Yazd
While the Iranian food here is very good, the delicious subcontinental curries are the most popular dishes among travellers, particularly those who've run…
Must-see restaurants in Iran
Iran
A fun mural of travelling nomads and their sheep on the outside wall beckons visitors to explore the gorgeous old house within. Arranged around a pretty…
Esfahan
It's probably fair to say that the food in this beautiful restaurant is not the best, but if this isn't the prime concern, then it's worth a night out…
Kashan
This beautifully restored mansion provides the perfect setting for lunch. Book ahead for a meal featuring Kashani specialities, such as gusht lubia (lamb…
Yazd
The highly decorated main hall of this classic Iranian restaurant makes for a romantic setting for a special evening. The menu is complemented with…
Shiraz
Opposite the Arg-e Karim Khan, Mahdi is the most famous faludeh shop in Shiraz. It also sells delicious bastani (Persian ice cream).
Iran
Fronted by a badgir (windtower), this late-Safavid house opened as an upmarket restaurant-teahouse in early 2017. Specialities include fish fillets, and…
Southeastern Iran
Max's large, contemporary fast-food place serves unusually good Iranian pizza in the vividly yellow-green upstairs section. Easily missed in the basement…
Iran
The term 'traditional' refers to the excellent food, served with tanour bread fresh from the clay oven – not to the decor, which, while very comfortable,…
Tehran
Tiny, no-frills Khoshbin is an institution among Tehranis, who cram onto the fast-turnover tables for an authentic Gilaki (food from the Gilan region)…
Mashhad
Less central or authentic but considerably more reasonably priced than Mashhad's other sonati (traditionally styled) dining options, Fanous serves Afghan…
Southeastern Iran
If you can find it, this brick-domed subterranean cavern makes an appealingly untouristy alternative to the larger Hamam-e Vakil teahouse. It's not quite…
Southeastern Iran
Within the upper section of the Shahzde gardens, this restaurant offers private courtyard niches and two multidomed dining rooms, one cosier but darker,…
Coffee Shop & Veggie Restaurant of Iranian Artists’ Forum
Tehran
Wholesome vegetarian meals are served in this popular place where the produce is bought fresh each day and the kitchen is completely meat-free, so there…
Tehran
There's almost always a long line (which does move reasonably quickly) snaking out of this famous restaurant that's located on a couple of upper floors of…
Iran
This hidden, tastefully renovated 640-year-old former hammam oozes atmosphere, with vaulted ceilings and rabbit-warren chambers. Try local pichag qeimeh …
Iran
Fashioned like a palatial caravanserai – complete with stalactite-vaulted iwan – this is one of the most indulgently upmarket restaurants in Shandiz for…
Southeastern Iran
Sparsely decorated with old plates and potted plants in an attractive single room, this calm, couple-y restaurant serves interesting twists on Italian…
Sharzeh Traditional Restaurant
Shiraz
Near Masjed-e Vakil, this hugely popular restaurant is in the basement of an arcade with galley-style seating around the upper of the two floors. It’s…
Tehran
This beautifully restored 300-year-old building was originally part of the Imamzadeh Seyyed Nasreddin shrine opposite before being separated when Khayyam…
Iran
Looking for all the world like a basement bric-a-brac shop, with ancient radios and crazy wooden statues, Jahannama serves up delicious food, especially…
Shiraz
The friendly waiters at this tiny, attractively decorated restaurant in a busy part of town certainly earn their wages, rushing upstairs to serve a…
Iran
Though lacking any contemporary zest, Eros (formerly called Absha) is the neatest of many eateries around Shahrdari Sq. It's owned by a butchery company…
Kish Island
Shandiz Safari isn’t just a restaurant – it’s an experience, especially at dinner. This huge venture overlooking the seashore is the venue of choice for…
Tehran
This subterranean chaykhaneh (teahouse) is an appealing escape from the fumes of Ferdowsi Sq. Head to the ornate restaurant area rather than the smoky tea…
Iran
Relocated from its old location on Pastor St, the Delta is in a hard-to-find new basement opposite Saidiyeh St (look for the food picture; there's no…
Qeshm Island
This simple place on the waterfront opposite the Ghal’e-ye Portoghaliha (ghaleh means ‘castle’ in Farsi) serves delicious Arabic seafood in the cool of…
Tehran
Photos of Western rock and movie royalty (Freddie Mercury in particular) gaze down from the walls of this compact cafe, one of Tehran’s oldest. It's a…
Qasr Honar Traditional Restaurant
Bandar Abbas
After something extra-special? At this long-standing favourite you'll go giddy over the ever-so-slightly-OTT interior, with faux waterfalls, vines and…
Esfahan
Just off Naqsh-e Jahan (Imam) Sq, this restaurant uses stained glass, colourful tiles and takhts (daybeds) to create a Qajar-era ambience. It's a pretty…
Tabriz
Carpeted booths in a wide, airy space, English menus and a plaster waterfall complete with monkeys and goats complement the excellent traditional Iranian…
Esfahan
Locals congregate around this humble shopfront to buy an afternoon snack of fereni – a tapioca-like dessert served with honey. Some pause to eat it…
Iran
Locals rate this the best feed in Qazvin, and it's hard to argue. The handy picture menu helps visitors explore beyond kababs and try some Iranian…
Shiraz
Out in the suburbs, the Soofi is where middle-class Shirazi families come to celebrate big occasions and it can be loads of fun on weekends when live…
Mashhad
With a ceiling of barrels, green-washed tables, frilled lamps and exposed brick walls, the main triangle of dining room is very inviting but it's the…
Tehran
The most atmospheric of several teahouses in the popular hillside park at Tehran’s northern edge is based in a cabin with stained-glass windows that's…
Niayesh Restaurat & Coffee Shop
Shiraz
The tranquil internal courtyard of the Niayesh Boutique Hotel is a pleasant place to escape the crowds and relax over a tea, espresso coffee or meal…
Iran
Inside the friendly Abyaneh Hotel, this restaurant (the only one in town) serves a long menu of Persian favourites. The adjoining coffee bar has an…
Southeastern Iran
Khansalar offers high quality at low prices, notably for meaty kebabs and saffron-toned kashke bademjan (mashed eggplant), with a seating choice of a…
Markazi Jamshidiyeh Restaurant
Tehran
The first of several teahouses you’ll see as you head uphill from the entrance of the park, is also the busiest, with tables offering great views from…
