enCurrent language: English
© dpa
How much do I tip in Berlin restaurants, cabs, or hotels? Learn more about the tipping etiquette in the German capital.
In Germany, tipping is a voluntary act with which one can express one's satisfaction with a service. It is customary to tip in restaurants, hotels, cabs, at cloakrooms and at the hairdresser. The amount depends on the price of the service and the occasion.
Tipping in Restaurants, Cafés and Bars
In restaurants, cafés and bars and Berlin, service is usually not included in the bill. Therefore, tipping is customary, but not compulsory. If the bill is paid by credit card, the tip should be given in cash if possible.
In casual bars, pubs and coffeeshops, you can leave a couple of coins in the tip jar located on the counter. In sit-down cafés, classy bars and casual restaurants, rounding up the bill is standard practice among locals. Here, an amount of 5 to 10 percent of the bill is considered an appropriate tip. In nice restaurants with good service, 10 percent is a standard amount to stick to when tipping.
It is not common to leave money for servers on the table after leaving. Instead, hand your cash or card to your waiter and tell them the total amount you want to pay for your meal, including the tip. For example: If your bill comes up to €15.90, you may hand the server a 20 euro bill and tell them to take €18, which includes a tip of €2.10. They will then bring you back two euros in change.
Tipping in Hotels
In hotels, it is customary to tip your porter about 1 to 2 euros per piece of luggage. If there is valet parking, you may want to give a similar amount to the parking attendant. For the chambermaid or cleaning service, 2 to 3 euros per day is a standard amount. Tips for the concierge or reception desk may go up to 5 to 10 euros depending on the additional services provided. If you’re staying in a cheap establishment such as a hostel or campsite, tips are not required or expected.
Tipping in Taxi Cabs
Tipping your taxi driver is not a necessity in Berlin, but locals usually round up the fare to the nearest Euro if the ride was pleasant. If your driver provided extraordinary service, such as help with bulky luggage or great music or conversation, tipping a euro or two is a nice gesture.
Tipping at the Coat Check
If there is no fixed coat check fee, the people checking your coat at restaurants, clubs, bars or theaters will be happy to receive a tip. Depending on the venue and the number of jackets, coats and bags stored, the customary amount can range between 50 cents and 2 euros.
Tipping at the Hair and Beauty Salon
Like waiters, hairdressers and manicurists usually receive a relatively low basic salary, which is why tipping is quite usual in hair salons and nail salons. If you are happy with your cut and color, you may want to tip your hairdresser an amount between 5 and 10 percent of the bill.
Tipping at the Tattoo Parlour
If you plan on getting a tattoo in Berlin, you should know that tipping your tattoo artist is not expected. However, your artist will greatly appreciate a tip, especially if the tattoo is very large, complex, or custom-designed for you. Consider an amount of around 5 percent of the total price of your design. Some tattoo parlors have tip jars on the front counter, so leaving a couple of euros in there to be split among the staff is a good option as well.
Related Content
© dpa
Currency exchange, exchange offices and means of payment in Berlin. more
© arianarama/stock.adobe.com
Information for Berlin visitors and tourists including travel essentials about Berlin such as airports, train stations, public transport, taxi and more
Source: BerlinOnline/deepl.com
Last edited: 15 March 2023
FAQs
20% is the REAL standard for tips
Industry insider: common consensus says 15-20% is considered a normal tip, but honestly any amount less than 20% is considered a bad tip.
What is the proper etiquette for tipping? ›
* Check your tab carefully because some places add a gratuity to the bill. You may or may not want to supplement that. For the wait staff at sit-down restaurants, the tip should be 15 percent to 20 percent of the pretax bill. Tips are not necessary at fast-food restaurants.
Is it disrespectful to not tip? ›
Etiquette expert and owner of the Protocol School of Texas Diane Gottsman, who spoke with The Post, says bad service is actually a "fair reason to skip a tip." "Only after you speak to the manager and make sure others aren't going to suffer if you walk out without leaving any type of gratuity," she explained.
What is the modern guide to tipping? ›
Familiarize yourself with tipping norms.
Some general guidelines from the Emily Post Institute: Wait service at a sit-down establishment: 15% to 20% of the total. Food delivery:10% to 15% of the bill. (Take note: Food delivery fees are typically separate from gratuities.)
What is the golden rule tips? ›
Living the Golden Rule: 5 Ways to Be Kind
- Compliment someone in a meaningful way. ...
- Give someone a boost in difficult times. ...
- React with compassion when someone is rude or inconsiderate. ...
- Say thank you. ...
- Smile at strangers.
Too often, consumers feel obligated to tip, he said. “It's based on basic guilt.” Skijus advises shoppers, regardless of income, to consider tipping when you want to express gratitude, but not at every point of sale, even when prompted.
Do people no longer know how much to tip? ›
'There's this very awkward social component' to tipping now
That has left some people feeling like they don't know how much to tip anymore. About 15% of people say they're confused about how much to tip and who to tip, according to Bankrate's survey.
What are the new rules of tipping? ›
It's up to you to decide whether or not to tip and how much. But Shubhranshu Singh, a marketing professor at Johns Hopkins University, likes to leave a 10% tip. If an establishment is asking for a tip, it's often an indication that the workers there are not getting paid a minimum wage.
When not to tip? ›
You're never obligated to tip someone when they've provided you poor service or if you've had a rude interaction with them. In the case of a one-on-one service, such as a haircut, this is pretty cut and dry.
Why is everyone asking for tips now? ›
Shubhranshu Singh, who teaches marketing at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, said that the shift to tipping came out of new “technology changes.” “A lot of places are using this new payment interface that has the option to ask for a tip, and they are just there as defaults,” he said.
The new law brings in a brand-new obligation on affected employers under which they must ensure that the total amount of qualifying tips that is paid at, or otherwise attributable to, a place of business of the employer, is allocated fairly between their workers at that place of business.
How much do I tip on a $20 meal? ›
People generally tip 15-20% of the bill. To calculate tip multiply the total check by 1 plus the decimal percentage tip you'd like to leave. If you wanted to leave a 20% tip, you would add 1 to 0.20 to get 1.20. Multiply the bill by 1.20 to get the total amount you'd leave including tip.
What is the formula for tipping? ›
Figuring out the tip
If your total bill is $200 and you want to tip 15%, work out the tip by multiplying the total bill by 0.15. You can then add this amount to your bill when it comes to pay. Simple. Or alternatively, you can multiply the bill excluding service by 1.15 (assuming you want to leave that same 15% tip).
What is the exact golden rule? ›
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This seems the most familiar version of the golden rule, highlighting its helpful and proactive gold standard.
