The best restaurants North

The first restaurant for tourists opened in Jerash, this family business is now run by the very professional Fadi Sweis. The restaurant is located at the entrance of the city and is a delight for the visitors from outside who make up the majority of its clientele. The buffet is composed of various local dishes such as hummus, mansaf, or keftas. We appreciate the demonstration of artisanal bread making at the entrance of the restaurant and the panoramic view on the site from the terrace. Good value for money.

The establishment enjoys a privileged location, as it is situated on the parking lot of the ancient city. The buffet is very extensive, with salads, mezzes, garlic and parsley potatoes and chicken in sauce. Very touristy, the restaurant is inevitably a little less good and a little more expensive than elsewhere, and the staff are a little nonchalant. It's almost an essential stop-off for refreshments after walking around Jerash for several hours. The small terrace under the palm trees is perfect.

After the visit to Ajloun castle, take a break in this great café, located on the parking lot. You will be seduced by the warm setting created by the large wooden tables, the benches along the wall and the beautiful view of the mountains through the large bay window. The fruit juices and dishes served here are 100% organic. The café is run by a local cooperative of 25 organic farmers from the Ajloun region. The dishes are elaborated with the fruit of their harvest to which wild herbs are added. A delight!

The terrace at the entrance to the site of Pella offers an exceptional view of the Jordan Valley and the archaeological site. If you can, try to sit there at sunset, when the light embraces and embraces the old stones. Also, the food served is quite fine. The restaurant specializes in grilled chicken, free-range from the Jordan Valley, and grilled fish, from the same river. They are served with a mezze on the side.

This establishment is a little out of the way, but well worth a visit for the excellent Lebanese cuisine it serves. A local clientele of regulars has been frequenting it for a very long time. The many original mezze dishes are particularly tempting (frog legs, quail...), but the fish is also excellent. Wine is also served. The setting is very pleasant, with a large covered patio offering a breathtaking view of the countryside.

Opened in 1974, this huge restaurant (with a capacity of 600 people) is organized like a small village. The decor, which aims to immerse you in the dreamy atmosphere of Arabian tales, is a little artificial but rather pleasant. The restaurant has a large fountain, where ducks splash around, as well as a playground to keep the children occupied. The garden with its many nooks and crannies is much more pleasant than the somewhat kitschy Roman-style room. The cuisine is quite fine for this type of restaurant and the prices are affordable.

Located 200 meters from Yarmouk University, the second largest in the country, this restaurant is mostly frequented by students eager to mix local and international dishes, while keeping a tight budget. It is located on the ground floor of the Al-Joude Hotel. It serves hearty portions of pasta, pizzas, burgers, salads, but also a wide selection of Jordanian mezzes to share or eat solo. The meal can be accompanied by beer, which is not so common. The Turkish coffee or espresso is also very good.

A good place to eat in Azraq. Like everywhere else, these owners are obliged to adapt to the demand of tourists who come in groups, by offering an all-you-can-eat buffet. Their mezze is excellent, and you should also know that they occasionally serve the traditional mansaf, in high season, or a delicious maqlouba. You will also find alcohol, a service appreciated by the Saudis who cross the border just for that.

The Gadara Resthouse is mentioned in all the guidebooks and for good reason: not only do you enjoy a breathtaking view that stretches from the ancient city to the Golan Heights and Lake Tiberias on a clear day, but you can also eat really well there. So you can include a stop in this nice restaurant in addition to the visit of Umm Qais. The terrace at the end of the village, above the western theatre, is very pleasant. After walking around the city for a long time under the hot sun, a break is necessary.

We like this little canteen for its low prices, its shawarmas and falafels which attract local customers, but especially for its original setting. The decor is a bit messy with its old wooden tables and iron chairs covered with plastic, its collection of coloured lanterns and its small museum at the back of the restaurant. Indian dream traps stand next to old rifles, a 1927 transistor, copper pots or a Bedouin rug. And as people come here mainly to eat, you will find the great classics of Jordanian cuisine on the menu.