Canteen Gastro Pub
Canteen Gastro Pub sits on Rainbow Street's main strip, occupying a ground-floor space in one of the restored stone buildings that give the street its character. The interior is pub-standard with a twist: a long bar with taps for local craft beers, wooden tables, sports screens mounted on the stone walls, and enough room for about 70 people. The tap list rotates through Carakale's range (the Jordanian craft brewery based in Fuheis) alongside a few international options. The food menu goes beyond typical pub fare, with burgers, loaded fries, fish and chips, and a few Middle Eastern-influenced dishes that work well as drinking food. The crowd is a reliable mix of expats, young Jordanians from nearby universities, and tourists who've found their way to Rainbow Street. Thursday evenings are the busiest, with the bar filling from 20:00 onward and staying packed until closing. The atmosphere is loud, social, and unpretentious, a sharp contrast to Abdoun's polished venues.
What to Expect
A lively pub atmosphere inside a stone-walled building. Screens show football and rugby. The bar is the center of activity, with the taps visible behind the counter. Conversation competes with music and sports commentary. The energy is casual and welcoming.
Loud, friendly, and pub-like. The stone walls and wooden furniture create warmth, and the crowd creates the energy.
Rock, pop, and indie at pub volume. Sports audio takes over when matches are on. No DJ or live music.
Casual. Jeans, t-shirts, sneakers. This is the opposite of a dress-code venue.
Craft beer drinkers, sports fans, expats looking for a social pub, groups who want good food with their drinks
Cards accepted. Cash (JOD) also works.
Price Range
Craft beer 3.5-5 JOD per pint, cocktails 6-9 JOD, burgers 5-8 JOD, loaded fries 3-5 JOD
Beer ~$4.90-7/~4.55-6.50 EUR, cocktails ~$8.45-12.65/~7.80-11.70 EUR, burgers ~$7-11.25/~6.50-10.40 EUR
Hours
16:00-01:00 daily
Insider Tip
Try the Carakale Blonde Ale on tap if you're new to Jordanian craft beer. The burgers are the best on the menu. Arrive before 20:00 on Thursday to guarantee a table.
Full Review
Canteen fills the pub-shaped gap in Amman's nightlife. The city has plenty of lounges, hotel bars, and restaurants with drink menus, but straightforward pubs are scarce. Canteen delivers the formula without overcomplicating it: good beer, decent food, screens with sports, and a room that gets loud on the right nights.
The beer selection is the draw. Carakale's craft range is the best thing happening in Jordanian brewing, and Canteen keeps several of their beers on tap. The Blonde Ale is approachable for anyone used to European lagers. The IPA has enough hop character to satisfy craft beer drinkers from markets with more options. The rotation means repeat visits offer something new.
The food works as pub fuel. The burgers are made with good beef and served on proper buns. The loaded fries are designed for sharing over pints. The fish and chips are competent. Nothing on the menu is trying to be fine dining, and that honesty serves the venue well.
The crowd on Thursday nights is the best social cross-section on Rainbow Street. Expat teachers, NGO workers, Jordanian university students, visiting journalists, and tourists share the small space. The noise level rises as the evening progresses, but it's convivial rather than aggressive. Conversations start easily at the bar.
Compared to Corner's Pub down the street, Canteen is more polished in its food offering and beer selection. Corner's is cheaper and scruffier. They complement each other rather than compete, and a Rainbow Street evening can easily include both.
The limitation is space. At 70 capacity, Canteen gets tight on busy nights. The terrace seats, if available, provide relief, but the main room can feel cramped when full. Arriving early solves this problem.
The Neighborhood
On Rainbow Street's main strip, within walking distance of all other Rainbow Street venues. Rumi Cafe is a few doors down. Jafra is a short walk off the main drag. The First Circle is a 2-minute walk downhill.
Getting There
On Rainbow Street (Abu Bakr as-Siddiq Street), Jabal Amman. Taxi from downtown costs 1-2 JOD. From Abdoun, 3-4 JOD. Walk from the First Circle takes about 5 minutes uphill.
Other Venues in Rainbow Street
Rumi Cafe
Atmospheric bar and cafe in a restored stone building with arched ceilings, vintage furniture, and a hookah-friendly terrace overlooking the city. Named after the poet, with a bookish, artistic crowd.
Jafra
Live music venue and cultural space near Rainbow Street hosting Arabic folk, oud performances, jazz, and contemporary Jordanian bands. The courtyard fills on warm evenings and the sound carries through the stone walls.
La Calle
Latin-inspired bar and restaurant with cocktails, tapas, and salsa nights on weekends. The colorful interior and upbeat music create a contrast to the more subdued venues on the street.
Corner's Pub
No-frills pub near the Rainbow Street area with cheap beer, pool tables, darts, and a loyal crowd of expats and English-speaking Jordanians. One of the most unpretentious bars in Amman.