Best 10 Restaurants in Aqaba by the Red Sea

Aqaba, Jordan's only coastal city and the country's gateway to the Red Sea, offers a dining experience unlike anywhere else in the kingdom. Perched at the northern tip of the Red Sea, where Jordan, Israel, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia converge in a stunning coastal panorama, Aqaba has developed a vibrant food culture shaped by its unique geography, its history as a trading port, and its growing reputation as a world-class diving and tourism destination. The Red Sea itself is the star ingredient in Aqaba's restaurant scene. The waters off Aqaba teem with an extraordinary diversity of marine life — hammour (grouper), Sultan Ibrahim (red mullet), sea bass, lobster, prawns, and squid among them — and the city's best restaurants have built their reputations on sourcing the freshest possible catches each morning. At the top establishments, the fish you eat might have been swimming in the Red Sea just hours before it arrived on your plate, prepared with simple, respectful techniques that allow the quality of the ingredient to shine. The city's most celebrated dining institution is the legendary Ali Baba Restaurant, which has been serving Aqaba's finest seafood since the 1980s. Ali Baba's daily delivery of fresh Red Sea fish has made it a pilgrimage destination for seafood lovers throughout Jordan and the wider region. The restaurant's signature preparation — whole fish grilled over charcoal or pan-fried with garlic, lemon, and fresh herbs — exemplifies the Levantine seafood philosophy: when the ingredient is this good, simplicity is the highest form of cooking. Beyond seafood, Aqaba's restaurant scene reflects the city's cosmopolitan character as a port and tourism hub. You'll find elegant Lebanese restaurants serving sophisticated mezze and grilled meats, Jordanian restaurants specializing in the hearty local cuisine that sustains the city's working population, international hotels with fine dining rooms that attract business travelers and tourists alike, and casual beachfront cafes perfect for a relaxed meal after a day of diving or snorkeling. The waterfront promenade (the Corniche) and the marina area at Tala Bay are the heart of Aqaba's dining scene, offering a remarkable concentration of restaurants with views across the shimmering Red Sea toward the mountains of Saudi Arabia and Egypt. As the sun sets over these ancient waters and the lights of neighboring countries begin to twinkle across the bay, dining in Aqaba becomes a genuinely magical experience — one of the most memorable in all of Jordan. These are the ten restaurants that make Aqaba's food scene worth the journey.

1. Ali Baba Restaurant

Aqaba's most famous seafood restaurant, Ali Baba has been serving the freshest catches from the Red Sea for over 30 years. The grilled fish platters and seafood mezze are legendary among locals and tourists alike.

Al-Nahda Street, Aqaba

+962 3 201 3901

2. Royal Yacht Club Restaurant

Offering sophisticated waterfront dining at Aqaba's marina, the Royal Yacht Club serves a blend of international and Middle Eastern cuisine with stunning views of the Red Sea and the mountains of Eilat across the water.

Tala Bay Marina, Aqaba

+962 3 203 2404

3. Captain's Restaurant

A beloved Aqaba institution, Captain's sits right on the beach and is known for its perfectly grilled fish and relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant offers a quintessential Red Sea dining experience with sand between your toes.

Al-Corniche Street, Aqaba

+962 3 201 6905

4. Floka Restaurant

Named after the traditional fishing boats of the Red Sea, Floka serves authentic Aqaba-style seafood with recipes passed down through generations of fishermen. The sayadieh (fisherman's rice) is not to be missed.

King Hussein Street, Aqaba

+962 3 203 0860

5. Burj Al Hamam

The Aqaba branch of the renowned Lebanese restaurant chain, Burj Al Hamam brings elegant Lebanese dining to the Red Sea coast. The waterfront terrace and extensive mezze selection make it perfect for a leisurely evening meal.

Intercontinental Hotel, Aqaba

+962 3 209 2222