Updated November 2026 All four restaurants in this guide are still listed by vegetarian directory HappyCow; we have added area details and links to our newer vegan guide.
The best vegetarian restaurants in Tehran prove that Iranian food is not all about kebabs. Persian cooking has always been rich in herbs, pulses, rice, aubergine and yoghurt, and over the past decade a handful of dedicated vegetarian and vegan kitchens have opened across the city, alongside cafés with good meat-free menus. Here are our favourites, from a garden villa in Pasdaran to the original vegetarian canteen downtown.
Ananda Vegetarian Restaurant, Pasdaran
Ananda occupies a restored old villa off Pasdaran Street in north-east Tehran, with tables set out in a calm, leafy garden that feels a world away from the traffic outside. The menu is entirely meat-free and generous enough to win over committed carnivores, with a mix of Iranian and international dishes, salads, soups and healthy drinks. It is a lovely spot for a long lunch in spring or autumn, when the garden is at its best.
Pure Vegetarian Cuisine, A.S.P. Towers
At the foot of the A.S.P. Towers beside the Kordestan Expressway, Pure takes its cue from European, and especially French, cooking. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner from a long menu, so it works equally well for a weekend brunch or an evening meal. If you are trying to persuade sceptical friends that vegetarian food can be a treat, this is a good place to start.
Iranian Artists Forum Vegetarian Restaurant, downtown
Inside the Iranian Artists Forum (Khaneh-ye Honarmandan) in Artists’ Park on Iranshahr Street, this was Tehran’s first vegetarian-only restaurant and is still one of the most popular. The atmosphere is relaxed and arty, the prices are reasonable, and the menu ranges from Iranian stews to pizza. Combine a meal with a look round the forum’s galleries, or a walk in the park, which is one of the more pleasant green spaces in central Tehran.
Agor Café, Enqelab Street
Agor is not strictly vegetarian, but it is a good choice for mixed groups. The café on Enqelab Street has a modern, international look and a menu that borrows from several cuisines, with clearly vegetarian and vegan options alongside the meat dishes, so nobody has to compromise.
More meat-free options
Tehran’s vegan scene has grown since this guide was first written; see our guide to vegan restaurants in Tehran for more places, including Zamin in Shahrak-e Gharb and Mehr Mitra. If you are eating out with meat lovers, the city’s Indian restaurants are another safe bet, as most have a long list of vegetarian curries and dals.
Even in ordinary Iranian restaurants, there is usually something you can eat: kashk-e bademjan (aubergine with whey), mirza ghasemi (smoky aubergine with egg and garlic), kuku sabzi (herb frittata), salad shirazi and plenty of rice and bread. Do ask, though, as many stews and rice dishes are cooked with meat stock even when no meat is visible. Restaurants in Tehran come and go quickly, so check a place’s Instagram page or call before making a special trip.
Learn the Persian: Persia Learning’s lesson on food, cafés and restaurants shows you how to order and how to thank the cook. Try the first lesson free →
