Rumi Cafe

Rumi Cafe is the social hub of Jabal al-Weibdeh, the hilly old neighbourhood of stone houses and galleries above Downtown. It occupies a busy corner where Kulliyat Al-Sharee'ah Street meets Jarir Street, and its floor-to-ceiling windows, white tiles and natural wood make it one of the brightest cafés in Amman. The outdoor seating, with tables that have built-in heaters for cooler evenings, spills along the pavement and is ideal for people-watching.

The menu covers espresso drinks and cold brew, a long list of teas and a smaller selection of manual brews, along with house-made cakes, pastries, sandwiches and breakfast dishes. Ask the baristas for a recommendation if you want to try something new. It is a place where people work on laptops, catch up with friends or simply drop in for a quick coffee on the way through the neighbourhood.

Rumi suits solo travellers, couples and anyone who wants to see a younger, creative side of Amman. It has long been popular with younger residents, artists, designers and visitors. Seating can be tight, especially on summer evenings when the neighbourhood comes alive, so mornings and weekday afternoons are the easiest times to find a table. Allow time to linger, as this is not a grab-and-go café.

The café keeps long hours, opening early and staying open late, which makes it useful both for breakfast and for an evening coffee after dinner. In winter, the heated outdoor tables make the terrace usable well into the evening.

Weibdeh is one of the best areas in Amman to explore on foot, and Rumi makes a natural base for a walk. Paris Circle, Darat al Funun, the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts and the Weibdeh branch of Dimitri's Coffee are all nearby, and the blue dome of the King Abdullah I Mosque is a short taxi ride away. Downtown lies at the bottom of the hill, reachable on foot by the neighbourhood's stairways or by a short taxi ride.

Smoking is common on café terraces in Amman, so if you prefer a smoke-free setting, ask for a table inside. Neighbouring places such as Al-Thawak, known for pressed saj-style sandwiches, and Fairuz, one of the first pastry shops in Jordan, make it easy to turn a coffee into a cheap and cheerful lunch crawl around the neighbourhood.