Tipping Etiquette

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.