Paris: When (and when not) to tip in Paris
In a city where customer service is as low a priority as cleaning up after your dog, the scarcity of tipping in Paris should come as no surprise. Still, many Americans find it difficult to stop calculating 15-20% of the bill before it hits the café table.
Some visitors and foreigners in Paris take a “no-tip” approach to everything in Paris, based on the idea that service is included in the price listed on the menu. There are general rules, however, for those who want to be good customers, especially those who want to become regulars at neighborhood establishments.
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Tipping in Paris
Before you lay down a tip everywhere you go, brush up on these tips to help you navigate tipping culture in Paris.
When NOT to tip:
In general, it is never wrong to tip, but some people just don’t expect it. Imagine if you left the dentist a few dollars after a mouth cleaning — it’s nice but also, let’s admit, kind of weird.
Cafés: A quick coffee and croissant at the local café may set you back €5, but there’s no need to drop an extra euro on the tip. The server isn’t working for tips, and his salary is consistent despite how many tables he or she gets.
Bars: Drinks at a bar are usually tip-free and bartenders rarely expect anything extra, which is good news for happy hour fans.
Clubs: At clubs, coat checks already cost a few euros, so tipping more is unnecessary. I can only imagine tipping the checkers in ritzy clubs that budget-seekers don’t frequent anyway.
In general, the less something costs, the less likely it is that a tip will be necessary. Leaving 15% on a coffee that only cost two euros seems like you were trying too hard.
Related: Paris: 10 money-saving tips for first time visitors
When TO tip:
Restaurants: When a server goes out of their way to explain the wine list in a cozy neighborhood restaurant or is exceedingly nice throughout the service, a small tip is absolutely deserved. You can leave up to five euros depending on the bill and expect a gracious “merci.”
Taxis: Taxi drivers usually expect a bit extra, understandably. Driving in Paris isn’t easy, and they will often be very helpful with luggage and shopping bags.
Tour Guides: Tour guides are not poorly paid, but those who go the extra mile to answer questions and make the visits enjoyable deserve to be tipped. Anyone in the service industry, familiar with foreigners, will often expect a tip, so have a few coins on hand.
Hotels: If a staff member helps to bring your bags up to your room, then you can offer a few euros in return. However, most of the hotels we stay at, we lug our own bags! You can also give a tip to a concierge for making reservations at a restaurant or helping you get tickets to a show. Check in at one of our favorite budget Paris hotels.
Salons: Hairdressers and barbers, especially if you want to become a regular without mangled bangs, appreciate a few extra euros.
Doubtful?
Not sure if the service was good? You spent two hours in a café and only bought two coffees? The taxi driver was a bit erratic driving down the Champs Elysées? When in doubt, just round up the bill, even if that means leaving just 50 centimes.
Although Parisians seem exceedingly proud, no one is going to refuse your tips if you offer it. Money speaks the same in any language!
Your tipping advice?
Got a tip for us? What has been your tipping experience in Paris? Tell us about it in the comments section.
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Hey ! I’m French and I live next to Paris/work IN Paris. I think this is cool for the waiters that people tips. Everyone seems to think that this is normal to tip. But, I NEVER TIP (or almost never). The reason is that, the waiters get every month a wage. around 1400 euros “brut” (1100 euros when we remove the taxes).
I used to work as a cashier in a big shop, oh guess what ? My wage was the minimum, the same as a young waiter ! And guess what II? I smiled and was kind to a hundreds of people and helps some to carry their heavy things in their trolley and plastic bags , but cashier doesn’t get tips… it is known. Now I am working as an accountant and no one gives me tips. My wages is 600 euros for a month because I study 2 days a week.
Life is hard for everyone, why do I read articles where it is written to give 3euros tips ?? =O
I will tip to the restaurants/hairdressers and everyone , the day THEY will tip me for doing my job.
Thank you for reading.
I work in an english pub in Paris and while I don’t expect tips they are so greatly appreciated. Anytime someone tips me or my coworkers we are so grateful and happy. We only make minimum wage and have to deal with so many drunken assholes or idiots that any form of kindness, especially in tip form, is always appreciated.
My rule of thumb is that if you order a pint of beer then no I won’t expect a tip but if you order a cocktail that requires more work, or a lot of drinks all at once for a large group then it’s always a nice gesture as I am doing an actual service for you. If you come in and order a large round of lot of different cocktails and don’t tip that’s the worst and it doesn’t matter that you’ve read on a website that “people don’t tip bartenders in france” it’s just common sense and politeness to leave a tip.
I lived in Paris over 30 years and I always tipped regardless of anything and each time everyone took it with a smile and with “merci” most people think everything is included and no needed to tip. My honest opinion is that if you feel like it tip them it’s just ol
Tipping hairdressers seems a very strange idea. Really. No french does it. Tipping taxi drivers is the same “use case” as tipping in a restaurant or café. Why not (a few coins) if the driver has been excessively fancy, but, once again, it’s not expected. I never tip a taxi driver.
The main point is : don’t stress upon tip in France, It’s almost never expected !!
The main rule is that (by law) people are waged at a decent salary (with a full national healthcare system) and don’t need to be tipped. Usage is you may (but not you must) let few coins or rounding the bill, but no more.
The only exception is for some tourist guides (but not always, a lot of them get a fixed salary) who are payed with tips.
What about tipping in hotels? If there are three of us in the same room does everyone have to tip the cleaning maid?
Love PAris, thankfully I come from a country that doesnt tip also….so I didnt have to consider this.
France , like Australia, pays their staff PROPERLY so need to tip.
Stayed in an apartment in Paris for several months. Owner was wonderful. When we left, sent a thank you note along with 50 Euro tip. The owner was offended and returned the money.
As a French, I would say that you don’t have to tip anywhere, whether it is at a café, a restaurant, in a taxi, etc. Service is included and no one should force you to tip.
Personally, and as a lot of people, I almost never tip.
This is but one example of why there is a long list of places to go before I go back there. I found the whole visit insufferable.
this is great the next time am in paris i will use your advice. but i admit it is hard to know when to tip or when not to tip especially after the service the person serving you looks at you for long time and you are not sure whether he wants extra money as a tip or a compliment
I was told, by a French person, that you do not tip the owner.
Everyone has their story, that’s for sure! I will get drinks with French friends who consider me rude if I don’t want to leave a tip and then I’ll get coffee with other French friends who call me “So American” if I want to leave some change. Ultimately yt’s a lose-lose situation so you just have to hope for the best!
It took me a long time to get used to not tipping. I think most Americans are just used to tipping and it’s a tough habit to break.
The opposite for Australians…we dont tip & find it very difficult to adapt to the culture of tipping! I loathe the whole concept of tipping…its demeaning. I know Americans just dont get that so wont bother trying to explain.
Interesting comment. Since you have seemingly decided to generalize all Americans might I infer that all Australians are classless or is it just you?
Great advice especially for people new to the city.
However, it seems that some people in the service industry expect a tip if the people they’re serving are foreigners … or maybe it was just this one waiter:
http://unexpectedtraveller.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/admirer-in-waiting/
Everybody comes home from France with an ugly waiter story, and mine involves a tip for a drink. I sat on the terrace of the Really Famous Restaurant in Aix-en-Provence, and after ignoring me for a while, the waiter served my drink and flipped my one euro change into an empty (clean) ash tray on the table. As I was drinking it a street musician began playing just in front of me, so I gave him the euro. The waiter was so incensed he refused to wait on me again, gave me a tongue-lashing in French I didn’t understand, and not doubt told me to leave. Which I did — without leaving another euro (although that had been my original intention). So I think sometimes French bar waiters do expect tips from Americans.