First time visitors to Paris are often in a dilemma about tipping every time they head out for coffee or food. With the still relatively weaker Canadian and American dollar punching a hole in the budget of the average tourist, over-tipping is the primary concern haunting travelers. But most people are also concerned about looking like a miser when they tip too little. So, what is the perfect balance between overspending and not seeming like a cheapskate?
Like most cities, Paris has its own tipping culture, and it is useful to know about it before you plan your next visit. Here goes!
How Much Should You Tip Your Server?
In Paris, a 15% service charge is already included in the bill. However, you can pay anything between 5 and 10% of the total bill amount at your discretion. However, that does not prohibit you from tipping more if the service was exceptionally great!
Should You Tip Every Time?
It is polite to tip your waiter or waitress in Paris, but no one will judge you for not tipping. Unlike most places in the United States where tipping is expected every time you dine out, nothing of the sort is mandated in Paris.
For example, if anybody goes out of their way to serve you, thank them, and they will appreciate it. In most restaurants, tips are shared within the entire team, and it is customary for customers to leave a small change when dining out, as it goes to the kitchen staff as well!
With that being said, if you have had a simple course with minimal or no service involved, tipping is entirely at your discretion! No one will expect you to leave a tip, or judge you for it.
Should Large Groups Also Tip in Paris?
Since large groups create additional work for the kitchen staff and servers, it is customary to leave a decent tip. A small sum from every member should suffice!
Do You Tip Every Time You Go Out for Coffee?
In most bars and brasseries in Paris there is a small tip jar. Individual tipping is not expected, but if you leave some spare change from your bill, the staff will be grateful.
Do You Tip the Hotel Porters, Tour Guides and Concierges?
Tipping hotel porters is customary in Paris and they do expect something in exchange for their labor, as do concierges, when you feel that they have provided exceptional service. You can tip concierges at the end of your stay.
Taxi drivers charge tourists by the meter for short trips, but on longer trips you can ask them round off the fare for the journey. Tourists are encouraged to always tip their tour guides.
Where Should You Not Tip in Paris?
Tipping is generally appreciated, but not everyone expects it. In such situations, things can get really awkward, rally fast! Imagine tipping your dentist after a mouth cleaning session. Does sound weird, doesn’t it!
When grabbing a quick coffee and croissant at the café, there is no need to leave an extra Euro for the waiter or waitress. The servers are not working for the tips and their salaries are consistent irrespective of the number of tables they serve each day.
Drinks at the bar are generally tip free and the bartenders do not expect their patrons to leave a tip at the end of the night. That is a piece of good news for the fans of Happy Hours!
When at the club, coat checks already cost a few Euros. Hence, there is no need to leave spare change with the servers. The general rule in Paris is the less something costs, the less likely customers are to leave a tip. Leaving 15% on a coffee that costs two Euros is unnecessary!
Do You Have to Tip in Situations Where You Do Not Want to?
If you are not satisfied with the service or bought just two coffees in the two hours that you were present in the café, or the taxi driver was a tad reckless while driving down the main road, just round off the bill even if it means adding just a few shillings. This works wonders in situations where you are in doubt! Even though Parisians are exceptionally proud people, no one is going to refuse a tip. Money speaks the same everywhere around the world!
How Much Should You Be Tipping in General?
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Cafes
If your bill comes around to say €3.80, leaving €4 is fine. Leaving €5 is considered too much, unless of course you have smashed a table or something! If the bill for your coffee is €1.20, simply add 10 or 20 centimes to the bill!
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Coat Check
In a simple restaurant if a waiter grabs your coat and places it on the hook, there is no need for payment. But in nicer restaurants, especially if it has a coat check, leaving €1 per coat is expected.
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Meals at Restaurants
In a simple café or restaurant, leaving €1-€2 per €20 is fine. By that calculation, if your bill comes around to €80, you are expected to leave between €2 and €4 as tips. It is important to understand that tripping is not an obligation. Think of it as a nice gesture towards the servers!
In fancier restaurants and 3-star tables, leaving a €20 tip for the server is expected. Guests are also expected to leave a €1 for the coat check. When in doubt, simply observe what the local French diners are leaving as gratuity.
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Concierges
If your concierge goes out of the way to reserve a host of restaurants for you during your stay, especially in some of the fancier restaurants where reservations are harder to come by, leave them a decent tip for their effort.
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Hotel Porter
A tip of €1 to €2 is appreciated per bag, unless your luggage is on the heavier side of the scale. In which case you can be a little more generous!
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