Travel

Where to Eat, Drink, and Explore in Amman, According to Actress Rakeen Saad

BYMeriem Belhiba

July 31, 2026

In town for the 2026 Amman International Film Festival? Let Jordanian actress Rakeen Saad be your guide. Born and raised in the Jordanian capital, the Bommah star takes us through the cafés, restaurants, cultural landmarks, and neighborhoods that shaped her, starting with the place she still calls home: Jabal al-Luweibdeh. “I am a Luweibdeh girl,” she says. “Whenever I am in Amman, I am always spending time there.” For Saad, the city’s magic lies in its balance. “What makes Amman special is that it is authentic and modern at the same time,” she says. “It has both sides, and they exist together very naturally.” From cinematic sunset viewpoints to the festival hangouts where conversations continue long after the credits roll, here’s how to experience Amman through her eyes.

Where to Eat

The Boulevard

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Boulevard (@theboulevardjo)

When I have very little time between screenings, I would choose one of the restaurants at the Boulevard. There are several options gathered in one place, which makes it practical during the festival. You can have a proper meal without travelling too far or missing your next screening, panel, or conversation at the Film Hub.

AlQuds Restaurant

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Habib Al Mulla – The Food Advocate (@habibalmulla)

Every visitor to Jordan should try mansaf, and I recommend having it at AlQuds Restaurant in downtown Amman. Mansaf is our traditional Jordanian dish, made with meat, rice, shrak bread, and jameed, a sauce prepared from dried fermented yoghurt. I love it, and it is one of the first things I would encourage someone visiting Jordan to experience.

Jordan Heritage Restaurant

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jordan Heritage Restaurant مطعم إرث الأردن (@jhrestaurant)

I also recommend Jordan Heritage Restaurant for anyone who wants to discover more traditional Jordanian food. It serves dishes from different parts of the country, making it a good introduction to the variety of Jordanian cooking beyond the dishes visitors may already know.

Hashem Restaurant

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by مطاعم هاشم الأردن (@hashem.rests.jo)

For falafel and hummus, I would send visitors to Hashem Restaurant in downtown Amman. It is one of the city’s most familiar places to eat, with simple dishes served in the centre of the table to share. It is also part of the downtown experience, surrounded by busy streets, shops, markets, and the constant movement of the city.

Habibah Sweets

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Habibah Sweets حلويات حبيبة (@habibah_sweets)

After eating at Hashem, I would go to Habibah Sweets for knafeh. Jordan is famous for knafeh, and Habibah is one of the best-known places to try it. Having falafel and hummus at Hashem followed by knafeh at Habibah is an easy way to spend part of an afternoon in downtown Amman between festival events.

Where to Pause for Coffee

Rumi Café

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by احمد الشريف (@11l.i)

Rumi Café is one of the places dearest to my heart. When it first opened, it was very small. I remember it having perhaps only two chairs outside on the street. I would sit there, watch people walking through the neighbourhood, read my scripts, and prepare whenever I had something to shoot.

It remains one of my favourite places in Jabal al-Luweibdeh and somewhere I would recommend for a quiet pause during the festival.

Manara Arts & Culture

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Manara Arts & Culture (@manaraculture)

Manara Arts & Culture is a café and multifunctional space in the heart of Jabal al-Luweibdeh. It overlooks Al-Luweibdeh Viewpoint (Matal Al Weibdeh), so it has one of the views I love most in Amman. I often sit there when I need to read, work, or prepare for a role. It is a beautiful and inspiring place to spend time before an evening screening.

Yaffa Café

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Yafa (@yafa_coffee_house)

Yaffa Café is a small place in Jabal al-Luweibdeh that still feels slightly hidden to me. Nearby, there are stairs leading down towards downtown Amman. Along the way, you pass small cafés, independent businesses, and community initiatives. I remember one place where you could buy a sandwich for someone who could not afford one.

I am not sure how secret the area still is, but it feels less obvious than some of the city’s more famous destinations. It is a lovely part of Amman to discover slowly.

Books@Cafe

Books@Cafe is another place I recommend, particularly when visiting the area around the Royal Film Commission and Rainbow Street. It is a good place to stop before or after exploring the neighborhood, meeting friends, or continuing a conversation about a film.

Where to Explore Film and Culture

The Royal Film Commission

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Royal Film Commission (RFC) (@filmjordan)

Any filmmaker visiting Amman should go to the Royal Film Commission. I would take a foreign filmmaker there first, not only because of its importance to Jordanian cinema, but also because of the building, the surrounding area, and its location near Rainbow Street. For anyone coming to Amman for AIFF 2026, it is an essential part of understanding the city’s wider film culture.

The National Center for Culture and Arts

The National Center for Culture and Arts at the Noor Al Hussein Foundation is one of the places that shaped me. I studied acting there as a child and took part in theatre, workshops, ballet, and cultural exchanges. It is one of the places dearest to me because it holds so many memories from the beginning of my relationship with performance. It represents Amman for me.

MMAG Foundation

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by mmag | مَماغ (@mmagfoundation)

I once participated in a theatre and movement workshop at MMAG Foundation, and I remember it as a very special experience. It is a multidisciplinary cultural space that reflects the way different artistic forms come together in Amman, from performance and movement to visual art and creative exchange.

Darat al Funun

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Darat al Funun دارة الفنون (@daratalfunun)

Darat al Funun is another cultural space I would recommend. It offers visitors a chance to explore Amman’s visual arts scene and spend time somewhere with a slower rhythm, away from the rush of screenings, panels, and festival appointments.

Where to Shop

Swefieh Village

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Swefieh Village (@swefiehvillage)

For Jordanian designers and local brands, I recommend Swefieh Village. It is an outdoor urban district for shopping, dining, and more, with many local brands gathered in one destination. It is a convenient way for visitors to discover contemporary Jordanian fashion, accessories, and design during their stay. I particularly like that you can browse and support several homegrown brands in the same place.

Downtown Amman

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by rozie 🍉 (@roztheayyrab)

For a more traditional shopping experience, I would walk through downtown Amman. There are spice shops, small markets, traditional clothing stores, and local businesses throughout the area. When you walk through downtown, you can smell the spices around you.

I would not visit with only one particular shop in mind. The experience is about wandering, looking around, and discovering what you find along the way.

Jabal al-Luweibdeh

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Downtown Amman (@downtown_amman)

I would also explore the independent shops around Jabal al-Luweibdeh. The neighborhood’s local businesses are surrounded by cafés, theatres, graffiti, and cultural spaces, so shopping becomes part of a wider walk through one of Amman’s most creative areas.

What I Would Take Home

For a foreign guest visiting Amman for the festival, I would buy something that feels distinctly Jordanian. I would choose a hatta or a traditional embroidered thobe. Both carry a connection to Jordanian culture and would be a meaningful reminder of the city after the festival ends.

Where to Eat, Drink, and Explore in Amman, According to Actress Rakeen Saad

Where to Eat

The Boulevard

AlQuds Restaurant

Jordan Heritage Restaurant

Hashem Restaurant

Habibah Sweets

Where to Pause for Coffee

Rumi Café

Manara Arts & Culture

Yaffa Café

Books@Cafe

Where to Explore Film and Culture

The Royal Film Commission

The National Center for Culture and Arts

MMAG Foundation

Darat al Funun

Where to Shop

Swefieh Village

Downtown Amman

Jabal al-Luweibdeh

What I Would Take Home

Suggestions

Articles

Topics

Where to Eat, Drink, and Explore in Amman, According to Actress Rakeen Saad

Where to Eat

The Boulevard

AlQuds Restaurant

Jordan Heritage Restaurant

Hashem Restaurant

Habibah Sweets

Where to Pause for Coffee

Rumi Café

Manara Arts & Culture

Yaffa Café

Books@Cafe

Where to Explore Film and Culture

The Royal Film Commission

The National Center for Culture and Arts

MMAG Foundation

Darat al Funun

Where to Shop

Swefieh Village

Downtown Amman

Jabal al-Luweibdeh

What I Would Take Home

More From Travel

These Are the Coolest Airbnb’s in the Region

Best Eid Al Adha Staycation Deals in UAE 2026

Best Breakfast in Dubai: 20 Spots That Actually Deserve Your Morning

Paris Fashion Week Survival Guide: 7 Places to to Decompress Between Shows

Suggestions

Articles

Topics

Newsletter

The only newsletter you won't unsubscribe from

Follow Us