Lonely Planet Review

Recently renovated and centrally located, just a block from the National Museum and Handicrafts Lane, Hotel Al-Madinah, or the City Hotel, is a good choice if you're looking for a decent level of comfort at a respectable price.

With its shiny new marble tiled floors and kitsch walls featuring the (fake) grey stone and black and beige horizontal stripes of Damascene buildings, the City Hotel is looking rather spiffy these days. The renovated rooms now come with fridge, satellite TV, and hairdryers, and have been decorated with inlaid mirrors, quilted brocade bedspreads and small desks, taking the comfort level up a notch from where it was previously. The bathrooms have very low ceilings, however, so those who 'shoot hoops' should approach with caution. The hotel is fantastically popular with Iranian tour groups which make themselves much at home, with food and families moving between rooms at all hours! Reception staff are friendly and speak English. A great alternative if the Afamia Hotel is full.