Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
with bathrooms, some not. All are set around two garden courtyards. It's beside the
Masjed-e Dawazeh-Noh.
TRADITIONAL HOTEL
Isfahan Traditional Hotel$$
(Hotel Sonnati Isfahan;
Click here
;
222 4080;
www.isfahanhotel.com
; Bagh-e
Ghalandarhra Alley, off Hakim St; s/d US$65/90; )
Winning the dubious award
for Esfahan's most shambolic service, this place is set around two courtyards in adjoining
Safavid- and Qajar-period homes. The 16 rooms are reasonably clean and comfortable,
with satellite TV and attached modern bathrooms. Its location deep in the Bazar-e Bozorg
area isn't great, because walking around here at night can be a bit dodgy. The restaurant
here is a popular lunch spot.
Hotel Melal$$
( 222 4532-4; Kamal al-Din Ismail Ave; s/d US$45/66; )
Overlooking the
river east of Pol-e Si-o-Seh, Melal is professionally managed but is looking a bit worn
these days. Request a room overlooking the river or enjoy the view from the top-floor res-
taurant. Free wi-fi is available in the foyer.
HOTEL
Parsian Azadi Hotel$$
( 667 4785-7; A'ineh Khuneh Blvd; d/tr US$64/82; )
Half the 35 worn rooms
sport balconies overlooking the Si-o-Seh Bridge and all have satellite TV, but that, alas, is
where the good news stops. Standards of cleanliness leave something to be desired and
bathrooms have a smelly squat toilet next to the Western version. Wi-fi costs US$1.80 per
hour.
HOTEL
Eating & Drinking
Esfahan has three local specialities:
beryani
(mutton meat and offal that is ground or
minced and then cooked over coals before being sprinkled with cinnamon and served
wrapped in flat bread),
khoresht-e mast
(a strange concoction of lamb, yoghurt, egg, saf-
fron, sugar and orange peel; traditionally eaten as a side dish or dessert) and
gaz,
a deli-
cious nougat usually mixed with saffron, chopped pistachios or almonds.
The best
fast-food joint
in town is on the corner of Chahar Bagh-e Abbasi and Abbas
Abad Sts near the Pol-e Si-o-Seh. As well as the usual offerings, it serves a delicious
felafel sandwich (US$1.20).