Lonely Planet Review

Right in the centre of the city, the Atlas is a solid, good-value mid-range hotel that inspires regular good reports. Set around an inner courtyard, rooms here are large and service is better than average. Taleqani St is pretty busy, however, so it's vital to get the right room.

You need to insist on a room in the newer five-storey building at the rear of the block and thus far from the madding traffic. Rooms here are far superior to the older rooms. They're big, bright, quiet, tastefully decorated and reasonably well fitted out, including BBC on the TV. Some come with double beds and balconies overlooking the courtyard. The Atlas does have some weird rules, including one pinned on a wall in reception: 'using of electrical equipment in your room is prohibited'. When asked, they assured us it was okay to recharge mobile phones and use electric razors, but they claim you won't be able to get online (the hotel has a relatively pricey internet cafe near reception). While the Atlas is very central, this part of town doesn't have a huge number of non-hotel eating options. Food in the hotel's Indian/Pakistani/Iranian restaurant is pretty good, however.