do you tip in swiss restaurants
In Switzerland, tipping in restaurants is generally lower than in the United States, and it’s not as expected. However, it’s still considered polite to leave a small tip for good service. Here are some guidelines:
- Restaurant tipping: Round up the bill to the nearest 5 or 10 Swiss Francs (CHF) or leave 5-10% of the total bill. For example, if the bill is 32.50 CHF, you could round up to 35 CHF.
- Cafes and bars: Leave 1-2 CHF per drink or round up the bill to the nearest 5 or 10 CHF.
- Fine dining: In upscale restaurants, you might consider leaving 10-15% of the total bill.
It’s essential to note that service charges are usually included in the bill, and some restaurants might even mention "service compris" (service included) or "Trinkgeld inbegriffen" (tip included).
Additional tips:
- Always check the bill carefully to see if service charges are already included.
- Cash is still widely used in Switzerland, but credit cards are becoming more popular. If you’re paying by credit card, you can usually add the tip to the bill or give the server a cash tip.
- Tipping in restaurants with a " Familienbetrieb" (family-run) sign or those serving traditional cuisine might be less expected, but it’s still appreciated.
Remember, tipping in Switzerland is generally less extravagant than in the US, but a small gesture of appreciation is always welcome.