A taste of history.

"Shah" Restaurant & Gallery opens its doors to all appreciators of Azerbaijan cuisine! Visited us, you will receive an opportunity to take a voyage into the gastronomical world of colorful and delicious cuisine of Azerbaijan. Cooked by master-chief according to medieval recipes by using only organic products harvested at local farms.
Each dish has it's own unique history and unforgettable history. Variety and taste of servings will not let you aloof, even the most sophisticated ones. Restaurant & Gallery Shah shows a rich cultural heritage and history of Azerbaijan. Dedicated to Shah Ismael Khatai, warlord and poet, founder of Safavid dynasty. The interior of the restaurant decorated using national ornaments and patterns, carpets, tableaus and pleasant music, will carry you to the period of medieval Azerbaijan.

The history of creating Shah takes its roots from the school years of the future historian-restaurateur.
It was at school, during history classes, that he first learned about Shah Ismail Khatai and developed great respect for him.
During his studies at the Faculty of History of Baku State University, he expanded his knowledge and began to think about unusual ways to contribute to the dissemination of Shah Ismail’s achievements.
After achieving success not only in science but also as an entrepreneur, he decided to draw the attention of the broader public to Shah Ismail’s era in Azerbaijan’s history.
Although one of the capital’s districts, a metro station, an avenue, and the highest military order are named in honor of Shah Ismail, and his monuments decorate several cities of Azerbaijan, the idea of creating a museum-restaurant was born.
The culture of a nation begins with its hospitality, and hospitality begins with the table set for guests.
A suitable location was specifically chosen in the district named after Khatai, near the metro station of the same name and the park with his monument.
The process began of recreating the medieval atmosphere where dishes from Shah’s era would be served in an interior dedicated to his heritage.
A thorough examination of archives, descriptions of meals presented to foreign guests at Shah’s banquets, and recipes from the book «Kyarname» by Shah’s personal chef allowed us to revive the authentic cuisine of the royal palace.
Thus, Azerbaijan’s first thematic restaurant was born, where not only the interior but also the cuisine transports guests to the Shah’s palace.
In a short time, the restaurant became a beloved place for both locals and guests of the capital.
Four years later, it was decided to expand the restaurant by creating an art gallery, where guests could purchase the artworks they liked.
Each painting that adorns the restaurant walls celebrates the life and heroism of Shah Ismail Khatai and is explained in detail to every guest.
The gallery features works by talented Azerbaijani artists.

To the attention of our guests!

On May 23, the day of Shah Ismail’s death, we do not accept guests.

On July 17, in honor of Shah Ismail’s birthday, all guests receive a 17% discount.
Guests named Ismail receive a 10% discount to the bill. *

Guests born on July 17 receive a 10% discount to the bill. *
Those wishing to drink for the Shah can receive a glass of homemade wine from the restaurant.

*Upon presenting a passport

Shah Ismail Khatai is a great Azerbaijani governor and poet who handled both the sabre and quill equally well. At the age of 14, he became the founder of the Safavid Empire, which on the peak of his ruling stretched from Amudarya to Euphrates. Shah Ismail was the first Azerbaijani ruler who unified the lands of Azerbaijan as a part of a uniform state. In 1501, Ismail captured Tabriz and accepted a title of the Shah of Azerbaijan.

His ruling time is a period of flourishing of Azerbaijani statehood, culture and national consciousness.

Kizilbash cavalry from different Turkic tribes formed the heart of his army. Their name “kizilbash” came from the special headdress – turban with 12 red strips, honoring 12 Shiite imams. Ismail was the sheikh of the Safaviyya order.

Since childhood, Ismail loved fight and hunting. At the same time, he liked to read and write verses. In the period of Shah Ismail’s government Azerbaijani became official language of the state. Many poems Ismail wrote in Azerbaijani, under pseudonym Khatai. His “Divan” (a set of lyric poems in Middle Eastern literature) includes ghazals and other poems of different genres. He is an example of classic writer in the Azerbaijani literature and poetry, who greatly contributed to the literary development of all Turkic poetry. There are many well-known manuscripts of Khatai demonstrating that he skillfully owned technology of painting and a calligraphy.

The commander Ismail who beheaded thousands of warriors during the battles, at the same time was a skillful musician and even possessed a beautiful voice. Since childhood, he played Barbat and Saz, an instrument, which, according to researchers, received a modern form during Shah Ismail’s government. During lifetime, he became the character of many popular legends and dastans.

The great commander and the poet died in 1524 at the age of 37 years.

He was buried in Ardebil in the mausoleum of Safavids’ Darul-Irshad.