Iran’s earliest coffeehouses were established during the Safavid era (16th and 17th centuries AD). With the introduction of tea to Iran and its cultivation in some of the northern regions of the country and the acceptance of brewed tea by the masses, tea slowly replaced coffee in coffeehouses; nevertheless these establishments are still called coffeehouses.

During their four hundred years existence, coffeehouses have played variety of roles, depending on the social and economic conditions of the time. Taking root in society and expanding through cities, the coffeehouse was embraced by all classes, workers and tradesmen in particular. Gradually each guild chose its preferred coffeehouse and as such they became haunts of tradesmen, artists, craftsmen and merchants. Eventually coffeehouses became active guild units in urban centers and developed into institutions with socio-cultural functions.

Coffeehousesbrought about a change in the nature of people’s gatherings and transformed Iranians’ entertainment and leisure time. After work or during spare time,men from all walks of life would gather in coffeehouses to exchange views on social, economic, and political issues, or discuss matters related to their jobs, financial difficulties, neighborhood and family. Oratory traditions of poetry recital - namely that of the Shahnameh (Iran’s epic poetry) - and threnody, accompanied by painters painting scenes inspired by the orators, became the focal point of evening entertainment. People gathered from different neighborhoods to enjoy the friendly atmosphere of coffeehouses in which literary and cultural exchanges took place. As a result coffeehouses became socio-cultural institutions, nurturing grounds for artistic and literary talents, and public settings for the exposure of folk arts and literature.

With the rise of other forms of entertainment, coffeehouses were relegated to their elementary role of a resting-place and restaurant. Consequently talented orators, skillful painters and storytellers lost their means of livelihood and the coffeehouse became an establishment without identity, devoid of it past social and cultural values.

The renovation and restoration of traditional coffeehouses was a project proposed by the Department of Social Anthropology of the Cultural Research Bureau to the Tehran Municipality. The main objectives of the project were enumerated as follows:

Restoration of traditional socio-cultural centers, emphasizing their contemporary functions, to be handed over to the private sector upon completion of the projects.
Regularized and standard codes enforced by the Municipality to ensure the preservation of the artistic and architectural heritage associated with such establishments.
Revival of traditional Iranian architecture geared toward contemporary functions, revival of traditional costumes and coffeehouse dishes and beverages.
Revival of Shahnameh recitation and coffeehouse painting, and introduction of the younger generations to this particular aspect of cultural heritage.
Geared towards families and tourists.

Upon acceptance of the general plan, the Azari coffeehouse in the south of Tehran (next to the central railroad station) was chosen as a pilot project. The Cultural Research Bureau managed all aspects of the project, which was successfully completed in 1993.