Must-see restaurants in Middle East

You haven’t tried falafel until you’ve eaten here. This legendary eatery, more than 50 years old, is so popular with locals and visitors that there’s…

Housed in a lovely old villa with a terrace garden, this really is the place to eat well, and Sufra is about as good as it gets when it comes to…

We'll happily vote for this tiny, spotlessly clean place on Rainbow St as one of the best falafel spots in Amman. Tasty sandwiches (with tomato and…

Subject of a glowing New York Times review in 2016, this 'chef's restaurant' features innovative 'Galilean Arab' cuisine that combines ingredients and…

Rosa Damascena brings a welcome taste of Syria to Amman. The variety of hot and cold mezze is mouthwatering – make particular space on your plate for dips…

Jasmine House is well-named, as the scent of the blooms on the terrace make dining a fragrant experience. The restaurant, in a 1950s villa, takes…

This serendipitous little jewel in the middle of the Bazar-e Vakil is hidden behind a small door next to the Seray-e Moshir caravanserai. Decorated with…

There are hundreds of shoebox-sized shawarma (meat sliced off a spit and stuffed in a pocket of pita-type bread with chopped tomatoes and garnish) kiosks…

Fresh-cut flowers, flickering candles and spectacular views greet you at this Mediterranean-inflected French bistro, named after the chef, whose great…

It is worth dining in this fabulous little restaurant for the sheer pleasure of sitting in pools of coloured light by day and under a canopy of mirrored…

This exquisite restaurant next to the Royal Opera House offers just the kind of refined fare demanded of a special occasion, such as a night at the opera…

California meets Afghanistan at this cafe charmer where almond butter and chia pancakes are offered alongside borani banjon (oven-baked aubergines with…

A fine-dining Levantine feast awaits. Scoop up Lebanese mezze classics of moutabel (purée of aubergine mixed with tahini, yoghurt and olive oil) and…

This budget canteen will exceed your expectations every chance it gets. This is Middle Eastern flavours Syrian-style, with some of Abu Dhabi's best hummus…

Singaporean chef Akmal Anuar turns out innovative yet unpretentious Asian-influenced small plates at this tiny, unlicensed spot – a perfect foil to Dubai…

The contemporary Peruvian cuisine with its flavour-fusion of Latin American and Asian is a tastebud sensation. Dig into the menu of sharing plates…

All cosy alcoves surrounding an open kitchen, Dai Pai Dong's award-winning Chinese is where Asian foodies chase Cantonese roasted duck, spicy braised…

One of the city's most talked-about dining destinations, this is the world's largest – and arguably most architecturally outstanding – branch of chef Nobu…

Housed in a three-floor villa, this cafe is run by a Lebanese arts enthusiast, Aida Mansour. Vast breakfast choices from avocado toast to shakshuka …

Every dish speaks of refinement in this perennially popular bi-level restaurant that gives classic Japanese fare an up-to-the-minute workout. No matter if…