Cafe 78

Cafe 78 sits on Karim Khan Zand Avenue near Aban Street in central Tehran, in a district known for galleries, bookshops, and cultural institutions. Open since 2003, it is widely credited among Tehran's cafe scene as an early mover in reviving Persian herbal tea culture, building a menu around infusions and traditional blends well before the current wave of specialty cafes appeared across the city. The crowd is largely drawn from Tehran's artistic and literary community: writers, designers, students from nearby art programs, and regulars who treat the cafe as a workspace as much as a social stop, giving it a relaxed, low-key atmosphere rather than a loud or performative one. Dress is casual, and the age range spans university students through middle-aged regulars. No alcohol is served, in keeping with Iranian law; the drinks program instead runs on herbal tea blends, Persian black tea, and coffee, with light snacks and pastries to accompany them. There is no formal music program; the space favors quiet conversation over any programmed soundtrack, sometimes with soft instrumental music in the background. Cafe 78 keeps daytime and early-evening hours, open roughly 9:00 to 23:00 daily, with little difference between weeknights and weekends beyond a slightly later, more social crowd on weekend evenings. There is no cover charge, no bottle service, and reservations are not typically required, though the cafe's modest size means tables can be scarce during peak afternoon and early-evening hours. It suits visitors looking for a cultural, conversational stop in central Tehran rather than a high-energy night out.