Opened by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, the Dead Sea Panoramic Complex commands some of the most spectacular views in Jordan. It also boasts a very good restaurant (run by the Evason Ma’in hotel) and a small museum dedicated to the Dead Sea. The restaurant’s best tables, when the weather is not too hot, are out on the terrace. In addition to its exhibits on ecology, geology and conservation, the museum features displays on the area’s residents, their civilizations and cultures and a fine gift shop. The complex is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the restaurant is open from noon to midnight.

Built in the early 20th century as a residence for Ibrahim Jumean, a former mayor of Madaba, Haret Jdoudna is now a lovely restaurant that serves some of the best Middle Eastern food in Jordan. Jordan’s first king Abdullah I was a frequent guest in the house, which now contains a series of dining rooms and flower-filled courtyards as well as a coffee house and boutique that sells handicrafts from around the country. Conveniently located only a short walk from Madaba’s greatest attraction, the famous church that contains the earliest mosaic map of the Holy Land, the restaurant attracts busloads of tourists daily but thanks to its “village-like” layout of smaller rooms, terraces and courtyards, dining here still feels intimate. Reservations recommended.

One of the oldest restaurants in Jordan, Lebanese House is the best place for a meal or refreshment for those visiting the Roman ruins of Jerash. Founded in 1977 by Antwanait Rami, a Lebanese native, the restaurant has hosted numerous visiting dignitaries, and though it often serves busloads of tourists, the food is excellent.