Haret Jdoudna

Built in the early 20th century as a residence for Ibrahim Jumean, a former mayor of Madaba, Haret Jdoudna is now a lovely restaurant that serves some of the best Middle Eastern food in Jordan. Jordan’s first king Abdullah I was a frequent guest in the house, which now contains a series of dining rooms and flower-filled courtyards as well as a coffee house and boutique that sells handicrafts from around the country. Conveniently located only a short walk from Madaba’s greatest attraction, the famous church that contains the earliest mosaic map of the Holy Land, the restaurant attracts busloads of tourists daily but thanks to its “village-like” layout of smaller rooms, terraces and courtyards, dining here still feels intimate. Reservations recommended.