Tipping in Rome: A Guide to Restaurant Tipping Etiquette


 

I get quite the kick out of traveling foreign countries and blending in, instead of being that obvious tourist-type with little to no idea about what is going on.

I’ve learnt overtime that tipping culture is something that will instantly give you away if you don’t know the local norms. More than this, it can be very embarrassing when you make a mess of this simple exchange in Europe, because tipping expectations vary between all of the countries.

This is everything you need to know about tipping while in Rome.

Rome – by Carlos Ibáñez – Unsplash

Tipping in Rome

If you, like me, grew up living in amongst tipping culture, then walking away from your Italian dining table without leaving a little something is going to feel terribly wrong. Thats right, tipping is not expected in Italy, and that includes the capital, Rome.

Basically, service workers in Italy are paid a salary. They are not in the industry solely with the intent of making tips, and walk away with a consistent living wage month by month.

Rome – by Claudio Hirschberger – Unsplash

But just because Italian waiters aren’t standing around expecting to be tipped doesn’t mean that rewarding excellent service isn’t done. One of the easiest ways to show gratitude come the end of a meal is to simply leave some coins or a note behind, and you can rest assured your Roman tips won’t be met with ungrateful hands.

Restaurants in Rome

Each time you eat out in Rome needs to be treated with subtle investigation come the end of the meal. Always read your entire food bill from start to finish before you fork over any money to the establishment.

Italy’s tourist trap restaurants are notorious for their sneaky additional charges or unnecessarily high prices for things like water or fresh chilies.

You might find the end of your bill includes something called “service charge”. In this instance, the restaurant in question adds a small fee per person as a sort of compulsory gratuity for choosing to eat in that specific place. This usually comes up only when tables are bigger than 8 people.

by Kate Townsend – Unsplash

If service charge has been added to your bill, then there is definitely no need to tip in addition to this. If service charge has not been added, then use your discretion and tip if you feel inclined to praise the experience you’ve had.

And take note: the bread, olives and small sides that are brought to your table will always come at a fee in Rome! Many patrons find themselves outraged at the end of their meal when they find they have to fork out for the “complimentary” dishes they were nibbling on.

If you feel satisfied at the end of your dining experience and wish to leave something behind, then 10% of the total cheque would be an appropriate amount.

by Ibrahim Rifath – Unsplash

Takeaway restaurants in Rome, particular late night dining spots, usually don’t have formal sit-down service and all ordering is done up at the counter. Here, you might find a small tip jar near the cash register in which you can drop your spare change. Same goes for coffee shops and bakeries!

Click here for some of the best traditional restaurants in Rome!

Bars in Rome

If you’re out in Rome’s nightlife districts and drinking casually, there is no need to tip at the purchase of each individual beverage.

If you and a group of friends are seated in a bar or pub, and are drinking as a collective group on a shared tab, then it would be good practice to tip something at the end when it comes time to pay.

Managing large groups of drinking human beings is no easy feat and the server in question deserves a little something extra. No doubt they will go out of their way to accommodate you throughout your evening.

by Patrick Tomasso – Unsplash

Something else to be aware of while in Rome is that often there is a discrepancy in price when drinks are ordered at a bar, and when they are brought to a table. You’ll often pay less for ones you pick up directly, and more for ones that have to be brought to you.

This surge in price is a service charge in itself.

by Alex Holyoake – Unsplash

If you purchase something significant from the bar, such as a bottle of Champagne or entire bottle of liqueur, then leaving a few euros for the bartender is a thoughtful thing to do. These kind of drinks require a lot of extra preparation on the servers behalf (glasses, ice bucket, etc), and if you can afford to drink like this you can absolutely afford to tip.

Click here for 10 great budget bars in Rome!

Other Tipping Info for Rome

You’ll be pleased to know that tipping in taxis in Rome is not done at all. Leaving without your change can actually be confusing to drivers, so rather pay your fare and wait for your change.

But what about other public services in Rome? There seems to be a worldwide rumor that Italians find tipping insulting in certain contexts. Fortunately, this is absolutely not true!

by Sam Dan Truong – Unsplash

No service worker in Italy is going to be insulted if you try to pay more than your expected amount. If you’re having your hair done, getting a tattoo, or enjoying a massage in Rome and you feel compelled to tip, do!

In the same breath, hotel workers in Rome are also accustomed to global travel tipping etiquette. If someone carries your luggage for you, hails you a taxi or cleans your space up then tipping €1 here and there goes a long way.

For cleaning services sought out by you, €1 per day is the tipping standard in Rome. If your hotel room is cleaned by hotel staff then you are not expected to tip, though no doubt it’s these workers who would appreciate it most — be nice.

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