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Best Food in Shiraz (2026)
Begin your culinary journey at Haft Khan Restaurant, a popular chain in Shiraz with multiple locations including one on Qasr-e Dasht Street. They serve traditional Persian dishesβ¦ π½οΈ Where to Start
Begin your culinary journey at Haft Khan Restaurant, a popular chain in Shiraz with multiple locations including one on Qasr-e Dasht Street. They serve traditional Persian dishes like kebabs and stews in a modern setting, with main courses ranging from 200,000 to 500,000 IRR.
π Must-Try Dishes
Shiraz is famous for Kalam Polo, a rice dish with cabbage and herbs, and Ash-e Sabzi, a hearty herb soup. For the best Kalam Polo, visit Sharzeh Restaurant near the Vakil Bazaar, where a portion costs around 150,000 IRR.
π₯ Street Food Stalls
Head to the Vakil Bazaar for street food like Faloodeh Shirazi, a frozen vermicelli dessert with rose water and lemon juice. Look for stalls near the entrance of the bazaar, where a bowl costs about 50,000 IRR.
π’ Kebab Specialties
For authentic kebabs, visit Rezvan Restaurant on Zand Street, known for its juicy Koobideh and Barg. A full meal with rice and grilled tomatoes costs around 300,000 IRR per person.
π΅ Tea and Sweets
Experience Persian tea culture at the traditional tea house inside the Narenjestan-e Ghavam garden. Pair your tea with Yazdi cake or Baklava from nearby Haji Mirza confectionery, where sweets start at 80,000 IRR per piece.
π Best Evening Spots
For dinner with a view, try the rooftop restaurant at the Pars International Hotel on Zand Street, offering classic Persian dishes and a panorama of the city. Reservations are recommended, and mains range from 400,000 to 800,000 IRR.
π° Local Prices
Dining in Shiraz is affordable: a budget meal at a local eatery costs 100,000 to 200,000 IRR, while a mid-range restaurant meal is 300,000 to 600,000 IRR. Tipping is not mandatory but rounding up the bill is appreciated.
πΆ Getting Around
Most food spots are concentrated in the city center near the Vakil Bazaar and Zand Street, easily walkable. For farther restaurants, use ride-hailing apps like Snapp or Tap30, which cost around 50,000 to 100,000 IRR per trip within the city.
Good to see the guide mention Sharzeh for Kalam Polo, that place has been around for decades and the family running it keeps the recipe consistent. One thing I'd add is to go there for lunch rather than dinner, they run out of the cabbage rolls by early evening most days. I learned that the hard way when I showed up at 8 pm and they only had plain rice left.
The guide's price estimates feel a bit on the high side for local spots. A proper lunch at a place like Hezardestan on Zand Street with two kebabs, rice, and doogh runs closer to 250,000 IRR, not the 300,000 to 600,000 they list for mid-range. Tourists often get charged more near the bazaar, so walk a block or two away from the main square and the prices drop noticeably.
the guide mentions faloodeh near vakil bazaar but honestly the best one is from a tiny shop called faloodeh hafez on ghasr dasht street near hafez's tomb. they make it fresh with real lime juice instead of sour cherry syrup and the texture is way better, not icy at all. about 60,000 IRR for a bowl and they serve it with a dollop of saffron ice cream if you ask
one thing that's totally missing here is the kalaneh sandwich shops near the university on molla sadra street. these are giant stuffed flatbreads with sausage, egg, cheese, and herbs, grilled right in front of you. perfect late night food after walking around the gardens, around 120,000 IRR and easily enough for two people
also worth noting that most of these restaurants close for a few hours in the afternoon, like 2 to 5 or 6 pm. it's not always listed online so plan your lunch early or you'll end up eating packaged cookies from a convenience store like i did my first day
I have to say the Haji Mirza recommendation for sweets is spot on. I always stop there for their baghlava, but the real hidden gem is their sonnati pastry with cardamom. It's not on the main display counter so you have to ask for it, usually around 90,000 IRR a piece.
One thing the guide doesn't mention is the food court at the Hafez Mall on Chamran Boulevard. It's not fancy but the dizi there is excellent and only about 180,000 IRR. They bring you a mortar and pestle to mash the meat and potatoes yourself, which is half the fun. The view of the city from the upper floor seating is a nice bonus.
If you want something truly local for breakfast, skip the hotel buffet and head to a traditional nanvai on Lotf Ali Khan Zand Street. Fresh barbari bread straight from the oven with paneer and fresh mint costs maybe 40,000 IRR total. The baker will usually offer you a free taste of the bread if you ask nicely.
3 Days in Shiraz: Itinerary 2026
Start your morning at the Nasir al-Mulk Mosque (Pink Mosque), located at Lotfali Khan Zand Street. Arrive by 7:30 AM to catch the stained glass light show. From there, waβ¦ πΊοΈ Day 1: Historical Core
Start your morning at the Nasir al-Mulk Mosque (Pink Mosque), located at Lotfali Khan Zand Street. Arrive by 7:30 AM to catch the stained glass light show. From there, walk 10 minutes to the Narenjestan-e Ghavam (Qavam House) at 9 AM, then head to the Vakil Complex (mosque, bazaar, bathhouse) nearby.
π½οΈ Lunch in Vakil Bazaar
For a quick lunch, try the traditional dizi (meat stew) at Saraye-e Mehr in Vakil Bazaar, around 50,000-80,000 IRR per person. After eating, explore the bazaar's carpet and spice sections. The bazaar is open 9 AM to 9 PM, but shops close for Friday prayers.
πΉ Afternoon: Gardens and Poetry
Take a 15-minute taxi (about 100,000 IRR) to Eram Garden, a UNESCO site with stunning cypress trees and a historic mansion. Spend an hour there, then walk 20 minutes to Hafez's Tomb (Hafezieh). The tomb complex is open until 9 PM and costs 200,000 IRR for foreigners.
π Evening: Vakil Bazaar Area
Return to the Vakil area for dinner at Haft Khan Restaurant (Khalili Street), serving Persian classics like kebabs and stews. Afterward, stroll through the beautifully lit Vakil Bazaar and the nearby Vakil Mosque. The bazaar stays lively until 10 PM.
ποΈ Day 2: Persepolis and Necropolis
Hire a taxi for the full day (around 2,000,000 IRR) or join a group tour. Leave Shiraz by 8 AM for the 1-hour drive to Persepolis (open 8 AM to 5 PM, entrance 500,000 IRR). Spend 2-3 hours there, then drive 15 minutes to Naqsh-e Rostam (Necropolis) to see royal tombs and reliefs.
π² Lunch Near Persepolis
Eat at the Persepolis Restaurant just outside the site, offering set lunches for about 150,000 IRR. Try the local specialty, kalam polo (cabbage rice with meatballs). After lunch, visit the nearby Persepolis Museum (included in the ticket) for artifacts.
πΏ Afternoon: Return and Relax
Drive back to Shiraz by 3 PM and head to the Tomb of Saadi (Saadieh) in the northeast. The garden tomb is open until 8 PM and costs 150,000 IRR. Spend an hour here, then take a taxi (50,000 IRR) to the Quran Gate (Darvazeh-e Quran) for sunset views over the city.
π Evening: Cultural Performance
For dinner, visit the traditional restaurant Shater Abbas (Lotfali Khan Zand Street), known for its live music and Persian ambiance. Afterward, catch a performance at the Hafez Hall or the Shiraz Art House, both near the city center. Check schedules in advance.
π Day 3: Shah Cheragh and More
Start at Shah Cheragh Holy Shrine (Ahmad ibn Musa Street), a dazzling mosque with mirror work. Non-Muslims can enter from 8 AM to 12 PM and 2 PM to 5 PM; dress modestly. Then walk 10 minutes to the Pars Museum (Nazar Garden), a small museum with artifacts from the Zand era.
π§ Lunch and Sweet Treats
Have lunch at the popular cafe Faloodeh-e Shirazi (Hafez Street), famous for its faloodeh (frozen noodle dessert). A bowl costs about 30,000 IRR. Afterward, visit the nearby Moshir al-Molk Caravanserai, now a handicraft market, open until 8 PM.
π Afternoon: Khajoo and Departure
In the late afternoon, visit the Khajoo Bridge (Pol-e Khajoo) on the Khoshk River, a beautiful Safavid-era bridge with stone platforms. Spend 30 minutes here, then head to the airport or bus terminal. Taxis to the airport cost around 150,000 IRR and take 20 minutes.
honestly this is a solid itinerary, you've covered the big ones well. one thing i'd add is that the timing for shah cheragh can be tricky - the morning slot is way less crowded but the mirrorwork hits different in the late afternoon when the sun streams through those windows, around 3:30-4pm. also, if you're up for it, skip the persepolis restaurant lunch and grab a kalam polo from one of the stalls near the entrance instead, it's about half the price and tastes more authentic imo
for day 3, consider swapping the pars museum for a quick stop at the arg of karim khan if you have time - it's literally a 5 minute walk from the vakil complex and gives you a good feel for the zand dynasty's scale without the museum fee. the courtyard there is usually empty and has nice shade for a break
one thing you didn't mention that's worth checking: the nasir al-mulk mosque gets packed by 8am so arriving at 7:30 is smart, but the light show is really best around 8:15-8:30 when the sun is higher. you can sit in the prayer hall and watch the colors shift for a good 20 minutes before the tour groups roll in
the itinerary's solid, covers the essentials without being too rushed. one thing i'd tweak is day 2's lunch - skip the persepolis restaurant entirely and grab a kalam polo from the stalls near the entrance. they're tiny places with plastic chairs but the cabbage rice is way better, about 70,000 IRR, and the lady running the one on the left side usually throws in extra bread if you smile.
for day 1, if you're at the pink mosque by 7:30, you'll have it mostly to yourself until 8. the light shifts fastest between 8 and 8:30, so don't leave right away. sit in the far corner of the prayer hall near the eastern wall, that's where the stained glass hits the carpet in overlapping colors.
on day 3, the faloodeh at faloodeh-e shirazi is good but the original shop on lotfali khan zand street near the vakil complex is better. it's a hole in the wall with no sign in english, just a green awning. get the saffron faloodeh with extra lemon juice, they mix it right at the counter.
I've done this route a few times and the itinerary is spot on, but I'd suggest swapping the Pars Museum on day 3 for a walk through the Vakil Bathhouse instead. It's already part of the complex you're near, and the wax figures and architecture give you a real sense of how people lived back then, plus it's included in the same ticket as the mosque and bazaar.
For the evening on day 1, if you're not set on Haft Khan, try the little dizi joint called Dizi Sara right inside Vakil Bazaar's Saraye-e Mehr. It's nothing fancy, just a few tables, but the owner lets you mash the stew yourself with the pestle, and it's maybe 30,000 IRR cheaper than the sit-down places. The bread there is fresh off the tandoor too.
One thing that's easy to miss: the Quran Gate at sunset is nice, but the real trick is to walk up the hill behind it, about five minutes past the gate. There's a small park with benches where locals hang out, and you get a clear view of the whole city lighting up without the crowds. Bring a water bottle, it's a bit of a climb.