Jordanian cuisine shares many of the characteristics of Middle Eastern cooking but the inclusion of freshly made, local yogurt and cheese adds a twist to the menu. Aubergines, chickpeas, lentils and beans turn up in many of the dishes and rice and
khoubs (flat Arabic bread) are staples. Most restaurants have a mixed menu including Arabic and European dishes. Alcohol is served in most restaurants and bars, except during the fasting month of Ramadan (non-Muslim nationals can drink alcohol only in hotels during Ramadan).
National specialties:• Meze: A selection of starters that pre-empt
almost every main meal; they include
fool (thick stew made with fava beans),
hummus (mashed chickpeas with tahini or sesame paste),
moutabel (smoked aubergine dip) and
tabouleh (finely chopped parsley salad).
• Mensaf: Stewed lamb in a yogurt sauce. As with most Bedouin dishes, it is normally eaten with the fingertips of the right hand.
• Makloubat: Chicken with spices, including cinnamon, allspice, cardamom and nutmeg.
• Kibbi: Often deep fried, this ground lamb or beef dish is combined with burghul (ground, steamed wheat), onion and cinnamon.
• Baklava: Assorted honey-drizzled, nut-filled pastries.
National drinks:• Arabic coffee: Strong and served in small cups, it’s more a tradition than a drink.
• Wine: Thanks to the Christian minority, Jordan has a long tradition of wine-production.
• Araq: This local liquor is similar to Greek Ouzo; usually served mixed with water and ice.
Legal Drinking Age: 18 years.
Tipping: Generally, 10 to 12% service charge is added in hotels and restaurants; extra tips are discretionary.
NightlifeFor many Jordanians, the most popular entertainment of an evening is going out for a meal. In Amman, however, there are
nightclubs in the modern districts, mostly attached to 5-star hotels, which cater for an international clientele and some of which star visiting DJs. Many 4- and 5-star hotels have popular
bars. Several
cinemas in the capital show English-language films and there are several cultural centers for concerts and exhibitions of contemporary art.
Outside the capital, nightlife is thinner on the ground although the
Dead Sea resorts offer a variety of entertainment (not usually open to non-residents, with the exception of those staying at neighboring hotels), as do the 5-star hotels in Wadi Mousa and Aqaba. In smaller towns, the local coffeeshop sometimes doubles as a bar for locals. Men, or couples, may feel more comfortable here than solo women. For entertainment listings, pick up a copy of
W2Go, a monthly publication, often available free from top-end hotels.
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