Haj Ali Darvish Teahouse , The Smallest Teahouse in the World, Located in Tehran’s Bazaar

Coffee, as a food element, began to attract attention in the 13th century AD. With the growing popularity of coffee, places were gradually established where people could gather not only to drink coffee but also to socialize and spend time together. These places came to be known as coffeehouses (or “qahveh-khaneh” in Persian). As interest in coffee spread, coffeehouses expanded from European countries to other parts of the world, becoming common first in Eastern Europe and later in Asia. The introduction of coffee to Iran and the rise of its popularity are attributed to the Safavid period (16th century AD). From that time onward, coffeehouses began to appear in Iran, and a distinct tradition of coffeehouse management developed. Among Iran’s traditional coffeehouses, one of the most famous is the Haj Ali Darvish Teahouse in Tehran. In this historic establishment, there are long-standing customs and rules for serving guests that have been preserved for decades — so much so that one can say the coffeehouse culture of Haj Ali Darvish is unique to this very place.

This teahouse is located in the middle of the Goldsmiths’ Bazaar (No. 78) and covers a total area of only two square meters. Despite its tiny size, the Haj Ali Darvish Teahouse serves a variety of herbal and traditional drinks — from black and sour tea to thyme, cinnamon, and Turkish coffee. Customers are charged only a small amount for their drinks — sometimes so little that it hardly seems like a price at all. Yet, if someone cannot afford even that small fee, they are welcome to pay whatever they can. This is one of the long-standing rules of Haj Ali Darvish Teahouse!

On the other hand, some of the teahouse’s customers pay more than the listed price for their drinks. The extra money is used for charitable purposes, such as helping patients with special medical conditions and orphans. The regular patrons of the teahouse each have their own personal glass reserved just for them. The current owner, who inherited the business from his father and grandfather, has a special custom for welcoming foreign visitors: along with their tea or coffee, he presents them with a small gift and a Persian poem. The Haj Ali Darvish Teahouse has hosted guests from all five continents, and it has become a popular destination for tourists, often included in guided tours of the Tehran Bazaar. Yet, even without foreign tourists, there is always a crowd in front of the teahouse, as locals flock there to enjoy its delightful tea, coffee, and herbal infusions.

The founder of the Haj Ali Darvish Teahouse was a man named Haj Mohammad Hassan Shamshiri. Later, Ali Mahbooutian, who had originally worked there as an apprentice, purchased the teahouse and, in 1961 (1340 AH), renamed it “Haj Ali Darvish.” At that time, the teahouse was larger in size, but over the years, Haj Ali gradually sold parts of it, until only two square meters remained. Despite its shrinking space, the teahouse’s activity never diminished — in fact, its fame grew steadily, and it became even more popular and prosperous than before.