Must-see restaurants in Iran

  • Restaurant

    Iran

    If the waft of delicious fresh bread from the bakery opposite Qom International Hotel makes you hungry, then the local-style restaurant next door is a…

  • Qavehkhana Firdosi

    Southeastern Iran

    With enameled metal tables, a household kitchen stove and picture-tiled walls, this ultra-down-market cafe is a great spot for people-watching over a…

  • Sofre Khane Sonnati Sangalag

    Tehran

    Decorated with antique photographs, this traditional restaurant in the middle of the park, has a laid-back ambience and is a relatively quiet space …

  • Honey Restaurant

    Esfahan

    Close to the Kelisa-ye Vank, this no-nonsense local favourite is housed in a cheery basement of pine furniture, illuminated dioramas and plastic flowers…

  • Istanbul-No

    Tehran

    This tiny, unpretentious lunchtime place serves a surprising range of Iranian dishes with Turkish fare thrown in. Kababs share space with huge pots of…

  • Tarighat Restaurant

    Tehran

    Handy to the budget accommodation, this lunchtime place serves reliably good interpretations of the standard kababs, khoresht and zereshk polo ba morgh …

  • Sahel Restaurant

    Southeastern Iran

    This pleasant, bright kebab restaurant serves high-quality food in a slightly bare, triangular, drop-in dining room (and, for special occasions, in a…

  • Sorena

    Iran

    This spacious, two-level fast-food restaurant has a certain elegance despite the lime-green colour scheme. A menu in English covers Iranian pizza, basic…

  • Mr Dizi

    Iran

    Tehran's fast-food chain comes to Orumiyeh. When you can't stomach another kabab or hidden surcharge, have a go at one of these meat-and-bean stews. There…

  • RFC

    Iran

    The logo implies a KFC knockoff, but while they do have ready-to-go fried chicken, there's also a range of pizzas, burgers, stuffed baked potatoes and…

  • Akbar Mashti Bastani

    Tehran

    Akbar Mashti became famous for his ice cream in the 1950s and today his son continues to sell what he modestly describes as ‘the most famous ice cream in…

  • Sofrakhane Khadbanu

    Iran

    This mildly inventive twist on a sonati-style cafe isn't antique but the frontage has striking window-murals and the interior feels vaguely 1920s. There's…

  • Pizza Pizza

    Iran

    This family-friendly establishment is unusual for its female waitstaff and children’s play area. The pizzas are typically Iranian style, with lots of…

  • Arg

    Iran

    A favourite special night out for the locals, the Arg is up an elevator from Kashani Sq (above the shopping centre) and has great views of the surrounding…

  • Hezaroyek Shab

    Iran

    Almost out on the ring road, this cosy restaurant has a wide selection of Iranian and Western favourites. Owner Pari Bakhtiyari speaks fluent English, so…

  • Ghaderi

    Iran

    The most attractive of four eateries directly north of the Omar Khayyam mausoleum, Ghaderi serves Iranian standards in a pleasant dining room and also in…

  • Parsian Restaurant

    Iran

    This understated place, decorated in two tones of dark-wood veneer, serves huge portions of akhbar juje (tender, slow-cooked chicken) as well as typical…

  • Khaneh Mo’allem Restaurant

    Iran

    On sunny days, the nicest places for mirza ghasemi (dip-like pureed charcoal eggplant with garlic and tomato) or torche kabab (lamb and/or chicken coated…

  • Barf Cafe

    Iran

    Travellers sometimes just need a good barf ('snow' in Farsi), and this fun, modern cafe is just the place, with cheap and tasty omelettes, pizzas and…

  • Hermes

    Esfahan

    This bright, modern designer cafe offers a fashionable dining experience in the heart of the Amenian Quarter. Food focuses on Western-style diner fare,…

  • Arshia Traditional Restaurant

    Esfahan

    Arshia’s location just off Naqsh-e Jahan (Imam) Sq and its friendly service make it worth considering. Seating is traditional, and the menu features all…

  • Chelokababi

    Iran

    Cheap, tasty, fresh, no-frills kababs served up by a friendly crew who might invite you to a game of darts in the kitchen. It's about 200m past the Anza…

  • Jazireh Pizza

    Iran

    This cheerful, clean and modern fast-food place is in an area where there's not much choice. The pizzas, though small, come quick, cheap and tasty. It's…

  • Noghl Torabi

    Iran

    Sells fabulous carrot-and-walnut halva (a sweet made of sesame flour and honey) and noghl (icing-sugar-coated nuts or fruit), the latter made in big,…

  • Telecabine Restaurant

    Iran

    The food is overpriced, but the view of the Caspian isn't bad from this rooftop restaurant on top of the telecabine wheelhouse. Take the external lift up…

  • Safa Café

    Iran

    This little cafe sitting opposite the classic Mil-e Gonbad tower offers ice-cream sundaes, floats and freshly squeezed seasonal juices.

  • Lilipar Traditional Restaurant

    Iran

    Prop yourself on a rug and get stuck into some tasty skewered meat at this hip traditional restaurant, where Maraqeh's young come to eye each other over…

  • Dr Nadim

    Iran

    The good doctor's traditional dishes are a cut above the local fast food. Set back from the street in a courtyard near the corner of Saadi St.

  • Morvarid Restaurant

    Iran

    Just off crowded Ferdosi St is the reliable Morvarid with its eye-searingly red interior. Try the Kurdish kofte (meatballs).

  • Moqadam Restaurant

    Iran

    Better-than-average rice and kabab dishes from the restaurant below the mosaferkhaneh (lodging house) near the bazaar.

  • Reza Restaurant

    Iran

    This place dishes up cheap and cheerful kababs without a surcharge in sight. It's just off Daneshkadeh St.

  • World Barbecue

    Iran

    Good, cheap, honest kababs that come with naan straight from the tandoor.

  • Dasht Rest Area

    Iran

    At the turn to Dasht is a series of simple roadside eateries facing a rugged landscape of crags dotted with sparse evergreen trees. Charcoal barbecues…

  • Eghbali

    Iran

    Popular with groups and guided tours for its English menu, Eghbali has good food and reasonable service, though high surcharges. There are better, cheaper…

  • Flamingo

    Iran

    The Flamingo has been relying on the tourist rial for too long. Yep, the food is nice and succulent, but beware of the 25%-surcharge shafting when you get…

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