Dara Dining by Sara Aqel.

Housed in a light-filled, restored 1958 villa beside Zahran Park, Dara Dining is the homecoming project of Palestinian-Jordanian chef Sara Aqel. Meaning “home” in Arabic, Dara functions as a residential-style dining room, garden, and private-cellar-style wine shop. The menu focuses on Mediterranean and Italian-leaning dishes made with seasonal Jordanian produce, featuring hand-rolled pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and plates like basil shatta sujuk pizza and slow-cooked octopus. What sets Dara apart is its deep commitment to regional craftsmanship; meals are served on tableware handmade by the Women of Iraq al Amir cooperative, using salt sourced from Azraq. It is a highly curated showcase of local sourcing, natural wines, and heritage architecture that avoids the feel of a typical restaurant.