Kafana (Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, pronounced [kafǎna]), kafeana (Macedonia), kavana (Croatia, IPA: [kaʋǎna]) are terms used in the former Yugoslav countries for a distinct type of local bistro which primarily serves alcoholic beverages and coffee (and occasionally light snacks), and which sometimes also has a live band.
The concept of a social gathering place for men to drink alcoholic beverages and coffee developed in Ottoman Turkey and spread to Southeast Europe with the extension of Ottoman dominion into the Balkans where it further evolved into the contemporary kafana.
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This distinct type of establishment is known by several slightly differing names depending on country and language:
The word itself, irrespective of regional differences, is derived from the Turkish kahvehane ("coffeehouse") which is in turn derived from the Persian term qahveh-khaneh (a compound of the Arabic qahve [coffee] and Persian khane [house]).
In the Republic of Macedonia, kafeana is sometimes confused with the more traditional meana, while the variant kafana (adopted from commercial Serbian folk-songs and popularized by domestic artists) may be used for the establishment described in this article; however, both terms are used interchangeably by some. Nowadays in Serbia, the term kafana is similarly used describe any informal eatery serving traditional cuisine, as well as some other classical kafana dishes like Wiener schnitzel.
In the days of 18th and early 19th century, running a kafana (then usually called mehana) was a family business, a craft, passed on from generation to generation.
As the Balkan cities grew in size and became more urbanized, kafana also shifted its focus a bit. Some started serving food and offering other enticements to potential customers since owners now had to compete with other similar establishments around the city. Most bigger towns and cities in this period had a Gradska kafana (City kafana) located in or around main square where the most affluent and important individuals of that city would come to see and be seen. Prices in this particular kafana would usually be higher compared to others around the city that didn't enjoy the privilege of such an exclusive location.
The concept of live music was introduced in the early 20th century by kafana owners looking to offer different kinds of entertainment to their guests. Naturally, in the absence of mass media these bands strictly had a local character and would only play folk music that was popular within a particular region where the city lies.
As the 20th century rolled on, Balkan cities saw waves upon waves of rural population coming in, especially after World War II, and kafane diversified accordingly. Some continued to uphold a higher standard of service, while others began to cater to newly arrived rural population that mostly found employment in factories and on construction sites.
This is when the term kafana slowly began to be associated with something undesirable and suitable only for lower classes of society. By the 1980s, term kafana became almost an insult and most owners would steer clear of calling their places by that name, preferring westernized terms like restaurant, cafe, bistro, coffee bar, and so on, instead. On the other hand, terms birtija, bircuz and krčma are also used to denote, usually rural or suburban, filthy kafane.
It is not quite clear when the term kafana became instantly synonymous with decay, sloth, pain, backwardness, sorrow, etc. all across former Yugoslavia, but it is safe to say it happened in the 1970s or 1980s. Pop culture played a significant part in this transformation. Massively popular folk singers began to emerge, spurred on by the expansion of radio and television, often using kafana themes in their songs. Since the connection between commercial folk and rural regressiveness was already well established, kafana, too, got a dodgy rap by extension.
Since 1960s, Yugoslav movies, (especially the "Black wave" movement) started depicting individuals from the margins of society. Run-down kafane would feature prominently in such stories. Socially relevant films like I Even Met Happy Gypsies, When Father Was Away on Business, Život je lep, Do You Remember Dolly Bell?, Specijalno vaspitanje, Kuduz, etc. all had memorable, dramatic scenes that take place in dilapidated rural or suburban kafana. Soon, a distinct cinematic stereotype appeared.
Kafana is a place where sad lovers cure their sorrows in alcohol and music, gamblers squander entire fortunes, husbands run away from mean wives while shady businessmen, corrupt local politicians and petty criminals do business. As in many other societies, kafana is mainly a male activity, and "honest" women dare only visit finer ones (usually in men's company).
As mentioned, it is a very frequent motif of late-20th century commercial folk songs, perhaps the most famous being "I tebe sam sit kafano" (I'm Sick of You, Kafana) by Haris Džinović, "Kafana je moja sudbina" (Kafana is My Destiny) by Toma Zdravković, and the ubiquitous "Čaše lomim" (Breaking Glasses), originally by Nezir Eminovski.
Probably the purest form of kafana can be found in Bosnia where no food is served (that's done in ćevabdžinica, aščinica and buregdžinica), staying true to the original Turkish coffee & alcohol concept.
In Bosnian cities with large Muslim populations, one can still find certain old kafane that probably didn't look much different back when the Ottomans ruled Bosnia. They are now mostly frequented by local elders as well as the occasional tourist, and their numbers are dwindling.
Most of the old centerpiece Gradske Kafane have been visually modernized and had their names changed in the process to something snappy and western-sounding. Most other establishments that offer similar fare target a younger crowd and prefer not to use the term kafana. However, stereotypical kafanas hold some popularity amongst high-schoolers and students, as well as working class men, who frequent them as places to binge drink due to their affordable prices.
Historically, Belgrade establishments that originated in the 19th and early 20th century like the famous ? (Question Mark), Lipov lad (The Linden Tree's Shade, founded in 1928), and Tri lista duvana (Three Tobacco Leaves), as well as Skadarlija bohemian spots Tri šešira (Three Hats), Kod dva bela goluba (The Two White Pigeons'), Šešir moj (This Hat of Mine), Zlatni bokal (Golden Jug), and Ima dana (There's Time), were all equipped with extensive kitchens serving elaborate menus and are officially called restaurants yet most patrons refer to them as kafane. The concept of eating in Serbian kafane was introduced in 19th century when the menu consisted mostly of simply snacks, such as ćevapčići. It's the same with places that became popular in mid-20th century like Šumatovac, Pod lipom (Under the Lime Tree), and Grmeč in Makedonska Street (the so-called 'Bermuda triangle')[1], Manjež, as well as later establishments like Madera, Kod Ive (Ivo's), and Klub književnika (the Writers' Club). Even the traditionally upscale joints like Ruski car (Russian Tsar) and Grčka kraljica (Greek Queen) weren't above being referred to as kafana.
Things have changed, however, with establishments that appeared over the last 20-30 years, and especially as of late. Most of the younger Serbian crowd associate the word kafana with something archaic and passe so the owners of places that cater to them avoid it altogether. With gentrification taking root in many parts of central Belgrade, these new establishments mostly stay away from traditionalism. Good examples of this would be the numerous watering holes that have sprung up over the last 15 years in Strahinjića Bana Street, such as Veprov dah, Ipanema, Kandahar, and Dorian Gray, or various new restaurants in downtown Belgrade - none of these places are referred to as kafane, either by their owners or by their patrons.
In Croatia, the term for kafana is kavana (as coffee is spelled kava in Croatian) and they differ widely between continental Croatia and the Dalmatian coast.
Currently, there are 5,206 kafeani in the country. According to the State Statistical Office, there are 989 kafeani (19% of the total number) in the capital Skopje, 413 in Tetovo, 257 in Bitola, 244 in Gostivar, 206 in Kumanovo, 205 in Struga, 188 in Ohrid and 161 in Strumica.[2]