In one of my online expat forums a few good questions about tipping in Italy were posted: Do we tip in Italy? What is the coperto? Why did the restaurant automatically add 15%?
A tip (also called a gratuity) is a sum of money tendered to certain service sector workers for a service performed or anticipated. Such payments and their size are a matter of social custom. Tipping varies among cultures and by service industry.¹
This is a rare sight in Italy but I found it at one restaurant just yesterday.
Many travelers who are from countries where tipping is customary; and are visiting non-tipping countries are often left wondering – to tip or not to tip? I’ve seen graphs from five years ago, stating that it’s customary to tip 10% (in addition to a service charge) in Italian restaurants. I disagree with this, five years ago and today. We have never left a 10% tip in any restaurant in Italy and I know other Italians who never tip the 10% which is stated in these charts.
To tip or not to tip? That is the question on everyone’s mind.
Do we tip in Italy?
There is really no straight forward answer to this. If it’s in your means to tip, then tip; but make sure that the hotel or restaurant has not already included an automatic service charge to your bill. Read all fine print.
I worked in a fancy hotel/restaurant this past summer and on occasion the customer did slip a few €10’s into my pocket. The tips came from the Brits and Italians – two countries not accustomed to tipping but they tipped anyway. I’ve also worked in a little coffee-house, not one tip, ever.
What is a coperto?
The coperto perfectly translated means cover charge. Most restaurants add an automatic, per person coperto. The €1-3 coperto is charged for taking up space in the restaurant; it goes towards the cleaning of the linens, glassware and sometimes it’s divided among the staff.
In Sardinia the average coperto is €2.50. From up-scale, posh restaurants to Mom and Pop diners with paper place-mats and plastic cutlery will charge the coperto. Be sure to check the small print on your menu. Some regions in Italy have tried to ban the coperto but to no avail. It still exists and people are still paying it.
Why did the restaurant add and automatic 15% to my bill at a restaurant in Venice, Florence or Rome?
The truth – you’re a tourist and they know it. Most locals are not given the automatic 10-15% when they dine in these tourist spots. However it’s illegal … unless it is written in the menu.
What is the difference between a service charge and the coperto?
A service charge is based on the customers discretion of service rendered. The service charge is divided among the wait staff, bartenders, kitchen staff and sometimes even the management. Generally the service charge is an extra 10-15% of your total bill.
A coperto is an automatic charge that goes towards the cleaning and repairing of linens, glassware and taking up space in a restaurant. Between €1-3.
What if the restaurant added a 15% service charge and the coperto?
Be sure to read all the fine print on the menu before handing the menu back to the staff. Then be ready to fight it, if you have it in you. It’s illegal and they are taking advantage of the unknowing tourist.
What to look for on the menu or bill:
Aggiungere – To add
10-15% automaticamente aggiunto per servizio.
10-15% automatically added for service.
Coperto – cover charge
I have never tipped extra in the 5 years I have lived in Sardinia. We didn’t tip extra when we went to Rome or Padova. Why? Because of the coperto. If we are dining with 10 friends at a fabulous restaurant by the sea the total coperto charge will come to €25. That’s a lot of extra money for cleaning linens or replacing broken glassware. Generally in a posh place the wage it somewhat higher than say a beach bar. Some servers in these posh establishments will take offence at your extra tip.
However – if you find yourself at a wonderful wooden beach bar which is packed with tourists, generally there is no coperto. The staff in these type of establishments make poor, poor wages.
How do I know this?
I was offered to work in such a beach bar this year and was offered the following:
€1000 a month; 7 days a week; 8-10 hours a day for 5 months (May-September is high season in Italy.) Pretty crappy, eh? So, tip that bartender or waitress who has run around making fancy cocktails and bringing you the local beer. They will be grateful.
To tip or not to tip in Italy? That’s up to you – the traveler, businessperson, backpacker or tourist. Just remember to read all the fine print otherwise you may find that you’ve been double charged a service fee.
What is the custom of tipping in your country?
My Sardinian Life 
They charge you for taking up space in the place? That’s simply cray cray!!
Think of it as an automatic tip!
You forgot to say that in the “coperto” is usually included also bread as Italians cannot imagine any meal to be consumed without bread on the table,Italians are also obsessively used to eat any meal on a tablecloth and only in the last few years are using (oh horror!) paper napkins,but only in some little places otherways well ironed and crispy linen are always used,this is the reason they charge for the cleaning and maintenance of everything on the table even before you order,not that I approve…it would be so much better to add a little bit more to each meal to cover for this,but there it is: another peculiarity of my compatriots…Down Under they have been promoting and promulgating with pride the fact that Australians don’t tip,they are totally against tipping as staff are well paid and don’t depend from these gratuities,I`ve had conversations and even arguments about this subject,and really people that are totally against it are the same people that expect bonuses for Christmas because they have worked well at their job but complain when things go up 50cents.I`ve also worked as a waitress,so are my kids and really you don`t expect tips but you you surely appreciate receiving them,you feel you`ve done a good job and that gives you a moment in which you feel valued.
We shouldn’t go like in the States where you are expected to tip for everything,that`s crazy!Tipping should be about rewarding a service,I am sure it started like that but the meaning deteriorated and became an excuse to extort money from the customer and the
staff.
PS.In a restaurant my daughter worked the owner kept ALL the tips!!!So Jennifer,there is injustice everywhere…..and yes I tip
Oh, good point about the bread, I forgot about that. Thank you.
Yes, there is injustice everywhere. I’ve also working in restaurants where management kept all tips, they said it would be divided but it never was and this was in Canada.
Thank you so much for this post! My husband and I are planning a trip to Italy next year and there are a million little things like this that we don’t know! I am actually pinning this for future reference. Thanks! 🙂
This is very informative. i think we get so used to having to tip everyone, that it comes automatically.
Is there a big difference between Florida tipping and tipping in South Africa?
Great post, good to know! In Germany the tip is 5-10% depending on the quality of the service.
Thanks for the info about tipping in Germany. What is the minimum wage for a waiter?
I would say about 8€. The tip often comes in big pott and will be shared.
Very useful post 🙂
Thanks, Julie. I’m pretty sure you did one for Portugal .. I would love to link to it if that’s ok with you, but I can’t find the link. 😉
Thanks for the link 🙂