Shams El Balad

Amman, Jordan

• No.8 Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants 2025
• No.29 Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants 2023

Shams El Balad is one of Amman’s coolest eateries. Founded by married couple Maha and Hazem Malhas as a small breakfast cafe serving dishes rarely found outside of Jordanian home kitchens, Shams quickly metamorphosed into a full-service restaurant, cultural space and concept store after a rapid rise in notoriety. Inside the converted ancient villa, local Jordanians meet here, chat and bond over great food and art. Dishes here are sustainably-minded, hearty and uncomplicated, created by chef Qais Malhas, son of the owners. Its bread, baked in-house, uses locally-sourced heirloom flour. Its dishes of green whipped soft labneh with seasonal pressed leaves and parsley ljjeh, a frittata made with parsley, onion, labneh and sumac, are refined takes on Middle-Eastern comfort food classics. Order a cup of the Shams chai, relax in its leafy courtyard, and absorb the wealth of Jordanian culture that surrounds you.

Key Information

• Average price per person $22
• Lunch and dinner: Mon – Sun
• +96264651150
• Visit Shams El Balad's Website

Location

Mu'Ath Bin Jabal Street 69, Amman, 11181