A Guide To Tipping In France

How then, do you show appreciation for good service? Tipping is not needed in France, but there is a certain etiquette to observe.

A Guide To Tipping In France

If you’re planning a trip to France soon and want to make sure you tip your waitress, housekeeper, or tour guide correctly, here are a few pointers to keep in mind.

What is Service Compris?

The French government passed a law in 2008 requiring most restaurants and cafes to add a service fee to the bill, allowing them to tax tips. The restaurant will normally add about 15% to the bill, known in French as Service Compris. This commonly applies to restaurants, but it can also be practiced in other industries.

This additional fee typically includes health insurance, holidays, and any retirement benefits for the company’s employees. Furthermore, in France, waiters and waitresses are normally paid a set salary. If you are paying for service, this will be clearly stated on your bill. 

How do I tip in France in case of good service?

Extra tipping is not usually allowed because of this law. However, in tourist areas or high-end establishments, it is nice to leave a couple of extra Euros as a thank you for good service.

How do I tip in France in case of bad service?

If you receive poor service, an additional tip is optional, and it will not be deemed rude if you do not leave one.

Are all service charges distributed among waiters/waitresses?

Even though requiring all servers to receive this service percentage, not all service charges are distributed among waiters/waitresses. If you want to make sure your server gets a tip, give them the extra with the bill.

Is tipping a common practice across France?

Tipping is not widely practiced in France. Tipping in France, however, has its own set of rules. What you leave in addition to the final bill is entirely up to you, so aim to tip in cash rather than using a credit card. The amounts mentioned below are only recommendations based on industry-standard practices for various services.

Tipping in France Guide By Industry

Cafes and Restaurants

It is customary to leave a small amount of change for the server when having lunch in a cafe or restaurant; about €1 is appropriate.

If you are having dinner and receive excellent service, it is common to leave a few Euros for your server. If you are extremely pleased with your meal, you should leave about 5-10%. This is very much appreciated. However, tipping in France is essentially a gesture rather than a requirement.

• Café Server: It is courteous to leave the change or round up to the nearest whole amount on the overall bill when paying for a café au lait (or other beverage).

• Restaurant Server: While the tip is included in the final bill (service compris), you. may leave a tip if the service went above your standards. Round the bill up to the nearest whole number or leave a 5 to 10% tip to show your appreciation. Another option is to set aside €1 to €2 for every €20 paid.

• Coat Check Assistant: When checking a coat in a nicer restaurant, €1 is a sweet gesture.

Bars and Clubs

If you’re sitting at the bar and ordering drinks, you don’t need to tip. Typically, bars and clubs in France will be busy, and bartenders will be preoccupied with serving. They will not be able to consider or understand your gesture of a tip – but if you wish to tip your server, they will be grateful.

• Bartender: Leave the change or round up to the nearest whole figure on the overall bill for drinks. 

Hotels

When in a hotel in France, It is not customary or obligatory to tip your porter or maid, but it is a good gesture to do so in both cases. If you think they did a good job or were courteous and kind, go ahead and tip. A Euro for the porter and a little more for the maid is normally appropriate.

• Doorman: If the doorman assisted you in hailing a cab or carried your luggage in, tip €1.

• Bellhop: Tipping ranges from €1 to €2 per bag, depending on size.

• Housecleaning: This one is often ignored, but it is a thoughtful way to express gratitude for keeping your temporary living space tidy. You can tip anywhere from €1 to €2 per day, depending on how clean your room is on any given day.

• Concierge: It is customary to tip €5 to €10 if the concierge goes above and beyond in terms of assisting you with reservations, directions, and insider suggestions.

Hair and Beauty Salons

It’s standard to only pay for the expense of the service like a haircut. If you are extremely satisfied with the service, you may give a tip. A few euros is okay. 

Also, be mindful of setting a pattern for service providers you deal with regularly hairstylist the first time you see him or her, he or she will expect it every time.

• Stylist: Offer your stylist a 10% tip of the total cost if you are satisfied with the service

• Hairdresser or esthetician: Give a tip of 5 to 10% of the service price to your hairdresser or esthetician when you go to a hair and beauty salon.

Transportation

• Taxi: Drivers for cab companies usually work long hours. Tipping them is not required, however, if the driver assists you with your luggage and/or given a quick and secure trip, tipping them any cash, or about 5-10% of the cab fare, is thoughtful and kind and will brighten their day.

• Personal Driver (car hire): It is customary to tip him or her, especially if he or she has gone above and beyond to make your stay as pleasant as possible. A tip of 5-10% is standard.

• Airport Shuttle Driver: €1 to €2 per bag is customary

Theater, Opera House, and Other Entertainment Venues

• Ushers: If you visit the Opera House or any other well-known entertainment venue, tipping the usher or usherette for taking you to your seat is customary. While these employees now earn a full wage in France, it is still a pittance, and tips are highly valued in this sector.

• Cloakroom Staff: There will most likely be a cloakroom in some of these entertainment venues in France, where you can leave your coat and bag. In this case, tipping the cloakroom staff about one Euro for a large item is customary.

Guided Tours

• Walking Tours: A good independent guided tour, particularly if it is a free tour of the city, should be rewarded with a tip as a sign of appreciation for the inside information you have got.

• Museums: Visitors to museums and galleries are often customarily expected to tip salaried guides if they found them informative and helpful.

Deliveries

• Food Delivery: There is no need to tip. However, whether you have a complicated order or they are riding a scooter in the rain, rounding up to the nearest euro or leaving an extra euro or two will brighten their day.

• Appliance Delivery: There is no need to tip. However, if you have a particularly large item and they were especially helpful, a few euros is a nice gesture.