Rainbow Street

About Rainbow Street

Public space in the historic area of Jabal Amman, near the center of downtown Amman, Jordan

Rainbow Street, officially Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Street, is one of the oldest and liveliest streets in Amman, running along Jabal Amman from the First Circle eastwards to Mango Street, close to downtown. It takes its name from the old Rainbow Cinema, and after renovation the surrounding area was declared a protected heritage zone as part of the history of modern Jordan. The street is lined with some of the most important houses of Jordan's modern history, such as the homes of King Talal, Sharif Zaid bin Shaker and Said al-Mufti, together with the British Council, the former Saudi embassy building, the Shams al-Balad theatre, once a cinema, the Jordan River Foundation's craft showroom, and the Royal Film Commission, housed in one of the old Mango family mansions, which sometimes holds open-air screenings on its terrace. Many of the old houses have been restored and turned into cafes, restaurants and small shops. The street is known for its cultural life, above all the summer Souk Jara craft and food market at weekends, and for street art, music and painting. Pavement cafes and terraces look across to the Citadel and downtown, and ice-cream and sweet shops abound, drawing families, young people and tourists alike.

Where:

Amman, Jordan