The Küfeci: Old Istanbul’s Basket Porters Who Carried Drunk Tavern Customers Home

In old Istanbul, some taverns had workers known as küfeci, a word connected to the large woven baskets they carried on their backs. Their job was simple, strange, and very practical: when a customer drank so much that he could no longer walk home, the küfeci carried him.

These porters used large basket-like carriers strapped to their backs. A drunk customer would be placed inside or supported by the basket, and the küfeci would carry him through Istanbul’s narrow, steep streets until he reached home safely. What sounds almost comic today was once part of the everyday service economy of the city.

Most küfeci were not only working around taverns. During the day, many of them worked as regular porters. They carried goods in markets, docks, warehouses, and busy commercial streets. At night, some of them earned extra money by helping tavern regulars get back home.

This made sense in a city like Istanbul. The streets were crowded, uneven, and often difficult to move through, especially for someone who could barely stand. Long before taxis, ride-hailing apps, or modern nightlife services, the city had its own physical, street-level solution.

The Phrase “Küfelik Olmak” Came From This World

The practice became memorable enough to leave a mark on Turkish language. The phrase “küfelik olmak” means to be so drunk that you are no longer able to walk properly. Literally, it suggests being in a state where you would need to be put into a basket and carried away.

That is what makes this detail more than just a funny story about old nightlife. It shows how real habits, real jobs, and real street scenes can survive inside everyday language. A phrase people still recognize today comes from a very physical image: a drunk man being carried home in a porter’s basket.

A Small Job That Reveals A Larger City

The küfeci also tells us something about old Istanbul itself. The city was not only palaces, mosques, trade routes, and grand history. It was also made of small practical jobs, informal services, night workers, tavern regulars, porters, shopkeepers, and street habits that kept daily life moving.

Istanbul has long been known for these kinds of service-based street occupations. Even today, in some markets and local shops, workers help customers carry purchases to their cars or homes. The modern version is very different, of course, but the logic is familiar: in a dense city, carrying things for people has always been a real job.

The Porter Culture Has Not Completely Disappeared

Street porters are still part of Istanbul’s commercial life, especially around places like the Grand Bazaar and other busy market districts. Some still carry extremely heavy loads through crowded streets where vehicles cannot easily pass. The old tavern küfeci may no longer exist as a common sight, but the broader culture of the porter has not entirely vanished.

The story of the küfeci remains one of those small, unforgettable details from old Istanbul. It is funny at first glance, but it also says a lot about the city’s nightlife, labor culture, street economy, and language. In one image, a man with a basket on his back carrying a drunk customer home, you can see a whole piece of Istanbul’s social history.