Refik Restaurant

Refik Restaurant was a tavern in Asmalı Mescit, Beyoğlu, Turkey founded by Refik Arlslan (1923–2011) in 1954.

Refik Meyhanesi
Restaurant information
Established1954 (1954)
Closed2020 (2020)
Owner(s)Adopted children of Refik Arslan
Previous owner(s)Refik Arslan (1954–2011)
Street addressAsmalı Mescit, Sofyalı Sk. No:7, 34430 Beyoğlu/İstanbul
CityIstanbul
Coordinates41.0297640203473°N 28.974491940918377°E / 41.0297640203473; 28.974491940918377

Arslan ran the Refik for almost 70 years.[1] The restaurant remained operational for some time after Refik Arslan died in 2011.[2] 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.[3] It eventually closed down in 2020.[1]

Significance among poets

Refik had long been known as a place where many well known poets would frequent. These include Refik Durbaş, Bekir Sami Sertöz, Özdemir Asaf,[4] Ferit Edgü and Tezer Özlü. The last two of whose correspondence regarding the tavern has been documented:[5]

Boğaz tepelerini, Asmalımescit'i, Refik Lokantası'nı ne kadar düşündüm ilk günlerde. Ama mektubun bana çok güç verdi, dünyayı gene kendi elimde sıkılacak bir limon gibi görmeye başladım… Sessiz sakin, ruhsuz insanlar (Zürich için). İstanbul'da ne var, ne yok? Beyoğlu doludur. İstanbul'a gelir gelmez Refik'e gideceğim…
How much I thought about the Bosphorus hills, Asmalımescit and Refik Restaurant in the first days. But your letter gave me a lot of strength, I started to see the world again like a lemon to be squeezed in my own hands... Quiet, soulless people (for Zurich). What's going on in Istanbul ? Beyoğlu is probably full. As soon as I come to Istanbul, I will go to Refik…

— Tezer Özlü[5]

The poet Özdemir Asaf would, as documented by fellow poet Refik Durbaş, fill his table with whites. These include rakı mixed with water, ayran or yoghurt, feta cheese and cauliflower.[4]

Als also people from other branches have been noted to have been there including Gürdal Duyar (sculptor).[4]

References
  1. Turizm Günlüğü 2020.
  2. ÖZKARTAL 2011.
  3. Milor 2018.
  4. Durbaş 2002.
  5. Özlü & Edgü 2010.

Sources
  • ÖZKARTAL, MİRAÇ ZEYNEP (17 July 2011). "İstanbul Refik'ini kaybetti". Milliyet (in Turkish). Milliyet. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  • Durbaş, Refik (31 January 2002). "SABAH - Türkiye'nin en iyi gazetesi". arsiv.sabah.com.tr. Sabah. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  • Özlü, Tezer; Edgü, Ferit (2010). "Her Şeyin Sonundayım". İstiklal Senin (in Turkish). Sel Yayıncılık. pp. 46, 71. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  • "Refik Meyhanesi, Beyoğlu, İstanbul - Nerde.co | Eğlence, Kültür ve Sanat Keşif Platformu". Nerde.co (in Turkish). Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  • Milor, Vedat (22 June 2018). "Yaşam stili meyhane ve Refik". Cumartesi. hurriyet.com.tr (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  • "İstiklal Senin - Mekanlar: Refik Meyhanesi". İstiklal Senin (in Turkish). Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  • Turizm Günlüğü (5 September 2020). "İstanbul'un en köklü meyhanelerinden Asmalımescit'teki Refik kapandı". turizmgunlugu. Retrieved 19 September 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
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