Tipping in France: 2026 Guide for Travelers

What “Service Compris” Means on Your Bill

By law, French menu prices include both tax and service, so the total on your addition (the check) is complete. There is no separate service line to look for, and nothing is hidden. If you were thrilled with the meal, a tip of 5–10% is a compliment; if service was merely fine, a couple of euros or nothing at all is normal.

Occasionally a tourist-heavy restaurant will hint that “service is not included.” That isn’t how French pricing works — the posted prices already cover service, and any extra is your choice.

Ask for the check with “L’addition, s’il vous plaît.” In France the server won’t bring it until you ask — lingering is expected, not a sign of slow service.

Cafés, Bistros, and Bars

At a café, leaving the small change from your coffee — 20 to 50 cents — or rounding up to the next euro is the classic move. Coins left on the saucer or the little tray the check came on are understood as a pourboire.

Many Paris cafés charge different prices depending on where you sit: the counter (au comptoir) is cheapest, then the inside room (en salle), then the terrace (en terrasse). Drinking at the counter means no tip is expected at all. At a cocktail bar with table service, rounding up or leaving €1–2 per round is plenty. More on bar habits in our bartender tipping guide.

Paying by Card vs Leaving Cash

Servers usually bring the card terminal to the table. Some terminals, especially in Paris, now show a tip screen; others don’t. If there’s no prompt and you want to tip on the card, tell the server the total you want charged before they key in the amount (“Vous pouvez mettre trente-cinq euros”).

Many visitors find it simpler to pay the exact bill by card and leave a couple of euro coins on the table. Cash tips are more likely to reach your server directly. For the pros and cons of each, see cash vs card tipping.

Taxis, Hotels, and Guides

• Taxis and VTC (Uber, Bolt): round up the fare or add €1–2, more if the driver lifted heavy luggage. Paris airport flat fares don’t require anything extra.
• Hotel porters: €1–2 per bag.
• Housekeeping: €1–2 per night is a kind gesture but not expected at most hotels.
• Concierge: €10–20 for a difficult restaurant booking or show tickets; nothing for directions.
• Tour guides: €5–10 per person for a good half-day group tour of Paris, the Loire, or Normandy beaches; more for a private guide.
• Hairdressers: optional; a few euros for a good cut.

Don’t Bring US Tipping Math to Paris

Adding 18–20% to a French restaurant bill means paying for service twice — once in the menu prices and once in your tip. On a €120 dinner, that’s an extra €22–24 where a local would leave €5 or nothing. French servers won’t be offended, but there is no social pressure to do it, and you shouldn’t feel any.

A useful benchmark: if service was good, leave a few euros; if it was memorable, leave about 10%. Planning a multi-country trip? Compare customs in our tipping around the world overview.