US$5 for a cup of instant coffee

I had an espresso in the Esteghlal Hotel coffee shop after breakfast. It cost 32,000 rials (rather expensive for Iran I thought) but what surprised me more was that Nescafe was listed at 45,000 rials - the most expensive coffee on the menu. Who would want to pay US$5 for a cup of instant coffee?

It is strange how in some countries Nescafe manages to position itself as a premium product. I'd seen the same in Oman a few years ago.

The Abbasi Hotel – a live-in museum

Mozaffary Gaz – a tasty nougat from Iran