Shams el Balad is one of the best farm-to-table restaurants in Amman, run from a converted stone villa in Luweibdeh and focused on Jordanian ingredients sourced from small local producers. The menu changes with the seasons and emphasises the vegetables, herbs, and grains of the Jordanian highlands and the Jordan Valley — makdous (oil-cured aubergines), muhammar (sweet-spiced rice), regional olive oils, and herb combinations not commonly found on restaurant menus.
The atmosphere is relaxed and well-designed; the clientele is Amman's professional and international community. It is pricier than the downtown places but reasonable by western standards, and the quality of the ingredients is noticeably higher. Particularly good for a long lunch.