Dining Tips
When dining out for the first time at a major restaurant, keep in mind these two hidden costs that will invariably increase your restaurant bill by 27%:
- Government sales tax of 17%
- Service charge of 10% in some restaurants. If not added to your bill, you are expected to leave a 10% tip.
While local and imported wines are available in most major restaurants, you may want to price them before ordering and thus save yourself some price shock when your bill arrives at the end of the evening. Wine prices can be very expensive in Jordan.
Dining hours tend to be late in Amman. While many restaurants are open from 7:30 PM to 1 AM, most diners do not arrive until after 9 or 9:30 PM.
When in doubt about where to dine, check with the concierges at the major hotels, such as the Four Seasons and InterContinental. Don't confuse a doorman, porter, or bell hop with a real concierge whose job is to ensure guests experience the best of Amman.
Based on feedback from their guests, these concierges usually know the best places to dine by cuisine. Many keep a book of recommended restaurants behind the concierge counter.
Entertainment and Nightlife
Both Amman and Aqaba have lively entertainment scenes, from traditional cultural performances to drinking and dancing.
In Amman, check out the Jordan Times and Star for upcoming cultural events and activities - concerts, festivals, theatrical performances, and exhibitions.
Embassies also post such events and activities, and concierges at major hotels can be helpful with information and making reservations.
The Royal Cultural Centre (Tel. 566-1027) in Shmeisani is the major center for concerts and performances.
Zara Expo Amman (www.zaraexpo.com), located next to the Hyatt Hotel, is the center for many exhibitions.
The Royal Convention Centre (http://amman.lemeridien.com) is Jordan's largest conference venue.
The Amman University Arena regularly hosts art and cultural events (drama, dance, music).
Several art galleries, such as the Darat al-Funun (www.daratalfunun.org), Dar al Anda (www.daralanda.com), and the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, regularly art hold exhibits.
Some of the major hotels also will host special art exhibitions where invited guests can purchase art.
Amman has several bars and discos that are popular with visitors. Many are centered in the major hotels, such as Grand Hyatt, or in the upscale western suburbs. Most stay open until the early morning hours – 1 AM to 3 PM. Some of the more popular ones include:
JJ's
Grand Hyatt Amman
Al-Hussein bin Ali Street
Jebel Amman, 3rd Circle
Caballeros
Kempinski Hotel Amman
Abdul Hameed Shouman Street
Shmeisani
Tel. 520-0200
Big Fig
Al-Amir Hashem bin al-Hussein Street
Abdoun Circle
Tel. 592-8800
www.bluefig.com
Salute
Opposite Fakhr el-Din Restaurant
(40 Taha Hussein Street, behind Iraqi Embassy)
Jebel Amman, Between 1st and 2nd Circles
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