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WhatTheTip

Cafés · France

Do you tip at cafés in France?

Short answer

Leave the coins

Leave the small change from your saucer.

OptionalCash preferred

For a coffee or a glass of wine at a terrace table, leaving 20–50 cents is a normal habit and completely optional. Nobody counts.

Cash or card?

Card terminals in France almost never prompt for a tip. If you want to leave one, use cash.

Common questions

Do you tip at cafés in France?
Leave the small change from your saucer. For a coffee or a glass of wine at a terrace table, leaving 20–50 cents is a normal habit and completely optional. Nobody counts.
How much should you tip in cafés in France?
Leave the coins. Leave the small change from your saucer.
Can you tip by card in France?
Card terminals in France almost never prompt for a tip. If you want to leave one, use cash.

← Full tipping guide for France

Editorial review pending. These figures reflect widely reported norms for France and have not yet been checked against cited sources.