Central Iran restaurants

This serendipitous little jewel in the middle of the Bazar-e Vakil is hidden behind a small door next to the Seray-e Moshir caravanserai. Decorated with painted panels and antiques on the wall, this split-level teah…

It is worth dining in this fabulous little restaurant for the sheer pleasure of sitting in pools of coloured light by day and under a canopy of mirrored stars at night. Ask for the daily stew and relax in the compan…

Wildly popular with fashionable Shirazis, this enormous restaurant complex near Quran Gateway offers four types of dining experience: there’s a generous buffet on the ground floor, a fast-food court on the 2nd floor…

Set into a flank of the Abbasi Hotel's elegant main courtyard, this delightful little restaurant (not to be confused with the hotel's main restaurant) attract legions of locals in the early evening. The signature di…

Esfahan’s most atmospheric restaurant is located in the shadow of the Masjed-e Shah and features an internal courtyard with fountain, tiled walls and painted vaulted ceilings with mirror inlay – truly gorgeous. Dish…

Opulent Qajar-style wall paintings, stained-glass windows and battalions of black-suited waiters contribute to the Shahrzad’s reputation as the best restaurant in Esfahan. House specialities include lamb cutlets, an…

This sumptuous renovation of a 400-year-old bathhouse is a highly romantic venue for dinner, especially on Wednesday and Saturday nights (or on Thursday and Friday at noon) when live music adds to the atmosphere. Th…

Elegant but uncomplicated, the Talar, with its prim white tablecloths and waiters wheeling trolleys, has a 1950s appeal. Its short menu of classic Iranian dishes, including slow-roast lamb, is delicious and the kaba…

Famous for its beryani (which is served with a glass of dugh; churned sour milk or yoghurt mixed with water), Azam has several branches. This one inside the bazaar is a recommended lunch option – the queuing, the sh…

This tiny restaurant, more shop than diner, is an absolute favourite with locals, foreign expats and the odd tour group whose guide is in the know. Would-be diners queue up on the street to find a place at the tight…