Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ash costs JD3. By car, drive from Jerash towards Ajloun for 5km; turn right and continue
steeply uphill for 1km. Turn right again at the bend in the road - it is signposted but it's
hard to read the signs at night.
Hadrian Gate Hotel$$
( 077-7793907; s/d/tr/penthouse from JD25/40/50/70; )
Run by the always friendly
and accommodating Ismail Khasim and his son Walid, Jerash's only hotel boasts a spec-
tacular location overlooking the ruins and walking distance to Hadrian's Gate. Breakfast is
served on the rooftop terraces with a panoramic view of the Temple of Artemis to the west
and Jerash's market gardens to the east. A range of private rooms with shared bathrooms
(priced individually) are humble but spotless; more commodious is the en-suite penthouse
with aircon. What the hotel lacks in amenities it makes up for in good old-fashioned hos-
pitality and both father and son go out of their way to make their guests comfortable and
welcome.
HOTEL
Eating
Modern Jerash is a bustling town with several outdoor markets, as well as the obligatory
smattering of kebab and felafel shops. It is also home to one of Jordan's best-loved res-
taurants, the Lebanese House. There's a string of no-fuss restaurants on the main street
opposite the visitor's centre. Around the entrance to the ruins there are some eating op-
tions, but there is only one place to buy refreshments inside the ruins proper.
Lebanese House$$
( 6351301; mains JD4-9; noon-11pm; )
Nicknamed 'Umm Khalil',
this rambling restaurant, which has served more than five million customers since 1977, is
a national treasure. If it's good enough for King Hussein, Kofi Annan and Richard Gere,
it's certainly good enough for us! Try the fresh almonds while you wait for sizzling mezze
and fresh-baked bread. If you can't decide what to sample, try the regular meal (JD15) or
the house special (JD22) for a selection of the best dishes. The quality is consistently high,
in line with the house motto: 'A good reputation is more valuable than money'. The in-
door and outdoor seating gets busy with local families after 9pm. It's a five- to 10-minute
walk from Jerash's centre.
LEBANESE
Jerash Rest House$
BUFFET
