Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
joining restaurant has a full menu and is known by generations of Tehranis for its chateau-
briand. Don't expect much service (or change) from the grumpy-grandad waiters.
CAFE
Chai Bar$$$
( 2221 0313; 145 Nth Salimi Ave, near Andarzgoo Blvd, Farmanieh; meals from US$7;
10am-11pm Sat-Thu, 4-11pm Fri)
Occupying the garden and library pavilion of a
100-year old mansion in posh northern Tehran, Chai Bar blends traditional Iranian style
with a superb garden location (heated in winter). It's ideal for summer afternoons and
evenings beneath the trees sipping the wide range of teas and Illy coffee; it also sells
salads, soup and sandwiches.
Gol-eRezaieh$$
( 6670 7290; Si Tir St, off Jomhuri-ye Eslami Ave; meals from US$8; 7.30am-3pm)
At more than 75 years old, the very compact Gol-e Rezaieh is one of Tehran's oldest cafes
and, until the revolution, was a favorite of intellectuals, journalists, writers and artists,
some of whom still hang out here. It's a good place for coffee after the nearby museums,
and is known for its hard-to-find 'home-made'
khoresht
.
CAFE
Cafe Gallery$$
( 8834 9366; Park-e Honar Mandan, Baroroushan St, off Iranshahr Ave; meals
US$4-10; 10am-11pm)
Located above beautiful Iranshahr Theatre in the middle of the
Artists' Park, Cafe Gallery is hard to beat in Tehran as a place to sit and soak up the scene.
You can soak up some art (it's a functioning gallery) and some sun, too, if you get a seat
on the balcony. The cafe fare includes pastas, salads, burgers and toasted sandwiches that
satisfy without stunning.
CAFE
Entertainment
Live music, theatre and cinema are all tightly controlled in Iran and public performances
can be difficult to find. The one time there is a lot of organised entertainment is over the
10 Days of Dawn (1 to 11 February), when you will be able to attend plays, films and con-
certs of traditional Iranian and, perhaps, foreign music (
Click here
)
.
Cinema
Old-style movie halls are all over town, particularly along southern Lalehzar St or eastern
Jomhuri-ye Eslami Ave, in southern Tehran. Films screen about every two hours between
