First off, tipping in Italy is neither mandatory nor expected, but if you do decide to do so, the gesture is a very clear indicator that you appreciated the service provided.
If you ask locals “Do you tip in Italy?”, they'll explain that while they sometimes leave a small tip, it's generally not necessary. In Italy, gratuity (or una mancia, pronounced oo-nah MAN-chah) is considered a bonus for exceptional service. And it's not often that you'll find a tip jar at a register.
Tipping in Italy: Restaurants
While there are no standard rules like in America, if you've received exceptional service, a 5-10% tip max is appreciated. Otherwise, a few euro left on the table when you leave is also fine for good service.
Home » Food and drink » Do I need to tip in Rome? Tips are not expected in restaurants in Italy. Let us repeat that to let it sink in: tips are not expected in restaurants. However, a service charge is sometimes added, in a way that can often cause confusion for visitors.
Don't request a slice of pizza. In Italy, unless sold on the street or “al taglio” (sold in rectangular or square slices by weight), it's always round and served on a plate. 2. You cut the pizza yourself and then eat it with a knife and fork, the most common way, or fold each slice and eat it with your hands.
First off, tipping in Italy is neither mandatory nor expected, but if you do decide to do so, the gesture is a very clear indicator that you appreciated the service provided.
Some say it is a way to reward those who offer good service - others say it encourages hospitality businesses to offer lower wages. The fact is in Australia tipping is entirely voluntary. It doesn't matter how good the service is, you are never obliged to tip.
TIPPING AT A BAR OR CAFÉ IN ITALY
If you order a coffee at a bar or a café in Italy, a tip is not expected.
The short answer is yes. Drinking water from the tap in Italy is considered safe. Tap water in the major cities and towns around Italy is safe for consumption, and there are thousands of old-style water fountains dotted around cities, like Rome, where you can fill up water bottles.
Yes, you do have to pay for that antipasto or foccacia, even if the waiter offered it rather than you ordering it outright.
"Il conto, per favore."—The check, please.
In Italy, you typically have to ask for the check; the waiter does not simply drop off the check in advance, as in most American restaurants. Use the above phrase when you're ready to pay.
Italy's best travel months are May, June, September, and October. They're also the busiest and most expensive time to visit (with the north remaining just as busy throughout midsummer). Crowds aside, these months combine the convenience of peak season with pleasant weather.
You can use credit cards at most establishments in Italy. Hotels, restaurants, and shops usually accept credit cards in Italy. Outside of most establishments, you will see stickers of the cards they accept. The most widely used cards are Visa and Mastercard.
Australia's national minimum wage is far more generous, making tips a bonus rather than a means of survival.
Yet sometimes the etiquette is not to tip. Tipping is set on precedence and evolves over time, Smith said. If you're ever in doubt on whether or not you should or shouldn't tip, “It is always better to offer a tip than not to tip,” she said.
The Emily Post Institute, which offers guidelines on etiquette, advises that tipping in a sit-down restaurant is expected. But faced with a tip jar, or the technology that replaces that, customers should consider tipping to be discretionary.
It is improper to put one's hands on one's lap, or to stretch one's arms while at the table. Resting one's elbows on the table is also considered to be poor manners. Do not leave the table until everyone has finished eating. Drinking beverages other than water or wine with a meal is quite uncommon.
You simply flag down your server and politely say: “Il conto per favore!” (the check please).
Waiters and waitresses are salaried in Venice. When a service charge is included in the bill, there's no need to leave a tip. But, if you are more than satisfied with the service, you may want to leave 5%-10%. If a service charge is not added to your bill, leave a tip of 12% or so.
Italians eat pizza with a fork and knife. Pizza is to be enjoyed straight from the oven and piping hot. Waiting for your dinner to cool down is just not an option – protocol says it should be enjoyed straight away.
In Italy, arguably the birthplace of pizza, pies are served uncut, so using a knife and fork to perform triangular cuts is mandatory.