Keykhosro Restaurant & Coffeeshop
Southeastern Iran
Keykhosro serves traditional Kermani specialities qatoq and boz ghormeh – as well as more standard Iranian favourites – in a lovely garden or in carpeted…
Must-see restaurants in Iran
Tehran
Carp swim in the rectangular pool at the centre of this atmospheric restaurant with wood-carved pillars holding up a gallery floor. It's a good choice for…
Tehran
Popular with well-heeled Iranians for business dinners and family celebrations, Alborz serves beautifully presented kabab platters with, especially, very…
Chillax Cafe & White Lounge Restaurant
Iran
As chic as it gets when it comes to dining in Shemshak and Darbansar, this is the place to see and be seen by Tehran's liberal ski set. Waiters in…
Iran
Rey's fanciest dining option combines both a restaurant and casual cafe. The waiters will bring the flag of your nation to the table along with your…
Tehran
The Monsoon group has many restaurants across Tehran. This, one of their first, offers decent (but not authentic) Asian food including Thai-style curries,…
Tehran
Of the two cafes that flank the Film Museum of Iran, this one has the more appealing food menu with a wide range of local and international dishes…
Tehran
Bistango’s air of sophistication and relatively adventurous international cuisine keep Tehranis coming. Service can be a little snooty if you’re not in a…
Tehran
On the lower level at the eastern end of Tehran's showstopper pedestrian bridge is this colourful and relaxed food court with outlets offering the usual…
Bandar Abbas
A great location on the seaside promenade and offerings that are a cut above the competition make this wildly popular place worth a visit. Tuck into well…
Iran
Traditional home-style Persian comfort food such as dizi (fatty lamb, potato, chickpea and tomato dish that comes with its own pestle to grind into paste)…
Tehran
This stylish Californian cuisine eatery offers organic salads, sandwiches (eggplant panini with roasted peppers and caramelised onion), grilled jumbo…
Iran
This tiny two-storey cafe pays homage to the humble bademjan (eggplant) with a variety of dishes, mostly stews and roasts. Service can be a bit hit and…
Iran
Soothing semi-classical violin music and a long, stylised fireplace beckon diners into this suave yet understated mod-trad restaurant where fesenjan and…
Tehran
Cingari is the pick of the Indian restaurants because it gets the Mughlai cuisine just right, with tasty tandoor dishes, flavourful curries and plenty of…
Tabriz
Go the excellent fried trout (IR270,000) at this friendly, rather ornate basement dining hall. Prices include ‘full service’: salad bar, mast (yogurt),…
Tabriz
Within Elgoli’s mock Qajar palace, this busy, unpretentious family restaurant serves Tabrizi köfte, a local home-cooking speciality that's like a giant…
Fanous Aras Traditional Restaurant
Iran
At the far eastern end of Jolfa's universe lies this sophisticated restaurant with a choice of ambience: tables and chairs, or carpets on the floor. There…
Bandar Abbas
Considered locally to offer the best kababs in town, this humming venue on the main drag has a well-priced menu and efficient waiters. Try the barg kabab,…
Iran
Good for kababs or a relaxed pot of tea (set per person IR40,000), this local couples' favourite has a series of pseudo-rustic rooms and larger takht…
Tehran
Under the Safir Hotel, the long-established Tandoor is popular and one of the most convenient places in central Tehran to find a decent curry. If you want…
Bandar Abbas
If pressed, locals in the know will 'fess up and say that this discreet restaurant close to the bustling fish market is their favourite place to sample…
Iran
Don't even think about ordering the stew: you come here to go to kabab heaven via its signature torche (sour) kabab. (Just eat salad for a week afterwards…
Iran
This teahouse-style restaurant in a small, historic caravanserai is a great choice – when it decides to open. Sadly, since the de facto ban on qalyan…
Qeshm Island
Hands down the best bakery–pastry shop in Qeshm Town, Nansito has a tantalising array of doughnuts, muffins and breads. It's across the road from Alvand 2…
Esfahan
This attractively restored bathhouse just off Jolfa Sq (down the vaulted alley) has a teahouse and restaurant section, both relaxing, romantic spaces. The…
Mashhad
If you want a classy meal of something other than Iranian fare, this cosy little (and much-applauded) Italian choice might be worth the ride out to Metro…
Kish Island
If you're at the stage of screaming when presented with yet another meat dish with rice, this sleek fast-food joint may well be for you, with a wide array…
Iran
At this downstairs eatery, the friendly staff churn out tasty kababs and a reasonable khoresht khalal (lamb stew with almonds), though it's not the sort…
Tehran
Cosy little Charmy’s squeezes seats for about 20 around gingham-tableclothed tables into a room with an open kitchen. It dishes up simple but delicious…
Yazd
Set like a crown atop the Orient Hotel, this popular glass-sided restaurant, with its grand views of the Masjed-e Jameh and surrounding blue-tiled domes,…
Iran
This tidy little traditional-style restaurant, near the Masjed-e Jameh, makes a comfortable rest stop before exploring the nearby pottery workshop or…
Iran
Great traditional Iranian restaurant doing Gilani cuisine. Try the fish or the wonderfully sour torche kabab. Just east of Golestan Sq, it's the place…
Iran
Brightly lit but effortlessly contemporary, with clean lines, globe lamps and wooden fittings, the menu here includes pasta, steak, shrimp and a few…
Ananda Vegetarian Restaurant & Coffee Shop
Tehran
Tofu vegan kababs, veggie pasta dishes and excellent salads are on offer at this gem of a restaurant. The pleasant garden courtyard setting and good…
Iran
Situated on the far side of Beheshti Sq, the Pars does all your favourite kababs and stews in blinged-up old Persian surrounds. There's no English, but…
Iran
Near Honarestan Sq, the family-oriented Golrizan offers an extensive salad bar to complement all your Iranian favourites. Staff are friendly and there's…
Tabriz
This simple dairy-cafe at the main bazaar entrance serves unbeatable breakfasts of must-asal (yogurt and honey) and khame-asal (cream and honeycomb).
Iran
With caravanserai-style vaulted ceilings, mood lighting and lovingly prepared fresh dizi, why would you go anywhere else for lunch? It's opposite Melli…
Mashhad
Excellent-value Lebanese fare in a deep, high-ceilinged restaurant, with a photo menu and English translations displayed helpfully over the long barbecue…
