Last checked: 3 November 2026. North Tehran is where the city’s café culture is busiest, from the lanes around Tajrish Square up to the gardens of Niavaran and Velenjak. Cafés here open and close quickly, so this guide only includes places we could confirm were still operating in 2025–26 from at least two separate, recent sources. Each entry gives the address in Persian script to show a taxi driver, the nearest metro station where there is one, and opening hours.
If you are new to Tehran, our guides to the cost of living and getting a local SIM will help, as will a few phrases from our free Learn Persian course.
At a glance
| Café | Area | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Lamiz Coffee | Tajrish | An early coffee before the bazaar |
| Hug Café Gallery | Niavaran | Art, exhibitions and events |
| Chai Bar | Andarzgoo | Persian tea in a garden |
| Sam Café | Fereshteh | Freshly roasted coffee, working on a laptop |
| Em Café | Fereshteh | Vegan options, private room |
| Local Café | Velenjak | Long lunches and afternoon tea |
| V Café | Gholhak | Specialty espresso near the metro |
| Roberto Café | Pasdaran | Breakfast and home-made pastries |
| Sunset Café | Saadat Abad | City views late into the night |
| Rock Café | Shahrak-e Gharb | Live music and football |
| Renaissance | Shahrak-e Gharb | Breakfast through to a late dinner |
Tajrish and Niavaran
Lamiz Coffee, Tajrish قهوه لمیز
Lamiz is one of Iran’s biggest home-grown coffee chains, and its Tajrish branch sits a few steps from Tajrish Square, which makes it a convenient first stop before the bazaar or the walk up towards Darband. It opens early, serves breakfast and stays open without a break until late evening.
| Address | No. 6, start of Saadabad (Maleki) Street, Tajrish Square |
|---|---|
| For your driver | میدان تجریش، ابتدای خیابان سعدآباد (ملکی)، پلاک ۶ |
| Metro | Tajrish (Line 1), about five minutes’ walk |
| Hours | Daily, from about 07:30 to 23:30 |
| Phone | 021 2270 8061 |
| Online | Instagram @lamizcoffee · lamizcoffee.com |
Hug Café Gallery, Niavaran کافه گالری هاگ
Part café, part art space: Hug combines a gallery and painting studio with a dining room, and its calendar of exhibitions, concerts, talks and book launches makes it one of the more cultural stops in the north of the city. The menu runs from pasta and sandwiches to cakes and ice cream, and the tables are generously spaced.
| Address | Omidvar Street, corner of 15th Alley, Niavaran |
|---|---|
| For your driver | نیاوران، خیابان امیدوار، نبش کوچه پانزدهم |
| Metro | None nearby; take a taxi or Snapp |
| Hours | Daily, 08:00 to midnight |
| Phone | 021 2612 1280 |
| Online | Instagram @hugcafegallery · hug-cafe.com |
Elahiyeh, Fereshteh and Andarzgoo
Chai Bar کافه چای‌بار
As the name suggests, tea is the point here: Chai Bar serves a long list of traditional Persian teas in a tree-shaded garden, with seating inside and out. Breakfast is served until noon, and the café also hosts live music and book readings. It is worth phoning ahead to book at busy times.
| Address | No. 145, North Salimi Street, off Andarzgoo Boulevard |
|---|---|
| For your driver | بلوار اندرزگو، خیابان سلیمی شمالی، پلاک ۱۴۵ |
| Metro | None nearby |
| Hours | Daily, 09:30 to about 23:00 |
| Phone | 021 2221 0311 |
| Online | Instagram @chaibartehran |
Sam Café, Fereshteh سام کافه
Sam roasts its own coffee and sells beans and brewing kit alongside the drinks, so this is a good place to stock up as well as sit down. The Fereshteh branch is inside the Sam Center shopping centre and is a popular choice for working on a laptop, with pastries, cookies and toast on the menu. There are further branches in Vanak and Shahrak-e Gharb. See also our round-up of Tehran’s coffee roasteries.
| Address | Sam Center, No. 106 Fereshteh Street |
|---|---|
| For your driver | خیابان فرشته، مجتمع تجاری سام سنتر، پلاک ۱۰۶ |
| Metro | None nearby; the closest public transport is the Afshar BRT stop on Valiasr Street |
| Hours | Daily, 07:30 to 23:00 |
| Phone | 021 2265 3842 |
| Online | Instagram @samcoffeeroasters · samcoffeeroasters.com |
Em Café, Fereshteh اِم کافه
A high-ceilinged café on a side street off Fereshteh, with vegan dishes on the menu and a private room for small groups. It has paid parking in the building, which is rare in this part of town, but expect a queue on evenings and weekends.
| Address | No. 21, Aghabozorgi Street, Fereshteh |
|---|---|
| For your driver | فرشته، خیابان آقابزرگی، پلاک ۲۱ |
| Metro | None nearby |
| Hours | Daily, 08:00 to 23:30 |
| Phone | 021 2637 2792 |
| Online | Instagram @emcafe.ir |
Velenjak
Local Café, Velenjak کافه لوکال ولنجک
Local is an all-day café in a garden-style setting at the top of the city, serving everything from breakfast and lunch to afternoon tea and dinner. The menu covers burgers, pasta and salads, with vegetarian options, cakes, smoothies and fresh juices.
Local Café may have moved within Velenjak recently, so phone ahead to confirm the address before you go.
| Address | End of Daneshjoo Boulevard, Daneshgah Square, Velenjak (phone to confirm) |
|---|---|
| For your driver | ولنجک، میدان دانشگاه، انتهای بلوار دانشجو |
| Metro | None nearby |
| Hours | Daily, from late morning until about midnight |
| Phone | 021 2218 0510 |
| Online | Instagram @localcafe.velenjak |
Gholhak and Pasdaran
V Café, Gholhak وی کافه
V Café serves both everyday and specialty-grade espresso, which makes it a good choice if you want to compare the two, plus a breakfast menu, pizza, salads and desserts. The Gholhak branch is on the fifth floor of a building just off Shariati Street, close to the metro. Note that 10% tax is added to menu prices. The small chain also has branches in Pasdaran and on Felestin Street.
| Address | 5th floor, No. 6, Basiri Street, Gholhak junction, Shariati Street |
|---|---|
| For your driver | خیابان شریعتی، دوراهی قلهک، خیابان بصیری، پلاک ۶، طبقه ۵ |
| Metro | Gholhak (Line 1) |
| Hours | Daily, 08:30 to 23:00 |
| Phone | 021 2264 9561 |
| Online | Instagram @vcafe.tehran · vcafetehran.com |
Roberto Café, Pasdaran کافه روبرتو
Roberto bakes its own bread and pastries, and breakfast, including French toast, is the main draw. The interior is large and open, which suits groups. Pasdaran sits on the north-eastern edge of the area this guide covers.
| Address | No. 4, Boustan 2 Street, Pasdaran |
|---|---|
| For your driver | پاسداران، بوستان دوم، پلاک ۴ |
| Metro | Shahid Zeynoddin (Line 3) is the nearest station |
| Hours | From 09:00 to 22:30 |
| Phone | 021 2670 1830 |
| Online | Instagram @roberto.cafe |
Saadat Abad and Shahrak-e Gharb
Sunset Café, Espinas Palace Hotel کافه سان‌ست، هتل اسپیناس پالاس
The café at the Espinas Palace Hotel has a terrace looking out over the city towards the Alborz mountains, with seating inside and out. It is one of the few places in the north of the city that stays open until 2am, which makes it a useful late-night option.
| Address | Espinas Palace Hotel, 33rd Street, Abedi Street, Behrouz Square, Saadat Abad |
|---|---|
| For your driver | سعادت آباد، میدان بهروز، خیابان عابدی، خیابان سی و سوم، هتل اسپیناس پالاس |
| Metro | None nearby |
| Hours | Daily, 07:00 to 02:00 |
| Phone | 021 75675 (hotel) |
| Online | espinashotels.com |
Rock Café, Shahrak-e Gharb کافه راک
A rock-themed café that shows football matches and puts on live-music nights, with burgers, steaks and pizza alongside the coffee. It is more of a lively hangout than a quiet place to read.
| Address | No. 10, 21-Metri Golha Street (after Tohid 3), Darya Boulevard, Shahrak-e Gharb |
|---|---|
| For your driver | شهرک غرب، بلوار دریا، خیابان ۲۱ متری گل‌ها، بعد از توحید ۳، پلاک ۱۰ |
| Metro | None nearby |
| Hours | Daily, 08:00 to about midnight |
| Phone | 021 8836 9196 |
| Online | Instagram @cafe.rock · cafe-rock.com |
Renaissance Café-Restaurant کافه رستوران رنسانس
A café-restaurant on Dadman Boulevard that serves from breakfast time through to midnight, handy if you want one place for a morning coffee and a late dinner. It is close to Atieh Hospital, a useful landmark for drivers.
| Address | No. 41, Dadman Boulevard (after Atieh Hospital, between Boustan and Golestan), Shahrak-e Gharb |
|---|---|
| For your driver | شهرک غرب، بلوار دادمان، بعد از بیمارستان آتیه، بین بوستان و گلستان، پلاک ۴۱ |
| Metro | No station confirmed nearby; take a taxi or Snapp |
| Hours | 08:30 to midnight |
| Phone | 021 8856 5600 |
| Online | Instagram @renaissance_restaurant |
Tips for café-hopping in north Tehran
- Use Snapp or Tapsi. Most of these cafés are some way from the metro, and ride-hailing apps are cheap. Show the Persian address to your driver.
- Bring cash or a local card. Foreign cards do not work in Iran. See our exchange rate tracker for this week’s rates.
- Instagram is blocked in Iran, but most cafés still post their menus and opening hours there. You will need a way to reach it, or ask the café by phone. See our guide to social media in Iran.
- Check before you go. Opening hours change during Ramadan, Muharram and public holidays, and cafés are sometimes closed at short notice.
- Expect tax on the bill. Many cafés add around 10% tax, and some add a service charge.
Planning more of a day out? Combine a café with a walk in Darakeh or Darband, or browse all our cafés and restaurants.
Frequently asked questions
Which part of Tehran has the best cafés?
The north of the city, around Tajrish, Niavaran, Elahiyeh and Fereshteh, has the highest concentration of cafés, along with Saadat Abad and Shahrak-e Gharb in the north-west.
Can I work on a laptop in Tehran cafés?
Yes, many cafés welcome laptop users. In this guide, Sam Café is the most often recommended for working. Wi-Fi speeds vary, and international sites may be filtered.
Are there vegan options?
Em Café lists vegan dishes, and Local Café has vegetarian options. See also our guide to vegan restaurants in Tehran.
Which cafés are open late?
Sunset Café at the Espinas Palace Hotel is open until 2am. Hug Café Gallery and Renaissance stay open until midnight.
How do you check these cafés are open?
We only include cafés with at least two separate, recent signs that they are operating, such as up-to-date listings, recent reviews or the café’s own website. We recheck this guide regularly. If you find a café closed, please let us know.
