The D Project Cafe

What The D Project Cafe does

The D Project Cafe (پروژه د) is a privately operated specialty coffee and casual dining chain based in Tehran, Iran, founded in 2019. The company runs two physical cafe branches — the Sima-ye Iran branch in Shahrak-e Gharb (opened 2021) and the Fereshteh branch in the Royal Address Complex (opened 2023) — and previously operated a third Niavaran branch that closed in 2021. Each branch serves a menu of specialty coffees (espresso-based drinks, V60, Chemex, French Press, AeroPress, Kalita), matcha beverages, cold drinks, shakes, teas, breakfast items, main courses (burgers, pasta, tacos, focaccia, ciabatta sandwiches), and desserts, priced in Iranian Toman.

The business operates an event-driven go-to-market model anchored on cultural programming: rotating art exhibitions featuring Iranian artists such as Iman Kazemian and Alireza Amadi, pottery workshops run with professional ceramicists, the Darcheh recurring event series (every ten days), and the Green Transportation campaign launched in 2019 that offers free coffee rewards to cyclists and runners on Tuesdays and Fridays. Revenue is generated almost entirely through one-time in-store food and beverage transactions at the two branches, with marketing concentrated on Instagram (the_d_project_cafe) and word-of-mouth from experiential programming. There is no proprietary digital platform, AI/ML layer, or franchising model disclosed.

The company employs approximately 8 staff across roles that include barista, chef, hall, host, finance, and operations functions, and owns no disclosed subsidiaries, no external funding rounds, and no patents or trademarks. Ownership structure is undisclosed. Customer segments are predominantly urban professionals, young adults in upscale Tehran neighborhoods, and art/culture enthusiasts seeking differentiated cafe environments.

Name

The D Project Cafe

Legal name

The D Project Cafe (پروژه د)

Website

https://thedproject.ir

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The D Project Cafe is a privately operated specialty coffee and dining chain in Tehran, Iran, running two physical branches (Fereshteh and Shahrak-e Gharb) that serve specialty coffees, food, and desserts alongside art exhibitions, pottery workshops, and community events targeting urban professionals and culture enthusiasts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee Shops

NAICS

Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (722515)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave) (THAFADAA)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee shop
• Cafe dining services
• Art exhibitions cafe
• Specialty coffee beverages
• Bakery desserts

Headquarters

HQ city

Tehran

HQ country

Iran

HQ region

Middle East

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Food and Beverage Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling specialty coffees, hot and cold beverages, breakfast items, main courses, and desserts at two physical cafe locations in Tehran.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The D Project Cafe is a specialty coffee shop and cafe chain operating two physical branches in Tehran, Iran. The Fereshteh branch (opened 2023) is located in the Royal Address Complex, and the Shahrak branch (opened 2021) is in the Sima-ye Iran area. The cafes serve specialty coffees prepared through multiple brewing methods, breakfast items, main courses, desserts, and host cultural events including art exhibitions, pottery workshops, and the Green Transportation community campaign.

Product overview

The D Project Cafe is a specialty coffee and dining establishment in Tehran, Iran, operating two branches: Fereshteh (opened 2023 in Royal Address Complex) and Shahrak (opened 2021 in Sima-ye Iran). The cafe offers a diverse menu featuring specialty coffees prepared through various methods (espresso, V60, Chemex, French Press, AeroPress, Kalita), matcha beverages, cold drinks, shakes, teas, breakfast items, main courses (burgers, pasta, tacos, focaccia), and desserts. Beyond dining, the cafe hosts cultural events including pottery workshops and art exhibitions featuring Iranian artists, and runs the Green Transportation initiative offering free coffee to cyclists and runners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Darcheh (دریچه): An event series that opens every ten days to introduce new flavors, sounds, and stories that make life more colorful. Each installment offers a unique coffee combo experience.

Products and services

• Specialty Coffee and Beverages Specialty coffees and beverages served at the cafe, including espressos, lattes, brewed coffee via various methods, matcha bar drinks, cold drinks, shakes, frappes, and teas, prepared by skilled baristas for individual consumers.
• Fereshteh Branch Menu Full food menu at the Fereshteh branch including breakfast items (omelettes, benedict, scrambled eggs, toasts), starters and salads, main courses (burgers, pasta, tacos, steaks), desserts, and various beverages, priced 300-1400 Toman.
• Shahrak Branch Menu Menu at the Shahrak branch featuring breakfast items, afternoon dishes (focaccia, lasagna), specialty coffee, brewed coffee, matcha bar, D Science beverages, cold drinks, teas, and sweets, with focus on bakery items and fresh desserts.
• Pottery Workshops Artistic events where participants learn pottery basics, knead clay, and create their own ceramic pieces in collaboration with professional ceramic artists, targeted at art and culture enthusiasts.
• Green Transportation Campaign Environmental community initiative offering free coffee to cyclists and runners on Tuesdays and Fridays, with bonus menu items based on points earned from deliveries, rewarding sustainable transportation choices.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Costa Coffee: UK-based international coffee chain with Middle East franchise operations. Comparable as a branded specialty coffee cafe operator serving urban professionals in modern, design-led environments.
• Illy (Iran distribution): Global Italian espresso brand with food-service distribution in Iran. Comparable as a premium coffee supplier competing for the same upscale cafe and restaurant customers in Tehran.
• Lavazza (Iran operations): Italian coffee major with distribution and licensed cafe presence across the Middle East including Iran. Comparable as a premium coffee brand available in Tehran's cafe and retail channels.

Emerging players

• Tim Hortons Iran: Canadian coffee chain franchise in Iran via regional partner. Comparable as an expanding branded cafe concept targeting Tehran's middle-class coffee consumers with extended menus beyond coffee.
• Dige Coffee: Iranian specialty coffee roaster and cafe brand operating in Tehran. Comparable as an emerging third-wave competitor pursuing similar specialty coffee positioning and cafe-retail expansion.

Direct peers

• Boncafé Iran: Iranian franchise operator of the Boncafé Italian coffee brand with cafe locations in Tehran. Direct competitor in the branded specialty coffee cafe segment.
• Caffè Pascucci Iran: Iranian franchise of Italian coffee chain Caffè Pascucci operating multiple cafes in Tehran. Competes for the same specialty espresso customer with similar Western-style cafe environments.
• Coffee Naderi: Historic Tehran coffee shop and roaster founded in 1958. Comparable as a Tehran-based specialty coffee destination with a strong cultural brand identity and cafe-retail format.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/the_d_project_cafe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-d-project-cafe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The D Project Cafe