La Calle
La Calle brings a Latin American accent to Rainbow Street, occupying a brightly decorated space with colorful walls, wooden furniture, and string lights that create an atmosphere distinct from the stone-and-hookah aesthetic of its neighbors. The bar and restaurant holds about 60 people across a main dining area and a compact dance floor that comes to life on salsa nights. The cocktail menu leans heavily on Latin spirits: rum, tequila, and mezcal form the backbone of a list that includes mojitos, margaritas, and house creations with tropical flavors. The tapas menu covers empanadas, ceviche, nachos, and small plates designed for sharing over drinks. Salsa nights, typically on weekends, bring dancers to the small floor while the DJ works through salsa, bachata, and reggaeton. A few regulars are genuinely skilled dancers; most are enthusiastic beginners. The crowd is younger than Rumi's, louder than Jafra's, and more colorful than Canteen's, creating a distinct social pocket on the Rainbow Street strip.
What to Expect
A colorful interior with warm lighting and Latin music playing. The front section has tables for dining and drinking. The back area clears for dancing on salsa nights. The energy is higher than most Rainbow Street venues, with music that makes you want to move.
Colorful, energetic, and fun. The Latin theme lifts the mood above Rainbow Street's generally contemplative tone.
Salsa, bachata, reggaeton, and Latin pop. Background Latin jazz during dinner hours.
Casual. Comfortable shoes are important if you plan to dance. The colorful, relaxed interior matches a relaxed dress standard.
Salsa dancers, couples looking for upbeat energy, groups who want cocktails and tapas, anyone seeking a change from Rainbow Street's usual pace
Cards accepted. Cash (JOD) also works.
Price Range
Cocktails 6-10 JOD, beer 3-5 JOD, tapas plates 4-7 JOD, main courses 7-12 JOD
Cocktails ~$8.45-14/~7.80-13 EUR, beer ~$4.20-7/~3.90-6.50 EUR, tapas ~$5.60-9.85/~5.20-9.10 EUR
Hours
17:00-01:00 daily
Insider Tip
The margaritas are the strongest cocktail on the menu. Salsa night is usually Saturday; check in advance. If you want to dance, arrive by 22:00 before the floor gets too crowded for proper movement.
Full Review
La Calle works because it offers something Rainbow Street doesn't have elsewhere: physical energy. While the street's other venues excel at conversation, contemplation, and sitting, La Calle gets people on their feet. The salsa nights generate a kind of joyful chaos where skill levels vary wildly and nobody cares.
The cocktail program supports the theme well. The mojitos use fresh mint and are properly balanced. The margaritas are made with real lime juice and decent tequila. The house rum cocktails are creative without being gimmicky. By Amman standards, where cocktail quality can be inconsistent, La Calle delivers reliably good drinks at fair prices.
The tapas are better than they need to be. The empanadas are freshly made and well-seasoned. The ceviche uses quality fish. The nachos are a crowd-pleasing shared plate that pairs with cocktails exactly as intended. The portions are sized for sharing, which suits the social drinking context.
Salsa nights are the highlight. The small dance floor limits movement, which paradoxically makes the dancing more intimate and fun. A few regulars who actually know how to dance serve as anchors for the floor, and the DJ builds the energy from slower salsa through uptempo tracks to reggaeton by midnight. The inclusive atmosphere means beginners can step on without feeling judged.
The decor deserves credit for committing to the concept. The colorful walls, string lights, and Latin-influenced touches create a visual environment that's completely different from the stone-and-candle aesthetic of neighboring venues. Walking from Rumi Cafe to La Calle feels like changing cities.
The limitation is the dance floor's size. On peak nights, the space between the bar and the tables barely accommodates the dancers. If the venue could double its floor space, the salsa nights would be transformed. As it stands, the intimacy works in the venue's favor, but true dancers will find the space restrictive.
The Neighborhood
La Calle is on Rainbow Street, within walking distance of all other venues on the strip. Canteen Gastro Pub and Rumi Cafe are nearby. Corner's Pub is a few minutes' walk in the other direction.
Getting There
On Rainbow Street (Abu Bakr as-Siddiq Street), Jabal Amman. The colorful facade is visible from the street. Taxi from downtown costs 1-2 JOD. From Abdoun, 3-4 JOD.
Other Venues in Rainbow Street
Canteen Gastro Pub
Craft beer bar and gastropub on Rainbow Street with a rotating tap list featuring Carakale and other local brews. Pub food, sports screens, and a lively atmosphere that draws expats and young Jordanians.
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.
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.