Must-see nightlife in Tehran

  • Sam Cafe

    Tehran

    A coffee roaster dominates the entrance to the slickest of north Tehran's many fashionable cafes and chief hang-out of the city's privileged. Down your…

  • Haj Ali Darvish Teahouse

    Tehran

    There's been a teahouse here next to Abdollah Khan Madrassa since 1917, and Haj Kazem's father Ali took over the business in 1962. It's now a stand-up 2m…

  • Cafe Upartmaan

    Tehran

    Although it's plagued by cigarette smoke, this large, multisectioned cafe is still well worth dropping by for its wide-ranging drinks and food menu,…

  • Lamiz

    Tehran

    Lamiz has several outlets of its Seattle-style cafes around Tehran. This super-chic branch is the most central and boasts a wide range of drinks,…

  • Cake Studio Vorta

    Tehran

    Who doesn't love a cupcake? At this cute and buzzy cafe close by Tehran University, they're made well-slathered with butter-cream icing, plus there's…

  • Cafe Naderi

    Tehran

    On the ground floor of the Hotel Naderi, this pastel-shaded cafe has long been a favourite, attracting a curious mix of students, artists and grannies in…

  • Timcheh Akbarian

    Tehran

    This traditional teahouse occupies what was the first Iranian bank some 260 years ago during the Qajar era. Carpeted booths on two levels look on to a…

  • Cafe de France

    Tehran

    On Ghandi's upper level, Cafe de France whisks you to the Left Bank with its dark wood, retro tables and chairs, messy display of books and cosy ambience…

  • Chai Bar

    Tehran

    Occupying a pavilion in the grounds of a grand old mansion that now houses Art Centre Galleries, Chai Bar blends traditional Iranian style with a superb…

  • Cafe Gallery

    Tehran

    Located above Iranshahr Theatre in Artists’ Park, Cafe Gallery is hard to beat in central Tehran as a place to sit and soak up the scene. You can soak up…

  • Agha Bozorg

    Tehran

    Tucked away down an ornately tiled staircase, this cosy underground teahouse is full of young Iranians flirting, drinking tea, smoking hookahs and eating …

  • Romance Cafe

    Tehran

    Upstairs in an alley, this charming multiroom cafe is an ideal place to escape the traffic mayhem around Ferdowsi Sq. The Middle European atmosphere, with…

  • Nazdik Cafe

    Tehran

    One of central Tehran's most pleasantly designed cafes, Nazdik has both indoor and outdoor areas and a contemporary vibe. It's a popular spot for…

  • Godot Cafe

    Tehran

    Hanging baskets of plants create a fresh, garden feel to the arched entranceway to this cafe named after one of Samuel Beckett's most famous characters…

  • Markov Cafe Gallery

    Tehran

    Occupying a small wing of the old red-brick prison at Qsar Garden Museum, this is one of two pleasant cafes overlooking the surrounding sculpture park…

  • Cafe 78

    Tehran

    A good place to get in touch with Tehran’s hip young artistic community is this arty cafe plastered with posters for events and a wanderlust wall of…

  • Un Cafe

    Tehran

    With its solid dark-wood tables and chairs, black-and-white photo portraits and gleaming espresso machine, this is an excellent cafe with an artsy feel –…

  • Viuna Café

    Tehran

    In the lovely gardens of the Film Museum of Iran, this chic cafe, one of a chain you'll find across Tehran, serves a wide range of expensive but very…

  • Cafe Opera

    Tehran

    Brick-walled and attractively decked out with old projectors, cameras and radios, this is a cosy little place to stop for coffee or hot chocolate,…