Dalan Art Gallery and Restaurant

Dalan Art Gallery and Restaurant occupies a 19th-century house at 12 Abovyan Street in the Kentron district of Yerevan, Armenia. The entrance is behind a gift shop, so the restaurant is slightly hidden from the street, and the building combines a dining space with a gallery upstairs. That mix makes it one of the more characterful places to eat in the centre, appealing to visitors interested in Yerevan's older architecture, which survives in only a few pockets of the otherwise Soviet-era and modern city. The cuisine is Armenian and the menu covers the traditional repertoire. Dishes include tolma, the wrapped vine leaves or vegetables; lahmajun, the thin flatbread topped with spiced minced meat; barbecue, grilled meats served in the usual Armenian style; ishli kufta, a stuffed meatball dish with a spiced filling in a bulgur shell; and ishkhan, the Sevan trout, a fish from Armenia's largest lake and a regional delicacy. Ishkhan is a local speciality that visitors rarely find outside Armenia. The atmosphere is quiet and cultured compared with the busy taverns of the centre, with art on view and a historic interior, and it suits couples, small groups and visitors who prefer a calmer meal. Dress is casual to smart-casual. Armenian wine and brandy complement the menu. Opening hours, phone number and price band are not listed here, so visitors should check locally before making a special trip, and should consider asking in the gift shop at the entrance. Because the venue is small and tied to an historic house, groups should arrange a table in advance wherever possible. The Abovyan Street address is close to Republic Square and the main museums, so the restaurant fits easily into a day of sightseeing in the centre.