How do I make a tavern?

[Ash//Fox]

I have a still, and I've designated an area as a meeting room, and I've put some tables and chairs in it but nobody seems to spend time in it drinking. I don't see any options for like a bar counter either. Am I doing something wrong?

[Fel]

Taverns, like guilds, hospitals or temples, are made from an existing zone.
You would need to go to your meeting room and designate it as a tavern.

Something to note is that you might want to make it from a dining room zone instead if you plan on having tables there because dwarves will eat there regardless but won't get a mood boost from eating in a great dining room if it is a meeting area.

[topheron]

As said above, make a room. Make sure it is closed off, with doors.

Place a Zone. Designate this room as a meeting area.

In the meeting area information box a the top right is an icon with a shield that is to 'assign a new or existing location' to this area. Click on that.

Click on 'New inn tavern'

Now you have a tavern.

There is a new icon, looks like a magnifying lense.

Set details for location. Click on that.

It will tell you that you need a chest, some mugs, maybe some musical instruments. That's good.

It will also say you need a Tavern Keeper. Don't do that. He'll pour alcohol down passed out dwarf's throats until they die. No tavern keeper, up to you on performers.

Ideally, your tavern should have a BIGGER ROOM. If possible you should have a 10x10 area in your tavern to use as a dance floor. 5x5 works, but you won't get the full variety of dances.

Things you can also do:

Designate a zone as a dining hall, and overlay your meeting area that is also designated as a tavern. This cuts down the money value of the room a lot, but when you put some chairs (thrones) next to some tables (one chair per table), dwarfs will eat, and be very happy doing so.

The tables and chairs should not be in your dance area, which still needs to be 10x10 for best dancing.