Tipping in Spain?

[Matt]

Hello everyone,

I'm a little confused by whether or not you should tip in Spain. I have lived in Spain for four years and have always thought that tipping was not normal. My Spanish friends tell me that they never tip. Some say that they might leave the excess change from a note - but would never dig in to their pockets to add more change, even if that meant that a bill of 49.80€ would only get 20c tip from a 50€ note.

But then I read this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7146650.stm

I don't understand. Is this Minister drinking in places I can't afford? My friends are admittedly mainly students and 'milenos' (I think that's the term for the 1000€-a-month people in madrid) so maybe they don't tip but the upper end do?

I thought starting a debate on this topic here would be a good way of getting to the bottom of this.

Thanks.

[Carl]

5% is what I do, no matter if is dinner or lunch, unless the food or services was very bad, then I do not do it. I think the tips are very important for the people working in the restaurants, maybe even more important then there normal salary.

[Jack]

We rarely leave more than 5% at dinner (it took years for Marina to pursuade me that this was normal!), and at lunch, if it is a menu del dia, the Spanish might just leave 1 euro or nothing at all! People harldy ever tip in bars for drinks of coffee, and if they do, it might only be 20 cent

[KB84]

I also do about 5% or if I'm in a good mood and the service and food were good I would do about 10%.

[Matt]

Would it also depend on the sort restaurant? For example a fastfood restaurant like MCDonalds, do you tip there?

[cases xalo]

Morning

My previous employment was in a Bar/restaurant and some of the worst tippers were the Spanish. It was infuriating after running around after them all evening, they came in late just as kitchen was closing, ordered (i dont like this but ill have that), a few beers and cheap plonk and then the bill. If it was more than 4 they'd all want an individual bill, for what they ate and drank. Then they'd insult me and the rest of the staff by leaving a 1c or 20c tip!
I must reiterate that this was only some spanish, some others were very good tippers.

In general, the wages in restaurants are approx 6euros an hour The minimum wage. Majority of the restaurants seem to take the tips and not give them to the staff - so make sure you give the tip to someone unless you want it in the owners pocket! In the UK this is unheard of but here I know of 2 or 3 places that do it.

As for leaving a tip, I always leave approx 1 or 2 €uros, unless the meal was bad. I dont tip at fast food restaurants (the only service being them taking the order and giving you the food at the checkout, whilst the customers have to get up and walk round if they want anything napkins, dessert, salt, and even have to put your own tray and food in bin). Some restaurants include a tip whilst others leave it to the discretion of the customer.

Theoretically, the service should be good, they should listen to your needs (wait a while between courses, dietry requirements etc), attentive, yoru glass should always be topped up, you should have everything on your table needed for your next course (salt, pepper, mustard, fish knife etc) before the course arrives). The service should listen and be kind but not overly friendly :- afterall you could be the biggest tipper of the evening!!

I was always proud as punch when i had a tip over a euro as I knew that meant i had done well.

I worked in restaurants for 4 years, i worked my way up from the bottom to head waitress and in the kitchen as well from washing up to assistant head chef. I enjoyed my work but it was very tiring, so i spent 1 year working in both the property agency and a restauarnt incase I didnt have staying power in the agency.

The best feeling in the world is when you provide a service and someone goes home happy, full and thats reflected in the tip left!

Happy Tipping !

[KB84]

Thanks for sharing your story! My girlfriend is a waitress and she says the same about the Spanish, the worst tippers around, even worse then the Dutch, now that must say something. But she enjoys her job and there are Spanish people that do tip good. She says the best tippers are the British. Maybe it's has to do with the euro, that the British don't really think of the amount they are giving.

[Louise31]

It is generally expected to get 10% of the bill but I always say tip what you feel the service was worth, some restaurants will put the tip on as a service charge so check before paying it.

[Cossette]

I never though that tipping has becoming an obligation rather an act of compliment. If that would be the situation, then I avoid eating out.

[bubble]

We always leave a tip after eating out, it is what is expected.