Alee

Alee is the restaurant of Ali Ghzawi, the Jordanian chef who won Top Chef Arabia in 2019, and it has quickly earned a place among the most highly regarded tables in Amman. It sits in historic Jabal Amman close to First Circle, on one of the city's original seven hills, and its windows look out across modern Amman towards the Roman ruins. The window tables are the ones to ask for.

The cooking is modern and inventive, but rooted in Jordanian flavours. Ghzawi builds many dishes around his own memories, and some recreate tastes from his childhood in refined form. One example is a version of batata harra, the Jordanian classic of potatoes with garlic, coriander and lemon, finished with shatta, a fermented local red chilli paste. Another takes inspiration from the tinned-cheese sandwiches of his school days and turns them into fried, skewered local cheese curds with a honey and mint emulsion. The menu changes, so expect new ideas on repeat visits.

The restaurant has climbed quickly in regional rankings, entering the Middle East and North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants list at 12th in 2025 and placing 28th in 2026. It is one of the more expensive meals in the city, with average spending of around 66 US dollars a person, and it suits food lovers, couples and anyone curious to see how a new generation of Jordanian chefs is reinterpreting home cooking.

Alee opens for dinner every day and for lunch on Fridays. Book ahead, particularly at weekends, and mention if you would like a window table. Dress is smart casual. If you are new to Jordanian food, it is worth eating a traditional meal elsewhere first, such as mansaf at Sufra or hummus at Hashem, so that you can appreciate how the dishes here play with familiar ingredients.

The restaurant does not run a conventional website; reservations and updates are handled through its social media channels and by phone. It is on Affan Street near First Circle, a short walk from the start of Rainbow Street, so you can continue to a rooftop bar or café after dinner.