Koltuk Meyhane!

For 400 years, Istanbul had more illegal meyhanes than legal ones. Koltuk meyhanesi literally means “armchair tavern.” But there were no armchairs. Only high counters where you rested your elbow, drank standing, and avoided attention.On February 28th, we revive that tradition in Borgergade! Ümit Yılmaz’s upholstery studio, where Scandinavian furniture has been restored for 25 years, becomes an Armchair Meyhane for one afternoon.Gözde Aydın will cook Istanbul street food, served directly on the workshop tables. The finest Turkish rakı and some Turkish and Georgian wines with interesting stories will be on the table.Mine Burçkin’s artworks placed around the space, works that, when you spend enough time with them, quietly open a small portal to different places and times across the Mediterranean.20 people. Standing mostly. Kind of hidden. A tribute to craftsmanship and to the spaces where good work happens, and memory. By the way, Karayagini is a rebetiko trio from Copenhagen, and they will visit us. The menu is below, and we are looking forward to see you!