Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Khan Gostar Restaurant$$
(ground fl, Julfa Hotel, off Hakim Nezami Ave, Jolfa; meals US$8-17; noon-3.30pm &
7.30-10.30pm)
Located in the city's Armenian quarter, this cafeteria-style restaurant
serves enormous plates of rice, chicken, fish and kabab. There's a large self-service salad
bar (US$4.75 per plate) that is great for vegetarians, and all of the
tahchin
(crunchy rice)
dishes are delicious - we're fans of the
tahchin barreh
(rice cake with slow-cooked lamb
shank garnished with barberries and nuts). There's also a downstairs restaurant with tradi-
tional seating (same opening hours and prices).
TRADITIONAL IRANIAN
Mikhak Restaurant$$
(meals US$4-9.50; 11am-4pm Sat-Thu)
Just off the southeast end of the bazaar, the
Mikhak serves quality Iranian comfort food including a moist and flavoursome 'special
chicken' kabab and a tasty slow-cooked lamb shank. Vegetarians should head elsewhere.
TRADITIONAL IRANIAN
Azam Beryani$
(
www.beryaniazam.com
,
in Farsi; Chahar Bagh Abbasi St; beryani US$3.50;
9am-3pm Sat-Thu)
Famous for its
beryani
(which is served with a glass of
dugh;
churned
sour milk or yoghurt mixed with water), Azam has three branches: this one near the
bazaar, one in Masjed Seyyed St and one in Kamal-Esmaeil St.
TRADITIONAL IRANIAN
Arshia Traditional Restaurant$$
(cnr Ostandari St & Matbakh Alley; meals US$3.50-8; noon-3pm & 7.30-10pm)
Though it lacks the atmosphere of the nearby Bastani, Arshia's location just off Naqsh-e
Jahan (Imam) Sq and its friendly service make it worth considering. Seating is traditional,
and the menu features all the usual suspects plus
beryani
. Vegetarians be warned: the ve-
getable stew isn't meat-free.
TRADITIONAL IRANIAN
CAFE
Naghsh-e Jahan Cafeteria$$
(Abbasi Hotel, Shahid Medani St; sandwiches US$7.50, burgers US$8.50-9.50;
8am-11pm)
A favourite meeting place for local businessmen, smart young couples and
ladies on shopping expeditions, the coffee shop at Esfahan's best hotel serves upmarket
fast food (hamburgers, club sandwiches, pizza) but is best for a coffee (French coffee
US$3, cappuccino US$3.50, iced coffee US$3.50). If the weather permits, ask to sit
among the persimmon trees and fountains in the courtyard garden.
Nobahar Restaurant$$
TRADITIONAL IRANIAN
