Mingle with Jordanian families and students in the TAJ Mall, one of Amman’s favorite shopping malls. Even if you don’t need anything new, it’s fun to come here to catch a glimpse of daily life in Jordan and marvel about the modern side of this ancient country full of historic treasures.
Always crowded no matter what time of day you visit, TAJ Mall is a good place to get to know what make the Jordanians tick. It’s not your typical Middle Eastern shopper’s paradise though. If you have just visited the city’s souks, you may be surprised to find popular international brands, such as The Body Shop for beauty products, H&M and Levis for clothing, Starbucks for coffee and Baskin-Robbins for ice cream.
The huge mall is clean and easily accessible, with some 190 outlets to choose from. After you have updated your wardrobe, catch a movie, let the kids run around in the on-site playground or find a table in a restaurant or café in the mall and enjoy an hour of people watching. There are some nice Arabic cafés, shawarma cafeterias and fine dining restaurants too. Lebnani Snack, for classic Lebanese cuisine, and Café Hanin for chilling out with a shisha are popular choices. If you’ve had your fill of Jordanian food, treat yourself to American fast food or a Chinese meal.
The mall itself has a grand glass atrium, spanned with shade cloths to keep out the fierce sun. Arabic lantern-like lights hang from the ceilings, but overall the mall looks like any modern mall in Europe or the U.S. Dine out at night on the mall’s outdoor terrace to experience a different side of Amman. If you’re visiting during the day, check out the architectural designed Herbs Lounge of Café Gourmand inside the mall.
Taj Mall is located in Prince Hashim Bin Al Hussein Street near the Zarqa River. Look for the square tower protruding from the mall, which has the letters TAJ.
Entry is free for locals and tourists alike and security guards are on site. Parking can be tricky because the maze-like garage is underground and easy to get lost in.
