Restaurants · Egypt
Do you tip at restaurants in Egypt?
Short answer
10%, on top of any service charge
Leave about 10% in cash, even if service was added.
ExpectedCash preferred
Most restaurants add a 12% service charge, but it goes to the business rather than the waiter. Leaving 5–10% in cash directly with the server is the normal practice and genuinely expected. Local street food and koshary shops need nothing beyond rounding up.
In practice
- A 600 EGP dinner with service added → leave 50–60 EGP cash for the waiter
Tip calculator
- 10%
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Common questions
- How much should you tip at restaurants in Egypt?
- 10%, on top of any service charge. Leave about 10% in cash, even if service was added.
- Can you tip by card in Egypt?
- Card tipping is not practical outside of large hotels. Cash in Egyptian pounds is essential; foreign notes are accepted but often at a poor rate.
More on tipping in Egypt
Tipping at restaurants elsewhere
Reviewed by Greg Kockott on 3 September 2026.
Figures checked against the sources below on 4 September 2026.
Sources
- Rough Guides, “Egypt travel tips for first-timers” (consulted 2026-09-04)
- Lonely Planet, “The Ultimate Guide to Tipping in Africa” (consulted 2026-09-04)