Written by Cecilia Beard, (UNC Chapel Hill) Student Correspondent CET Jordan: Intensive Language, Spring 2019
Salein:
A tried and true. Located just five minutes away from campus, Building A, and Building B, Salein will become your new go-to in Amman. Equipped with relatively simple menu (think lattes, Americanos, and cappuccinos), the café is simple, but effective. It has two floors, smoking and non-smoking, steady Wi-Fi, and, most likely, all of your new friends from CET. If you’re looking for a variety of food choices or any alternative milk options, however, maybe look elsewhere.
Pros: A reliable internet connection, lots of seating options, outlets that work with American chargers, and relatively cheap prices.
Cons: You will undeniably end up spending a sizeable portion of your young adult life here. Sorry ahead of time.
[email protected]:
Two words – student discount. From Sunday – Wednesday, [email protected] offers a fifty-percent discount to all UJ students. You know who that includes? You. Nestled in Jabal Amman off the iconic Rainbow Street, the café has both great food and coffee. Fan favorites include: mochas, chicken strips (that taste of home you need sometimes), Turkish coffee, manaqeesh, and the Cowboy Burger. Home to both foreigners and Jordanians alike, the café is mostly busy after 4PM. To note, alternative milk options can also not be found here.
Pros: Great food options for cheap, a lively atmosphere, and a good change of pace.
Cons: The service is slow, sometimes the Wi-Fi goes out unexpectedly, the shisha is not the greatest (if that’s your thing), and the Uber rides can be somewhat expensive.
Caffe Strada:
My personal favorite. Also located right off Rainbow Street, the Italian-inspired café includes a no-smoking policy throughout the building and myriad milk options. For those invested in their almond lattes, come here. A little smaller than the other cafes on the list, seating can be harder to find during popular hours (as are available outlets), but the quiet, polished aesthetic of Strada is worth it. Pro-tip: the café has “Terrific Tuesday’s” meaning that if you buy a coffee on Tuesday, you can return that following Wednesday with your receipt and receive the same order for free. Food options included mostly sandwiches and small deserts – croissants, cookies, and biscotti.
Gloria Jean’s:
A recent discovery, but still worthy of this list. Gloria Jean’s is a chain in Amman, much like the Starbucks you’re used to back home. However, I highly recommend checking out the location on Al Madina Al Munawwara. About two miles away from the apartments, the café is massive. The change of scenery is nice, there are plenty of outlets, and you can sit entirely secluded if you please. The menu, like its outward appearance, resembles Starbucks – nothing too fancy. Smoking is permitted on the upper floor, but not on the lower floors. Surrounded by Jordanian college students, you feel inspired.
Pros: A menu with staple drinks (even frappes), more tables than you can imagine, and a good place to meet with language partners.
Cons: A little far from the apartments and no fun milk options.