15 Top Restaurants in Damavand: Where to Eat, What to Try, and Why Travelers Love This City
Damavand is one of the oldest cities in Iran—a place whose history dates back to the era of Keyumars, the first king of Iran, and the birthplace of many legendary heroes. So, don’t be surprised to see the name of Damavand listed among Iran’s national heritage sites. Located on the Tehran–Amol route along the Firuzkuh road, Damavand is about 74 kilometers away from Tehran—a distance that takes less than two hours to travel if there’s no traffic. When you combine Mount Damavand, the Abali ski resort, fruit orchards, clean and refreshing weather, and many other attractions with its short distance from the capital, it becomes clear why this city is considered one of Iran’s prime tourist destinations.
For the residents of Tehran, traveling to the historic city of Damavand and spending a few days there feels like visiting grandparents whose warm embrace is as towering as Mount Damavand itself, and whose table is always full of blessings. And since we’re speaking of generous feasts, keep reading to get familiar with the best restaurants in Damavand.
1.Melal Restauran
Melal Restaurant is the best choice for those who want to enjoy a luxurious meal during their trip to Damavand. It is one of the most upscale restaurants in the area and offers a highly diverse menu.
The menu includes a variety of Iranian and international dishes, making it a great place to try something new for the first time. The international section features different types of steaks, pasta, and seafood such as shrimp.
In the traditional section of the menu, you’ll find dishes like sour filet, various kebabs and grilled chicken, tahchin, baghali polo, and Melal’s special shashlik. If you’re someone who can’t skip appetizers, don’t worry—the menu includes plenty of options such as Caesar salad, garden salad, mirza ghasemi, soup of the day, and more. Your food tour at Melal doesn’t end here; you can enjoy a dessert, a cup of tea, coffee, or a piece of cake from the café menu after your meal.
Melal Restaurant has three separate halls: CIP, VIP, and a formal banquet hall, making it a great venue for birthday celebrations, special events like anniversaries, and friendly or family gatherings.
Address: Tehran Province, Damavand, Gilavand, Ayatollah Khamenei Boulevard
Opening Hours: Open until midnight (hours may vary on holidays and weekends, so it’s best to call ahead using the number below).
Phone: 021-76331000
Price Range: Luxury / Expensive
2.Tohid Restaurant
Tohid Restaurant is one of the well-known eateries in Damavand. This longstanding restaurant, which has been open for over two decades, is a popular choice among the locals.
The modern interior décor and the pricing place it in the category of luxury restaurants in Damavand. The menu caters to lovers of both fast food and traditional Iranian cuisine:
The fast-food section features fried chicken, sandwiches, doner, burgers, and pizza. Appetizers include Caesar salad, garden salad, French fries, fried mushrooms, and more.
Fans of traditional food can choose from dishes such as koobideh kebab, lamb shank with rice, grilled chicken, tahchin, gheimeh stew, and more. Traditional sides like pickles, garlic pickles, olives, mast-o-khiar, and similar items are also available.
Address: Tehran Province, Damavand, Firuzkuh Road, Gilavand, across from the Department of Industry and Mining
Opening Hours: 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. (hours may vary on weekends and holidays; call the number below before visiting).
Phone: 021-76315004
Price Range: Relatively expensive
3.Momtaz Restaurant
Momtaz Restaurant is a good choice for lunch or dinner if you prefer a simple, casual environment. This restaurant doesn’t have the formal atmosphere of luxury establishments, so you can relax and enjoy your meal without worrying about being overly formal.
Interestingly, the interior décor resembles that of a fast-food place, yet the menu consists of traditional Iranian dishes such as kebab and grilled chicken.
Address: Tehran Province, Damavand, Gilavand, Ayatollah Khamenei Boulevard, 100 meters below Shahed Boulevard
Opening Hours: 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Phone: 021-76317653
Price Range: Moderate and reasonably priced
4.Safir Restaurant
For a meal of Iranian cuisine in a restaurant with a somewhat modern and elegant décor, Safir Restaurant is a great option. It’s especially suitable for those who believe no trip is complete without having at least one kebab. Their menu includes various kebabs, grilled chicken, baghali polo with dill, and zereshk polo. For side dishes, you can choose from options like spinach borani, mast-o-khiar, local mast-o-musir, olives with walnuts, and more.
Address: Tehran Province, Damavand, Ayatollah Khamenei Boulevard, 9 Dey Street
Opening Hours: Open until 11 p.m. (hours may vary on weekends and holidays; call the number below to confirm before visiting).
Phone: 021-76345810
5.Cook Café-Restaurant
It’s time to introduce a restaurant famous for its pizzas. Cook Café-Restaurant in Damavand is a great choice if you’re craving pizza or other fast foods like various burgers and sandwiches.
The restaurant features a modern interior with a fairly spacious environment. One of the things that sets Cook Café-Restaurant apart from other restaurants in Damavand is its colorful chairs and distinctive lighting. Another important point is that, in addition to offering a variety of sizable salads, this restaurant serves both American- and Italian-style pizzas.
As the name suggests, Cook Café-Restaurant also has a separate café menu. Thanks to its modern décor, you don’t have to visit only for lunch or dinner—you can simply drop by for a hot or cold drink, a piece of cake, or even just a salad.
Address: Tehran Province, Damavand, Firuzkuh Road, Gilavand, Shahid Bahonar Boulevard
Opening Hours: Open until 11:30 PM. (Hours may vary on weekends and holidays, so it’s best to call before visiting.)
Phone: 021-76333868
Price Range: Moderate to relatively expensive
6.Babak Restaurant
The weather in Damavand is pleasant for travelers in every season: cool and refreshing in spring and summer, and beautifully chilly with rain and snow in fall and winter.
With that said, if you prefer a restaurant where you can enjoy your meal outdoors as well as indoors, Babak Restaurant is a suitable choice. Besides the indoor dining hall, the garden area features tables where you can enjoy a variety of traditional dishes such as kebabs, grilled chicken, and seafood options like fish with rice or grilled fish plates.
A charming feature of Babak Restaurant is the small wooden cottages in the garden—perfect spaces for gatherings or larger groups. These cozy huts make an excellent venue for a memorable birthday celebration or an intimate, unique event.
Address: Tehran Province, Damavand, Gilavand Junction, 1 km toward Firuzkuh, next to Shalambeh Bridge
Opening Hours: Open until 11:45 PM. (Hours may vary on weekends and holidays; calling ahead is recommended.)
Phone: 021-76345922
Price Range: Moderate to relatively expensive
7.Didaniha Traditional Café-Restaurant
As its name suggests, the Didaniha Garden Restaurant is truly a sight to see. From the moment you enter, the unique and attractive décor—both indoors and in the open-air garden—captures your attention. The indoor space features a central pool, Polish-style chairs, and traditional lounge platforms, creating a blend of modern and classic Iranian design. Outside, small wooden cabins sit beside decorative elements like a yellow public phone booth and a red enclosed motorcycle, adding a distinctly Iranian touch to the atmosphere. Live music is performed here on most days of the week.
The menu includes a selection of hot beverages and traditional Persian dishes.
Address: Tehran Province, Damavand Road, entrance to A’bali city, after the pedestrian bridge, Didaniha Traditional House
Opening Hours: The garden restaurant is open until 11:30 PM. (Hours may vary on weekends and holidays; please call ahead.)
Phone: 021-76532105
Price Range: Moderate to relatively expensive
8.Zomorrod Restaurant
During any trip, plans don’t always go as scheduled—you may arrive after midnight or before 9 AM. In these situations, if you don’t have food with you and want a proper meal, you have two choices: wait for restaurants to open, or find a 24-hour spot. Zomorrod Restaurant is a 24/7 restaurant, so even if you’re out late and craving food in the middle of the night, you can always go there.
While the décor isn’t particularly luxurious, the arrangement of the chairs, their style, the wall colors, and the lighting create an atmosphere reminiscent of a restaurant from the 1970s.
As for the menu, Zomorrod serves a variety of traditional Persian dishes including kebabs, chicken and meat stews, barberry rice with chicken, lamb ribs, dill rice with broad beans, and more.
Address: Tehran Province, Damavand, Motahhari Street, next to Koocheh Mehr
Opening Hours: 24 hours
Phone: 021-76329565
Price Range: Moderate to relatively expensive
9.Daloon-e Behesht Café-Restaurant
Daloon-e Behesht Café-Restaurant is one of Damavand’s well-known traditional eateries. This two-story establishment is a great choice for those who prefer to enjoy Persian cuisine in a classic Iranian setting. The wall writings, traditional lounge seating with cushions and Persian carpets—all are designed to satisfy fans of traditional-style restaurants.
As you may have guessed, the menu at Daloon-e Behesht is entirely Persian. Some of its most popular dishes include various kebabs, grilled chicken, tahchin, and chicken stew, accompanied by traditional starters such as mirza ghasemi, kashk-e bademjan, pickles, yogurt, and more.
If you’re looking for a breakfast spot, Daloon-e Behesht is also a great option. Their café menu includes omelets, fried eggs, sausage and eggs, as well as a variety of coffees, tea, and herbal drinks.
Address: Tehran Province, Damavand, Shahrdari Boulevard, Javaheri Street, Shahid Norouzi Street
Phone: 021-76324651
Price Range: Moderate to relatively expensive
10.Akbar Joojeh Restaurant
Is “Akbar Joojeh” the name of a restaurant or the name of a dish? That is the question! You’ve probably seen restaurants called Akbar Joojeh or Kelbadi Brothers many times in your own city or while traveling. Back in 1951, when Ali-Akbar Kelbadi-Nejad first fried local chicken using his special sauce, he had no idea that years later, chain restaurants under the name Akbar Joojeh would open all across Iran.
So the answer is: Akbar Joojeh is both the name of a restaurant chain and a specific style of cooking chicken. If you’d like to try Akbar Joojeh during your trip to Damavand, you can visit Akbar Joojeh Restaurant or Kelbadi Brothers Chelow-Joojehgah.
Most branches of Akbar Joojeh—including this Damavand location—have a simple and modest décor. But honestly, customers don’t go there for the decoration; they go for that delicious fried chicken prepared in the traditional style of Haj Ali-Akbar Kelbadi-Nejad.
Address: Tehran Province, Damavand, Gilavand, Ayatollah Khamenei Boulevard, after Imamzadeh Mohammad
Opening Hours: Open until 11:45 PM. (Hours may vary on weekends and holidays, so it’s recommended to call ahead.)
Phone: 021-76340074
Price Range: Affordable and budget-friendly
11.Alborz Offal House (Tabakhi Alborz)
All the restaurants mentioned above are great choices for lunch or dinner with traditional or international dishes. But in the pleasant climate of Damavand, nothing hits the spot quite like a hearty serving of kalleh pacheh (head and trotters soup). People usually have strong feelings about this dish—you either love it or can’t even stand its smell.
If you’re one of the fans—someone who craves that soaked bread and even follows a special ritual while eating kalleh pacheh—then during your trip to Damavand, make sure to visit Tabakhi Alborz.
Address: Tehran Province, Damavand, Shahid Bahonar Boulevard
Opening Hours: 24 hours
Price Range: Affordable and budget-friendly
12.Masoud Restaurant
Masoud Restaurant is one of the oldest and most well-known restaurants in Damavand, always attracting regular customers. The space is simple but spacious, and the quality of the food, especially the kebabs, rice dishes, and Persian stews, has remained consistently good. If you’re looking for a reliable family meal, Masoud Restaurant is a great choice.
Address: Damavand, Damavand Street, before the Pole Station building
Phone: +98 21 7287570
Price Range: Moderate
Special Feature: Traditional Iranian dishes at reasonable prices
13.Sib Food House
Sib Food House is an economical and flavorful option in Damavand, perfect for those who want to enjoy home-style Iranian food at an affordable price. This restaurant usually serves daily dishes, stews, and simple rice dishes, with food quality well-matched to its price.
Address: Damavand, Firouzkooh Road
Phone: +98 21 76340764
Price Range: Cheap
Special Feature: Simple, home-style dishes with generous portions
14.Tahchin Damavand
If you love Tahchin, this restaurant is one of the best choices in Damavand. Their chicken and meat Tahchin are famous for their soft texture, home-style flavor, and high-quality ingredients. The restaurant offers a quiet, family-friendly atmosphere.
Address: Damavand, Shahid Beheshti Boulevard
Phone: +98 21 76315100
Price Range: Moderate to affordable
Special Feature: Specializes in fresh daily Tahchin dishes
15.Gol Gandom Kebab House
Located on the road from Damavand to Mosha, Gol Gandom Kebab House is a perfect stop for travelers exploring nature. As the name suggests, their kebabs, especially koobideh and grilled chicken, are the most popular items. The setting is completely traditional and cozy.
Address: Damavand – Mosha Road
Phone: +98 21 76384001
Price Range: Affordable
Special Feature: High-quality kebabs in a simple, local setting
5. Khalifeh Restaurant
Khalifeh Restaurant is a well-established and popular restaurant in Damavand, serving a variety of Iranian dishes. The food quality is consistent, and the staff are courteous. If you are looking for fresh and reliable meals, Khalifeh is an excellent choice.
Address: Damavand, Eghbal Lahouri Street, corner of Safa Street, No. 360
Phone: +98 21 33304923
Price Range: Moderate
Special Feature: Fresh Iranian dishes in a family-friendly environment
Conclusion
Due to its proximity to Tehran, beautiful nature, and pleasant climate, Damavand is a popular destination for short trips. To make your visit even more enjoyable, these five restaurants offer excellent options to experience a variety of local and Iranian cuisine
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the best restaurants to try traditional Iranian food in Damavand?
Popular choices include Akbar Joojeh, Kebab House Damavand, and Alborz Traditional Restaurant, all known for authentic Iranian dishes.
2. Where can I eat authentic local dishes specific to Damavand?
Akbar Joojeh and local kebab houses in Gilavand are great places to enjoy regional flavors and traditional cooking styles.
3. Do restaurants in Damavand offer vegetarian or vegan options?
Yes. Many restaurants offer salads, ash (herb soup), vegetable stews, and rice-based dishes suitable for vegetarians.
4. Which restaurants in Damavand are suitable for families?
Family-friendly options include Akbar Joojeh, Koohe Noor Restaurant, and Khoshbin Restaurant, all offering spacious seating and a relaxed atmosphere.
5. Are there any top-rated restaurants with outdoor seating or scenic views?
Yes. Several cafés and restaurants near Damavand’s gardens and mountains provide outdoor seating with pleasant views, especially in spring and summer.
6. Is it necessary to make a reservation in popular Damavand restaurants, especially on weekends?
Reservations are not always required, but on holidays and weekends it’s recommended as many restaurants get quite busy.
7. What are the average prices for meals in Damavand’s best restaurants?
Prices are generally affordable. A full meal usually costs between 5 to 12 USD depending on the restaurant and the dish.
8. Are there restaurants in Damavand that serve international or Western-style food?
Yes. Some cafés and modern eateries in Gilavand offer pizzas, pastas, burgers, and a variety of international dishes.
9. Do Damavand restaurants accept credit cards, or should I bring cash?
Answer: Most restaurants accept local debit cards, but international credit cards are usually not supported. Carrying some cash is recommended.
10. Which restaurants in Damavand are recommended for breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Breakfast: Local cafés in Gilavand and garden cafés.
Lunch: Akbar Joojeh, Alborz Traditional Restaurant, and kebab houses.
Dinner: Koohe Noor, Shandiz-style restaurants, and family-friendly eateries.
