Tarihi Cumhuriyet Meyhanesi

The establishment date of Cumhuriyet Meyhanesi is not clear. But in 1923, like many businesses that existed in those years, the official establishment date was accepted in 1923, although it was older because it got the name “Republic”. Previously, Greeks operated but it was not known exactly who they were. Then he changed hands many times. In the 1940s, a person named Koço Efanduli started operating here. Koço Bey preserved the line he established in the early years of Cumhuriyet Meyhane. The venue continues to operate where it was first established. Currently, Ali Osman Karabay and Ali Şimşek operate. The Business Manager is Metin Danışman. Ali Şimşek has been in business for 40 years and Ali Osman Karabay has been a business partner for 20 years. Metin Bey has been working here for 18 years, his main profession is cooking. The place has three floors and there are chapters on the top floor every day. 100 kinds of appetisers are prepared daily. It is one of the rare places in Istanbul that serves as a tavern.

Three of the waiters at the service are named Ali. So they were called Three Ali’s and they have been here for 40 years. They even became the subject of the poetry of the poet Ece Ayhan’s Üç Ali. The venue was well known abroad. Since it is mentioned in foreign guides, it has many foreign customers.

Atatürk has a private table upstairs. This table was called table number 5. Atatürk drinks club rakı at this table, he eats a white roasted chickpea. They decorate his table every 10th of November in memory of Atatürk and offer the customers a white roasted chickpea. Football player Lefter, Melih Cevdet Anday were regular customers.