THE FIRST COFFEEHOUSE ON EARTH

Ottoman Coffeehouse is where specialty coffee finds its grand stage, a place where meticulous craft meets generous hospitality, all fueled by the kind of passion only independent owners can bring. This isn’t just coffee served in a big space; this is coffee culture, reimagined at its fullest expression.

The Revolution Began in 1554

In the winding streets of Istanbul, 1554 marked a revolution, not with swords, but with coffee beans. Here, the world's first coffeehouses emerged as vibrant hubs of rebellion, poetry, and chess matches that would shape empires. These weren't mere drinking spots, but cultural epicenters where ideas flowed as freely as the coffee itself.

Centuries later, that same revolutionary spirit found its way to Glasgow

In a world of hurried lattes, we’re reclaiming coffee as it was meant to be: slow, rich, and soul-stirring

A Dream Brewed to Perfection

Founded by two siblings united by their love of coffee, Ottoman Coffeehouse began with a simple but powerful dream: to create Glasgow's most soulful coffee sanctuary—a place where people could fall in love with coffee all over again.

The journey started in 2005 with a vision of a home away from home, where time slows and cultures connect. Drawn to Istanbul's rich coffee heritage, the birthplace of coffee's spread through the Ottoman Empire—the founders immersed themselves in the ancient art of brewing. They mastered the rituals of roasting, grinding and preparation exactly as intended: slow, deliberate, and full of soul.

After a decade of dedication, Ottoman Coffeehouse opened in 2015 as one of the UK's first specialty Turkish coffeehouses. Today, our Glasgow West End space stands as a cozy retreat—a place to sip, savor and find solace, carrying forward the same warmth and community that defined those revolutionary Istanbul coffeehouses centuries ago.

This is more than coffee. This is legacy in a cup.

Meet the Team