"Abu Elias grills the Mighty Metre Kebab on a Kempinski Ishtar terrace over the Dead Sea; book it to close a deal."
About Rehan Lebanese Cuisine
Rehan is the Lebanese kitchen of the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar, the grandest of the resorts strung along the Jordanian shore of the Dead Sea at Swaimeh. The dining room and its terrace look straight out over the water to the lights of the West Bank, and the interiors borrow from Gilgamesh and the legend of King Rehan, a nod to one of the oldest cuisines on earth. It is resort fine dining, but the cooking is the real article: a long mezze table and charcoal-grilled meats, run with the formality you expect of a flagship hotel restaurant. For the surrounding tables, see our Dead Sea dining guide.
The Kitchen
Chef Abu Elias runs a classical Lebanese kitchen built around the mezze ritual. The cold table is the place to start: Rehan hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh and warm bread straight from the oven, followed by hot mezze and charcoal grills. The signature is the Mighty Metre Kebab, a metre-long kebab built for a table to share and the dish the room is known for. Pricing sits at resort fine-dining level, in line with the Kempinski address, and the kitchen leans on quality grilling and fresh mezze rather than reinvention. For the wider category, read our fine-dining guide, and compare the grills next door at Akkad Pool and Grill.
The Room
The room is plush and dim, with a terrace that is the real prize: low lighting, a warm Dead Sea breeze, and an uninterrupted view across the water at sunset. Tables are generously spaced, the sound level is calm, and service is attentive in the formal hotel manner. Dress is smart casual. The terrace seats fill first for the sunset hour, so book ahead if you want the view, and ask for a railing table when you reserve. It is a setting built for an occasion rather than a quick supper.
Best for Close a Deal
Book Rehan to close a deal. The terrace over the Dead Sea gives you a setting your guest will remember, the mezze format keeps the table relaxed and the conversation flowing, and the shared Mighty Metre Kebab is a built-in ice-breaker that takes the formality out of a business dinner. Reserve a railing table at sunset, order the cold mezze to start, and let the view do the persuading. See more tables to close a deal or to host a team dinner.
Not for
Not for travellers chasing cheap, casual eats. Rehan is a resort hotel restaurant priced to match the Kempinski address, so budget diners and anyone wanting a quick street-food fix should eat outside the resort.
Frequently Asked
Is Rehan Lebanese Cuisine worth it?
Yes, for the setting and the mezze. Rehan is the signature Lebanese restaurant of the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar, with a terrace looking straight over the Dead Sea and a kitchen led by chef Abu Elias. The cold mezze, the charcoal grills and the sharing Mighty Metre Kebab are the draw. Prices are at resort fine-dining level, so you are paying for the view and the service as much as the food.
What should I order at Rehan?
Begin with the cold mezze — the Rehan hummus, baba ghanoush and tabbouleh with warm bread — then move to the charcoal grills. If you are a group, order the Mighty Metre Kebab, the metre-long signature built for sharing. The mezze ritual is the heart of the meal, so order generously across the table rather than à la carte mains each.
Is Rehan good for a business dinner?
Yes. The terrace over the Dead Sea is memorable, the tables are well spaced and quiet, and the shared mezze format keeps a business dinner relaxed rather than stiff. Book a railing table at sunset and the setting does much of the work. See our close-a-deal guide for more rooms that hold up under a deal conversation.
Where is Rehan Lebanese Cuisine?
Rehan is inside the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar on the Jordanian Dead Sea shore at Swaimeh, on the resort’s terrace level overlooking the water. It is about an hour’s drive from Amman. As it is a hotel restaurant, book through the Kempinski and arrive in time for the sunset, which is the best moment to be on the terrace.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Rehan Lebanese Cuisine
Book through the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar and ask for a railing table at sunset; the terrace seats fill first for the evening view.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressKempinski Hotel Ishtar, Swaimeh, Dead Sea Road, Jordan
NeighbourhoodDead Sea resort shore
CuisineClassical Lebanese (mezze and charcoal grill)
PriceResort fine-dining; Mighty Metre Kebab for sharing
Dress CodeSmart casual
SeatingDining room and Dead Sea terrace; generously spaced
ReservationVia the Kempinski; sunset terrace advisable
