Istanbul Kahvehanesi

Istanbul Kahvehanesi, located adjacent to Istanbul Sanatları Çarşısı located within Cedid Mehmed Efendi Madrasa at historical Sultanahmet Square, is a Touring kuruluşudur.

Istanbul Kahvehanesi is intended to keep alive the Turkish culture, which occupied an important place in daily life, at a place reflecting the coffee house spirit dating back to Istanbul of Ottoman era which is in harmony of the historical texture of the area. Istanbul Kahvehanesi, with its presentation suitable for the nostalgic structure and coffee brewed slowly over coal fire, offers visitors of Sultanahmet Square an opportunity for resting and having a chat without getting away from the historical ambience.

Coffee houses that used to occupy an important place in day-to-day life of Istanbul retain their importance even today. It is known that coffee set foot in Ottoman soil in the 16th century through merchants. Peçevi history on coffee houses which are known to have a function different from its contemporary function tells that those stopping by coffee houses were poets, men of letters, people familiar with science and handicraft, not lowlifes of Istanbul. At every coffee house, social gatherings would occur, at some coffee houses, they would read books ad listen to books being read, and backgammon and chess would be played in the company of spectators whereas hearts would come together with newest ghazels and eulogies would be sung with great ecstasy. As coffee houses became widespread in Istanbul, they created a rapidly developing cultural accumulation environment, a place for socialization and a public space with people from various classes and differing levels of culture who came together at these places for the purpose of drinking coffee and having a chat with one another.

Sources indicate that, with minor differences, during the era of Solomon the Magnificent, in 1551 or 1554, at the neighborhood of “Taht-el Kal’a” which is known as Tahtakale today, two persons named Hakem of Aleppo and Şems of Damascus started two coffee houses in Istanbul. Then, their number increased and, throughout history of the city, they were divided into varieties based on their functional and societal values; i.e. Janissary Coffee Houses, Semaî Coffee Houses, Neighborhood Coffee Houses, Firefighter Coffee Houses. However, none of those coffee houses survived until today.

Istanbul Kahvehanesi today, serves for the purpose of keeping alive the ancient coffee house culture at Cedid Mehmed Efendi Madrasa. It offers a serene ambience where you can sip your coffee in its ambience just like old days, accompanied by some deep conversations, and set on a journey towards ancient coffee house culture. Istanbul Kahvehanesi hosts its guests wishing to experience the old coffee house culture or drink unrivalled Turkish coffee in cups with fine embroidery boasting beautiful colors as a tailor-made option.

Istanbul Kahvehanesi Working Hours: Every day of the week from 11.00 to 19.00