eat:


  • Jafra - casual, JD 7/person, recommend the clay pot dishes
  • Al Quds - offers traditional dishes such as Mansaf (meat + rice + yogurt)
  • Hashem - one of the oldest restaurants in Jordan, must-visit, outdoor seating, no plates or utensils, falafel, pita, hummus, ful, muttabel, fatteh, fresh veggies
  • Shams El Balad - Al Balad, brunch food, JD 10/person, our favorite restaurant in Amman; order the flatbreads, grilled haloumi, salads, and omelet
  • Jabri - traditional Jordanian dishes such as Mansaf
  • Habibah - iconic dessert place in Al Balad, must try their knafeh (traditional Palestinian dessert made with cheese pastry soaked in sweet, sugar-based syrup)
  • Aima’s Ice Cream Parlour - Al Balad, egg waffle ice cream, good for sharing
  • imageDuration Required
    4 hours

Address of Al Balad – Downtown Amman

Amman Jordan

Opening & Closing time of Al Balad – Downtown Amman

  • Monday
    Open 24 Hours
  • Tuesday
    Open 24 Hours
  • Wednesday
    Open 24 Hours
  • Thursday
    Open 24 Hours
  • Friday
    Open 24 Hours
  • Saturday
    Open 24 Hours
  • Sunday
    Open 24 Hours
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Al Balad – Downtown Amman