Some Tips on Tipping

Friday August 29, 2008

Go out and enjoy all of the great restaurants in Germany. And when the time comes to ask for the bill, here are two good things to know about tipping (in German Trinkgeld, literally “drinking money”):

First things first, your waiter will not bring you the check until you ask for it. Take as much time as you like; you're in Germany.
Then the question is not only how much to tip (normally 10%), but also how to tip. I love the way you tip in the U.S.; paying the bill and then leaving the tip on the table. This is a no-go in Germany; you tip on the hand, giving it to your waiter when you pay. The easiest way is to round the sum of the bill up and include the Trinkgeld. For example, when your dinner costs 27 Euro, just give the waiter 30 Euro even.

If you are feeling bold, try a little German and say Stimmt so, (pronounced shtimt zo, meaning “we are even”), and your waiter knows that gratuity is included.

Do you have favorite German restaurants, stories or recommendations? Share them in the comments section below.