Tips about tipping in Rome
Guests at the Chaplin Bed and Breakfast Rome often ask how much they should tip in restaurants, bars or hotels in Rome.There is not really a rule, not even an unwritten one. Though in Rome people generally tip more and more often than people from the rest of Italy (used to the customs of Rome, I once had a barkeeper in Florence sarcastically asking me what the small change I left him on the bar was for), a tip is not really expected.That does not mean that it is not appreciated, so here are some general guidelines about tipping in Rome.
- In a cafe, just leave a 10 cent coin on the bar, if you have had your coffee standing up, instead of sitting down at a table. Usually you have to get a scontrino (ticket) at the till before you can order and you put the coin down with this ticket. If, on the other hand, you sit down, you can tip a little bit more. This is not very logical, since you usually pay twice the amount when you are sitting down anyway, but if Italy were logical it wouldn’t be Italy anymore. The extra you pay is called servizio (service charge) and goes to the owner, not to the person serving you.
- In a restaurant you don’t need to leave more than a couple of euros, unless, of course, you are in a big group or you are eating in a more expensive restaurant. Especially in the tourist centre of Rome, restaurants sometimes tend towards auto-tipping themselves, so always check the bill carefully before paying. (The “coperto” is a normal item on the bill, but beware that you do not get charged both a coperto and a servizio. In that case don’t leave them anything.)
- In a taxi you can leave the driver a couple of euros, but no more than that, and also here beware that you don’t get overcharged.
- In bed and breakfasts in Rome, or in hostels or hotels, you can leave some money on the bed side table on they day you leave, unless your hotel is of the more expensive variety, in which case you follow the rules you are used to and tip everybody in sight, especially when other people an see you doing it.