While visiting Petra for the first time, looking for a place to have lunch or dinner is probably not high on your priority list. But thats ok, this list of the best Wadi Musa restaurants will take the guesswork out of it for you! There are dozens of restaurants in the area, that most refer to as Petra and most that cater to tourists who are visiting the UNESCO site. Whether you are looking for a buffet lunch or a typical Jordanian dish after exploring the site, or maybe you want to learn how to cook some basic middle eastern cuisine the Jordanian way, there are plenty of options while you stay in Wadi Musa and visit Petra.
When you finish this post, be sure to read my guide to the best hotels near Petra and transportation in Wadi Musa. If you do not have your own car, you will want to know about taxis and locals offering rides.
Al – Wadi Restaurant
Al – Wadi Restaurant gets excellent trip advisor reviews. It is located uptown in Wadi Musa, not near the Petra Visitors Centre (about 20 minutes walk from Petra Visitors centre). According to Trip Advisor, it is one of the best restaurants in Petra.
Red Cave Restaurant
This restaurant is well located for those leaving the Petra Visitors center. It gets mixed reviews, either people love it, or dont.
My Mom Recipe Restaurant
My Mom Recipe has second-floor dining (no elevator). They offer a buffet for lunch and dinner a la carte. My mom recipie has mid range prices. This is a good place to order Mansaf if you want to try Jordan’s national dish.
Palm Court Restaurant
Located on the main street close to the visitor’s center and Petra Palace hotel. The Palm Court Restaurant is a new restaurant in Wadi Musa. Mid-range prices between 8-12 JD for a meal. Food is flavorful, order the Middle Eastern dishes.
Petra Kitchen
Spend about 2 hours preparing Jordanian dishes and then dine on the fruits of your labor. Usually from 7-9pm. Often, you will help prepare lentil soup, tomato casserole, tabouli salad, and chicken.
The Basin Restaurant
Located in Petra at the end of the main trail (before you find the trail to the Monastery), you will find the Basin Restaurant. The Petra Basin Restaurant serves buffet lunch for visitors to Petra. It is about 17 JD. Alcohol is served here.
Cave Bar (Petra Guest House Hotel)
The Cave Bar is located in the Petra visitors’ center. The Cave Bar offers an upscale ambiance and a great way to finish off Petra by Night! It has Five Star prices for drinks and food.
Al Qantarah
Lunch buffet is served here and the dinner menu is a la carte. Al Qantarah offers a nice atmosphere, it was an old house that was converted into a restaurant and offers a glimpse of traditional home building in the Middle East. It is located near the car parking lot for the visitors’ center.
Evening Entertainment in Petra
There are a few options for evening entertainment in Petra. The most well known is Petra by Night. But a brand new one is gaining in popularity. It is called Henna Fantasia and offers an evening filled with traditional dance and music. Hotel pickup and drop off is included in the ticket. You can get tickets in advance here. (Advance purchase is required to ensure hotel pickup is arranged)
Looking for Alcohol in Wadi Musa?
If you are staying near the Petra Visitors center, there are not a lot of restaurants that serve alcohol. Besides the Cave Bar, Petra Palace, Movenpick Hotel both serve alcohol. There are no liquor stores in Wadi Musa. You are better off to bring a bottle from Aqaba or Amman.
Jordan Travel Resources
Where to Stay in Petra
Mövenpick Resort Petra
Mövenpick Resort Petra is the most opulent of all the 5-star hotels near Petra. It is also located on the other side of the street from Petra’s entrance, making it a perfectly convenient place to stay. Arguably the best hotel in Petra, the rooms at Mövenpick are exquisite; large and airy, and elegantly decorated. Thanks to the large windows, the rooms stay bright and filled with natural lights. The beds in each room are soft and comfortable, making residents want to spend their days sleeping in them. Even the pull out couches have comfortable mattresses and are perfect for families! The hotel also has a pool, it can be quite cold in fall, winter and spring.
Check Prices and book Movenpick Petra by clicking here
Petra Palace Hotel
The Petra Palace Hotel is located just a few minutes walk from the Petra Visitors Center and the best three/four star option near the site entrance. Its rooms are warmly but simply decorated and some have walkouts to the pool. Every room has a seating area. The rooms also have a well-stocked minibar, a mini-fridge, a television set with cable, and a spacious bathroom that comes with all the necessary toiletries. Breakfast is complimentary and served in the restaurant of the hotel, which is on the first floor.
Petra Moon Hotel
Located just above the parking lot for the Petra Visitors Center, Petra Moon Hotel is one of the best hotels in Petra for travelers with a midrange budget who want to be close to the site. Petra Moon hotel is reasonably priced and is definitely worth the money spent to be very close to the site entrance. The rooms of this 3-star hotel are roomy, excellently cleaned, and simply decorated. The beds are simple and comfortable. Breakfast is served buffet-style in the restaurant and afterward. When you return in the evening, feel free to head up to the rooftop pool, where you can rest and think fondly about your full day of Petra exploration.
Check Prices and Book Petra Moon by Clicking Here
Travel Insurance for Jordan
There are a few other things to think about when it comes to travel. The first thing is travel insurance. Whether it is an emergency room visit for something as simple as strep throat, or an emergency appendix surgery, or an unfortunate moped incident things do go wrong when people travel every day.
I highly suggest travel insurance and a good policy. I personally never travel without it, and I even checked into my policy about care for my children if I am ever in an accident or hospitalized. There are just too many things to think about.
You can find out more information and buy your travel insurance here.
Jordan Travel Planning Posts
In order to help make your visit to Jordan as memorable as possible, I have created a number of resources from planning guides to local eats.
- Your hotel may be uptown in Wadi Musa, here is some information on getting from Wadi Musa to Petra.
- Do not skip Little Petra, it is just a few minutes down the road by car.
- If you have just begun the planning, check out 101 Things to do in Jordan to give you some inspiration on the places you want to make sure you have time to see.
- Rental Cars are very popular in Jordan, get a quote on renting a car before you arrive.
- If you are working on a self-drive itinerary or plan to see the country independently, there is a guide on getting around in Jordan. Looking to get to Petra. Check out how to get from Aqaba to Petra or Amman to Petra.
- If you are thinking of booking a tour, or wondering how much hassle a self drive itinerary can be, check out this post I have on the best Jordan tours to book.
- For your time in Amman, check out top things to do in Amman and where to eat. This post has the best breakfast in Amman
- If you are looking for restaurants while you visit Aqaba on the Red Sea, check out Best Restaurants in Aqaba
