Pubs in the Ottoman Empire

Pubs in the Ottoman Empire is about pubs ( Lisān-ı Osmānī : meyhâne / ميخانه ) and pub culture and history of pubs and taverns in the Ottoman Empire.

Pubs appeared first during the time of the Ottoman Empire and rapidly increased in popularity, becoming an institution that housed all kinds of people from different segments of society. In the beginning of the 1800's pubs in Istanbul numbered around 500.

"Tatar boza, fermented with opium and containing a lot of alcohol, has been one of the most important drinks in the Ottoman Empire for centuries, and it was only at the end of the 18th century that non-alcoholic sweet boza became widespread instead of sour boza."

During the reign of Selim the Grim alcohol consumption in the Ottoman Empire increased particularly and pub establishments started to appear more regularly as separate buildings built from masonry, with arched windows and doors and earth floors.

Historical descriptions
Renowned Ottoman journalist Basiretçi Ali Efendi (1838–1912) has described the Golden Horn coast and especially the pubs around Balat in the beginning of the 1800's.

Author Sadri Sema (1880–1964) describes the pub culture in Istanbul in the beginning of the 1900's as follows: