Of all the Italy travel tips you are likely to hear, this one on tipping in Italy may well save you money and could even prevent you from offending the locals.
First off, you should know that Facebook billionaire Mark Zuckerberg did not leave a tip after having a meal in a Rome restaurant, and neither should you. Here’s why.
The case of Facebook billionaire Mark Zuckerberg not leaving a tip twice after having meals in Rome restaurants while on his honeymoon sparked more than a few comments on the subject of tipping in Italy. To tip or not to tip, that is the question. But, it seems Mr Zuckerberg studied Italy travel tips carefully before eating out in Italy. Well, that’s what this long time Italy resident suspects.
Here’s my take on the tipping in Italy issue. First of all let me tell you that I’ve lived in Italy for well over 15 years and my partner is Italian too.
Basically, Italians rarely, if ever, tip in restaurants. Although if you read on, you will discover that sometimes, sort of tips are left. Yes, it’s confusing. First off, forget the rules in your country of origin!
That Offensive Tip
In some cases in Italy you may even offend someone by leaving a tip after eating. Why? Simply because the person serving you may well be the owner of the restaurant or his or her son or daughter. If this is the case, by leaving a tip you create the impression they are poor and that you think that they could do with the extra few Euros. This may well dent the pride of the restaurateur in question. I have been told by my Italian other half not to leave a tip in certain restaurants for just this reason.
For foreigners in Italy who cannot benefit from my ‘inside’ knowledge, the issue of leaving tips is far from clear. How the heck can someone who is not Italian know that the person serving them is or is not the owner of the restaurant? In short, they cannot. If, however, the foreign diners do leave a tip, the restaurant owner probably will not be offended because he or she understands that foreigners do not know how things in Italy work. Even so, secretly, the restaurateurs may feel offended by those pompous rich tourists taking pity on poor Italians.
It’s Complicated, Folks!
Basically, by not leaving a tip, you won’t cause problems, except you might. This is where things become a little complicated! Foreign diners in Italy are often expected to leave tips – especially after eating in one of the tourist Meccas such as Rome, Florence or Venice. Why? Because the poor serving staff are probably not very well paid and regular tips may well boost their paltry wages.
In these places, assuming you can actually recognize them, by not leaving a tip, you may well offend someone. Facebook czar Zuckerberg managed to offend, albeit in inadvertently, by not leaving tips after having meals in Rome. But he could well have offended someone by leaving tips! Whether Zuckerberg knew this, I know not. Maybe he should have popped a question on Facebook. Maybe he did, and that is why he did not leave tips.
The restaurateur in Rome appeared to be somewhat taken aback by the absence of a tip from Zuckerberg, but the owner would not have batted an eyelid if an Italian had not left a tip. Maybe super rich VIP Italians do leave tips? Though somehow, I doubt it, and A-List Italians will probably feel that their patronage of the restaurant is all the benefit the restaurant needs, which is probably true.
One is fairly certain that tourists will now flock to the restaurants Zuckerberg frequented in Rome, so his patronage, tip or not, will have done no harm at all. Perhaps the owner of the eatery should have offered the Facebook maestro a free meal in return for the free publicity his presence would inevitably generate? Now, there’s a thought.
The Cover Charge
Italian restaurants almost invariably add a ‘cover charge’ to bills. This charge, which is often from my experience applied per head, does not I believe, end up in the pockets of waiters and waitresses, although it may indirectly help keep the wages of serving staff half-decent.
Personally, I have virtually stopped leaving tips anywhere I have food in Italy – this means restaurants, pizza joints, cafes and anywhere else which serves food. I will admit to feeling a little guilty about not tipping, but am feeling less so after seeing that Italians simply do not bother. I have encountered a few odd looks from Italians when I have suggested leaving tips. The looks imply: “Why does leaving a tip even cross your tiny mind?”.
By the way, Sicilians don’t tip according to Sicily resident Carol King who tweeted:
- @newsfromitaly I never tip, nor does anyone else, only tourists
Keep the Change
Having said this, what Italians sometimes do; when they pay in cash, which is more often than not; is to allow the restaurant to keep the change.
Say, for example, the bill is €95 and it is settled with a €100 note or two €50 notes – Italians may say “keep the change” – “tenga il resto”. Sometimes, if keeping the change is not mentioned, you may not receive any change, because it is assumed the change can be kept. If, or when, this happens, don’t leave a tip!
If a small sum in change is returned, it may be left as a tip by Italian diners – but not always.
Forget That Tip!
So, when eating in Italy, forget the tip. Just don’t worry about it – Italians don’t, so why should you? Do as the Romans do.
If, of course if you do decide to leave a tip, fine, and because you are not Italian, it will be expected of you. As to the amount – you decide. 10% of the bill, less the cover charge, maybe, is more than enough. Often three or four Euro coins is fine too, depending on the total price you paid. Alternatively, just let the restaurant keep the change, which is possibly what Mr Zuckerberg should have done.
Should you sit down in one of those elegant outdoor cafes in St Marks Square in Venice and pay some ridiculous amount for an espresso or some water, I very much doubt you’ll even feel like leaving a tip anyway. The vastly inflated prices mean profit levels are generous to say the least!
End of tips on tipping in Italy. Disagreement, or agreement welcome!
holly says
Hello Alex: I have never left a blog comment in my entire life, but I accidentally came across your blog, and The fact that someone may get offended because of getting tipped is just plain B.S. , and i do not know who came up with that, and many times, I think it is just for people who are cheap to come up with this reasoning. I can tell you that they love money over here esp. with the bad economy even though they pretend not to care about money. So Offensive? That is a lie they are trying to believe. I am currently living in Italy, and I have spoken with owners, waitresses alike in restaurants in Rome in particular and you are offending no one by leaving tips. The owner actually would appreciate tip ( they do not expect it, but they appreciate it). If it was the son or daughter or even the owner of the restaurant served you, the tip will go into a big pot which will then get divided by the end of the shift. Italians do not have to leave a tip because the salary of the waitresses is hourly ( in the U.S , depending on the states, they only get paid 2 or 3$ an hour), but they barely make enough to pay rent usually , and so people, if you can and you think the service is good, please leave some tip . P.S: I work in this industry, and have spoken with a lot of restaurant owners, waitresses and waitors, chefs alike, and I believe my anecdotes are quite accurate. i have been living in Italy for a while, but I tip because I know they all work hard, and their pay is not very high, so if the service is good, I leave the same % of tip as when I lived in the U.S . but most of the time, the service in Italy is just not the same standard as in the U.S. or North America, and then I understand why people aren´t tipping. Thank you for reading my comment!
Leigh says
I am in Venice (Lido) now and I have just left a restaurant that charged 2 x coperto (for me and my 4 year old daughter). When I queried what I thought was an overcharge the owner/waiter was very rude and I was made to feel very uncomfortable for querying the bill. I wasn’t charged coperto in the restaurant we ate in last night or any other restaurant in Lido we have eaten in this year and last year. Two pizzas, one bottle of water and an orange juice came to €32 compared to €22 last night. I tipped last night and they were very nice about it, but I didn’t bother tonight as the owner/waiter was so rude!!! Interestingly they charged coperto and service charge, so I was hit twice with extra charges. Short sighted behaviour as I won’t eat in that restaurant again but I will eat in the other one ??
Andy says
Eating in Sorrento, some restaurants bring a card with the bill which requests ( in four languages) that if you are paying with a credit card, you write the amount of tip on the card so it can be added to the bill to provide a credit card total to pay. Tipping appears to be expected in this part of Italy.
Bruce says
This article & comments is only focussed on dining in Italy – what about all the other services where tipping is regarded as the norm outside of Italy ??
Alex Roe says
True, Bruce, it only covers dining out in Italy which is the main time when tips are left in many nations. That the article focuses on this is quite clear.
Re tipping in other circumstances, I don’t have much knowledge so cannot really comment even if I tend to get the impression that when I leave tips for taxi drivers and in my local barber’s, I’m probably the exception and not the rule. Taxi drivers are self-employed as tend to be many barbers so leaving tips might be considered slightly offensive in the same way as it can be in Italy’s many owner operated eateries.
Let’s see if anyone else has anything to add.
Best,
Alex
moe says
just got back from Italy. I noticed that any time I left a tip, the person received it would get a look of shock or surprise. Some were happy with it, others I felt were not. So next time I am in Italy, NO TIP!
Robert says
I always leave something….if I think I am being served by the owner I don’t.
I have never received a odd look leaving a tip….almost all are grateful for it.
But I don’t do NYC tipping such as 20%
Alex Roe says
That’s very nice of you, Robert, and the staff in most places certainly will not object. It will also do you no harm if you plan on returning to the eatery at some time in the near future – provided the staff remember you.
Like me, you come from a tipping culture and probably tend to feel a little guilty if you don’t leave a tip when eating out in Italy – which is something you do normally when in NYC. Even though I don’t now leave tips when eating out here, I still feel a tiny bit guilty about it.
When I was in London the other day, I left tips – often for the, Italian, staff.
The hardest thing in Italy is knowing whether or not you have been served by the owner – sometimes the owner’s children wait on tables during vacation periods. While you may offend them, if they understand you are not Italian, offending them is less likely.
Best,
Alex
Kuchi says
Hi,
Firstly, I used to work as a waitress in a restaurant in Rome and our salary was based on a few euros per hour but also on the tips that we received, that were divided by all the employees of the restaurant (kitchen & bar workers included), so we were always happy when people tipped us.
Secondly, I actually have a question regarding the coperto charge – at some point during the year I worked at that restaurant, the coperto was cancelled and I was told that it’s no longer legal to charge it. However, in my recent visit (couple of weeks ago), it was charged in every single place we sat down to eat. so i’m just wondering what’s the deal with it?
thanks!!
Alex Roe says
Hmm Kuchi, I suspect the Rome restaurant relied on tips to help keep pay levels down. People will always tip – unless they are Italians, maybe.
Re the coperto, as far as I know, nothing has changed and it’s still legal. No idea what has been going on there – someone else might know though.
Best,
Alex
BeaBonobo says
Its a bit different here in Gorizia, North-East Italy. We have a mixed Slovenian and Italian culture, also shaped by the Austrians in the past. Tips are generally okay. And sometimes important.
Francesca Maggi says
Well, I have a good friend who brings wealthy clients all over Rome & further afield and leaves HEFTY tips everywhere she goes (over the last 20-odd years). She gets awesome service anywhere she goes, certainly. But, I feel she’s part of the problem. Ruining the market, so to speak.
Here’s my take on it: http://burntbythetuscansun.blogspot.it/2009/07/tips-for-travelling-in-italy.html
And, yes, leave your guilt trip at home!
FMaggi, Author
Burnt by the Tuscan Sun
Alex Roe says
Leaving tips is likely to be appreciated – even more so if you are a regular, though it can offend, or that’s what I’ve been led to believe.
And, as you say, once one person leaves tips often, eateries expect others to too and can be offended if this does not happen.
Will take a look at your take.
Ciao, ciao,
Alex
houghi says
I used to work in the restaurant industry and I did not like it when people tipped me from the point of view that I made enough without it. Obviously I accepted it. People giving out free money is never bad.
There are even places where I received my change before I gave them the bill. I also have had waiters who were not sure what to do with the extra money and gave it back.
Places I have been to that expect tips, I think the service is worse, not better, because they try to suck up to me, instead of focusing on their job. It creates a fake friendliness, in my opinion.
Not tipping makes things also so much easier. I am not pressured into doing some calculations. I look at the bill and pay that. All taxes and what not should be included. That way I know what to pay and compare prices if I want to.
SignorinaNo says
I have never heard the thing that tips could be not well accepted because they may hurt feelings! I am italian and the only reason I see is that we already pay for bread and cover!
Personally i always tip waiters unless they don’t smile 🙂
Marco says
I am Italian. I agree. Never heard about the offending act by tipping. The “coperto” is often misunderstood by foreigners but it’s a legal thing, even if it should be applied only if you are having lunch inside the building. For instance, in some self service (Brek, Autogrill Restaurant) there is no “coperto”. Btw, pane e coperto doesnt go to waiters, but AFAIK waiters are better paid in Italy (crisis excluded) than in the US: the salary there is basically taxed and made of tips. In Italy tips are not taxed, and are basically an “under the table” approach. The general rule is that if you leave tip it’s because you were super-good treated and the waiter was really nice (or the waitress really hot, ha!) and I personally think that this is the real meaning of a tip (you did a very good job outside your minimal expected duty). Of course in fancy places like ROme/Venice italian restaurant owners and waiters behave hypocritally: they know you are used to tips and they try to make you feel guilty if you dont leave the gratuity!
Alex Roe says
Hi Marco – the coperto is like the cover charge which is common in the UK and elsewhere and can mean lower or no tips are left.
And yes, if service is excellent, then a tip is justified, I agree.
You are right about the Rome/Venice ‘made to feel guilty’ approach, alas.
Cheers,
Alex
Federico says
I’m Italian and I’ve actually had a waiter watch me with open contempt the one time I decided I’d leave 4€ as a tip. He just left the excess amount on the table. So, yeah: don’t even bother 🙂
Alex Roe says
Maybe the waiter was the son of the restaurant owner, Federico? It’s very hard to know and I’ve been caught out myself by this in Italy – leaving tips can be offensive!
Best,
Alex
Jennifer Avventura says
It’s certainly not expected, but it’s nice, even just a few Euro. If we get tipped it goes into a big pot and it’s divided monthly among the wait staff. It’s a difficult call to tip or not to tip. I always go by the rule that if you enjoyed your service leave something, even in Italy. Maybe it’s because I’ve been doing this job for eons!
catherine xavier says
We have often wondered about whether to tip or not – thanks for clearing this up!
Jennifer Avventura says
I’ve worked in the service sector for over 22 years and all over the world. I am now working in a restaurant in Italy were of course we do not receive tips. Our hourly salary is pretty low and we work very hard! Should anyone ever come to my restaurant in Sardinia and if you are pleased with your service, please tip me. I’m Canadian, eh, and we like the tips!
Alex Roe says
Leave the name of your restaurant, Jennifer!
Your comment makes the whole issue of tipping in Italy even more fiddly. Foreign waiters/waitresses do expect tips from foreign diners who eat in Italian restaurants! Interesting to hear that you do not receive tips. What happens if someone leaves one? Do you get to keep it, or does the owner take it?
Thanks for your comment and the Twitter RT 🙂
Best,
Alex