?? You aren't required to tip your waiter or waitress. ?? A service fee of 15% is automatically included in EVERY restaurant, caf? and bar in France. ?? Serving staff in France are paid a full wage with paid holidays, health care etc. They don't rely on tips as part of their living wage.

In Paris, tipping practices are far more modest than in North America because service is legally included in the price of your meal. By French law, a 15% service charge (service compris) is already factored into the bill. This means you are under no obligation to leave an additional tip. However, it is a common social gesture to leave a small amount of "pocket change" for good service. In 2023, for a casual coffee or a light lunch, rounding up to the nearest Euro or leaving €1 to €2 is perfectly sufficient. For a formal dinner at a mid-range restaurant, a tip of 5% to 10% is considered generous and is usually left in cash on the table, as many French credit card machines do not have a "tip" prompt. For other services, such as a taxi or a tour guide, tipping a few Euros is appreciated but not mandatory. In luxury hotels, it is customary to tip a porter €1 to €2 per bag. Essentially, tipping in Paris is a "bonus" for exceptional hospitality rather than a requirement to supplement the staff's wages.