Refik Restaurant was a

tavern A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food such as different types of roast meats and cheese, and (mostly historically) where travelers would receive lodging. An inn is a tavern that h ...

in Asmalı Mescit,

Beyoğlu Beyoğlu (, ota, بك‌اوغلی, script=Arab) is a district on the European side of İstanbul, Turkey, separated from the old city (historic peninsula of Constantinople) by the Golden Horn. It was known as the region of Pera (Πέρα, meani ...

, Turkey founded by Refik Arlslan (1923–2011) in 1954. Arslan ran the Refik for almost 70 years. The restaurant remained operational for some time after Refik Arslan died in 2011. Refik was known as "one of the last remaining 'real' tavern keepers". After his death it is noted that what used to be place of community changed into a generic for-profit restaurant, losing its magic. It eventually closed down in 2020.

Significance among poets

Refik had long been known as a place where many well known poets would frequent. These include

Refik Durbaş Refik Durbaş (10 February 1944, Pasinler – 1 December 2018, Istanbul), Turkish poet, journalist and writer. Life He was born in Erzurums Pasinler district. Graduated High School in İzmir. He left Istanbul University Literature Faculty Turk ...

, Bekir Sami Sertöz,

Özdemir Asaf Özdemir Asaf (11 June 1923, Ankara - 28 January 1981, Istanbul) was one of the prominent Turkish poets during the early Republican period. Biography Life He was born on 11 June 1923 in Ankara. His real name is Halit Özdemir Arun. His fa ...

Ferit Edgü Ferit is a Turkish spelling of the Arabic masculine given name Farid (Arabic: فَرِيد ''fariyd'', ''farīd'') meaning "unique, singular ("the One"), incomparable". The name is also found in Albania and Macedonia. People named Ferit include: ...

and

Tezer Özlü Tezer Özlü (10 September 1943 – 18 February 1986) was a Turkish writer. Biography She was born in Simav and spent her childhood there and in Ödemiş and Gerede, where her parents worked. She moved to Istanbul when she was 10 years old and ...

. The last two of whose correspondence regarding the tavern has been documented: The poet

would, as documented by fellow poet

, fill his table with whites. These include

rakı Rakı or raki (, Turkish pronunciation: ) is an alcoholic drink made of twice-distilled grapes. It is the national drink of Turkey. It is also popular in other Balkan countries as an Apéritif and digestif, apéritif as well as in Kazakhstan. I ...

mixed with water,

ayran Ayran, doogh, dhallë, daw, xynogala or tan is a cold savory yogurt-based beverage popular across Western Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, Southeastern Europe, North Asia and Eastern Europe. The principal ingredients are yogurt, water and salt. ...

yoghurt Yogurt (; , from tr, yoğurt, also spelled yoghurt, yogourt or yoghourt) is a food produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. The bacteria used to make yogurt are known as ''yogurt cultures''. Fermentation of sugars in the milk by these bact ...

feta cheese Feta ( el, φέτα, ) is a Greek brined white cheese made from sheep's milk or from a mixture of sheep and goat's milk. It is soft, with small or no holes, a compact touch, few cuts, and no skin. Crumbly with a slightly grainy texture, it is ...

and

cauliflower Cauliflower is one of several vegetables in the species ''Brassica oleracea'' in the genus ''Brassica'', which is in the Brassicaceae (or mustard) family. It is an annual plant that reproduces by seed. Typically, only the head is eaten – the ...

. Als also people from other branches have been noted to have been there including

Gürdal Duyar Gürdal Duyar (20 August 1935 – 18 April 2004) was a Turkish people, Turkish sculptor, known especially for his monuments to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Atatürk and Bust (sculpture), busts of famous people. His art is characterized by a Modern scul ...

(sculptor).

References

Sources

* * * * * * *{{Cite web , author=Turizm Günlüğü , date=5 September 2020 , title=İstanbul'un en köklü meyhanelerinden Asmalımescit'teki Refik kapandı , url=https://www.turizmgunlugu.com/2020/09/05/istanbul-meyhane-asmalimescit-refik-kapandi/ , access-date=19 September 2020 , website=turizmgunlugu , ref={{sfnref, Turizm Günlüğü, 2020 1954 establishments in Turkey Restaurants in Istanbul Pubs Beyoğlu