"The Subgenres of Coffee Shops" by Jack Mullen

Whether it's scenic views, people-watching, or friendly chess matches that you’re interested in, Amman’s vast selection of coffee shops has you covered. Here are some of my favorite coffee shops that fill each specific niche that I desire while traveling.

BEANERZ

If you want a beautiful view of the center of the city complete with hills adorned with white houses then come to BEANERZ. Located on the hill in Weibdeh there are plenty of stores nearby making it so that when you finally tear yourself away from the main street of small restaurants and stores this standalone coffee shack is a perfect place to grab a drink and then sit down on a curb and take in the city.

Price range: 2-3 JD

Manara

Right next door to BEANERZ is a trendy, youthful, two story coffee shop/mini-library/children’s art studio called Manara. While a bit pricier they make a great study spot where your receipt gives you access to the WiFi for 2 hours. Again, terrific views at all times of day bested only slightly by BEANERZ next door. Another advantage of these spots are that the walk from here to downtown is a pleasant stroll through street art adorned alleyways and stairways. Just be sure you’re going towards downtown and not vice versa because otherwise you’ll end up winded from the steepness of the hill.

Price Range: 3-5 JD

Rateel Library

Rateel Library (مكتبة رتيل) is my favorite spot downtown thanks to their simple menu and friendly atmosphere. Another coffee shop that doubles as a library, they have a small selection of English and Arabic literature as well as Arabic translations of manga (pro tip: it is very easy to build relationships using manga because both English and Arabic speakers will recognize the Japanese name of an anime). Rateel also is a popular spot for people to go to play chess or card games, another universal language, and they host weekly music nights. Overall this is a terrific place to make friends and enjoy some delicious coffees or frappuccinos.

Price Range: 2-3 JD

Dimitri's Coffee

Dimitri’s Coffee on Abdali Boulevard is a great place to people-watch along this fancy strip of shops and restaurants. This place will probably feel like the downtown that you’re most used to in America, but in Jordan, Abdali Boulevard is just as much a destination for the locals as it is for foreigners. Here you will see all types of friend groups strolling up and down the boulevard and relaxing on the large seating areas (which are obnoxiously pummeled by advertisements reminiscent of Times Square.) Overall this is a fantastic place where you know you can easily find whatever meal you’d like. Just make sure you are familiar with how much a taxi costs to get to your next destination, because the drivers that hang out near Abdali Boulevard will often try to scam people who aren't familiar with the correct pricing, you can also simply order an Uber if you don’t want to haggle with the taxi drivers (but be warned, haggling can be quite fun at times).

Price Range: 3-4 JD

The Mid Coffeehouse

Finally, despite its name, The Mid Coffeehouse, is anything but. This tiny shop just off Rainbow Street is a perfect place to grab a drink if you don’t know what to do. Popular among locals due to its proximity to a school and relatively cheap pricing, The Mid Coffeehouse is the ideal location for merely observing the adventurers of Rainbow Street. Side note: In my opinion, Rainbow Street is not the crazy must see that you might hear it is. It is certainly worth checking out one or two times but its not my go-to destination when leaving the house.

Price Range: 2-4 JD

Jack Mullen attends Colgate University and is a student in Jordan on the Amideast Summer Intensive Arabic Program in Summer 2023.