Iran’s Abbasi Is Middle East’s Most Beautiful Hotel: CNN

Here is CNN’s account of Abbasi Hotel and its ‘unique’ beauty:

Flick through almost any travel magazine these days and you’re bound to come across an article hailing Iran as the next big destination.

Prompting the spike in interest in the Islamic Republic is recent geopolitical wrangling in the shape of a nuclear deal with world powers that has ended some longstanding sanctions.

But while the country is trying to modernize its tourism industry in the face of increasing visitor numbers — 5.2 million came in 2016 and more are expected in 2017 — its more traditional offerings still have the potential to charm.

None more so than the Abbasi Hotel, an opulent if careworn establishment located in the ancient city of Isfahan.

It’s a place like no other.

Isfahan has its fair share of historical wonders (some which are UNESCO World Heritage sites), but in many ways the Abbasi has become a tourist attraction in its own right.

Built around 300 years ago, under the Safavid dynasty reign of Shah Sultan Hossein, it was originally used as a pit stop for merchants traveling the ancient Silk Road.

Uniquely and Beautifully Persian

The complex provided shelter not only for traders but also for the camels and horses they used to help transport their goods.

The years, decades and centuries that followed took their toll on the old caravanserai (during the early 1900s it was used as a military complex) and it started to fall into disrepair.

In the 1950s French archaeologist André Godard, working in Iran at the time, took it upon himself to fight for its restoration.

Soon after that, the Abbasi became what it is today: a 4-star hotel drenched in an ancient past.

The Abbasi may not have an abundance of modern amenities. There are no state-of-the-art gym or in-room cappuccino machines (although it does have great Wi-Fi), but that adds to its charm.

In a globalised and franchise-dominated world, the Abbasi is unique.

This hotel is all about atmosphere. Moreover, it’s uniquely Persian.

“I’d highly encourage anyone traveling to Iran to stay here as it’s an experience of a lifetime,” says general manager Jamal Zandi.

He’s not really exaggerating.

Hallways are lined with authentic miniature paintings, the ceiling of the lobby is finely detailed and the dining areas adorned with beautiful mirror work, glittering chandeliers, and exquisite colourful wall motifs often associated with romantic notions of “the orient.”

An array of emerald greens, jasmine blues and deep golds inevitably make visitors reach for their cameras as soon as they walk in.

The hotel has around 225 rooms, including 23 suites, and is divided between the hotel’s old wing and new wing.

Built in the 1970s, the rooms in the new wing are rather characterless — it seems that the re-creation of the hotel’s original look and feel was not a priority at the time of construction and the rooms are bland in colour and nondescript.

Guests who get to stay in the old wing, especially the Qajar and Safavid suites, are in for a treat. These rooms have been superbly restored and are decorated in an elegant traditional style without being overloaded.

At about $350 a night, they’re relatively pricey.

 

What really makes the Abbasi particularly special is its open-air courtyard.

It’s a large, beautiful, well-maintained Persian garden, complete with little fountains, brook-lined avenues, bright flower beds and quince-laden trees.

People spend their time drinking tea, reading a book or just hiding away from the hustle and bustle of the city in this oasis.

The courtyard restaurant is famous for an Iranian dish called Ash-e Reshteh, a thick type of noodle soup filled with all types of beans and herbs.

“Many Iranians think a visit to the Abbasi for its soup is an essential part of coming to Isfahan,” says Arian Aghamardi, a frequent guest at the hotel. “Nothing better to warm you up on a cold day.”

It was winter when CNN visited, yet the garden was still green and beautiful. It can only be more spectacular in the spring.

Times are clearly changing in Iran and new hotels are appearing on the scene.

While the US still has its sanctions in place, a situation unlikely to change under new President Donald Trump, hotel groups headquartered outside America have already started to move in.

The French Accor group became the first in 2016. Others are following, including the UAE’s Rotana and Spain’s Melia. It’s expected that by 2018 Iran will have six different international brands.

But anyone visiting Esfahan and staying elsewhere would be missing out if they didn’t at least stop by the Abbasi and take a look around.

It’s guaranteed to be one of the best memories of any stay in Iran.