Tipping in Paris: The Truth Behind the Pourboire
Forget what the guidebooks told you. Service is included, sure—but generosity is never out of fashion.
They’ll tell you not to tip in Paris.
The guidebooks. The influencers. The travel forums full of self-proclaimed experts. “No need to tip—service is already included!” they parrot, like they’re revealing some deep cultural truth instead of just giving you permission to be cheap.
But let me tell you something—as someone who’s worked the pass, worked the floor, worked until my knees ached and my fingers stung:
Just because it isn’t expected doesn’t mean it isn’t earned.
Yeah, it’s true—most Parisians don’t tip. Plenty of French people don’t either. But you know what? The good ones do. When the service is warm, when the night was special, when someone went above and beyond—they leave a little something. A pourboire. Enough for a drink. A quiet thank you slipped into the bill folder.
Because working in a restaurant is hard. Really hard. Especially when you’re busting your arse to give great service to someone who can’t tell a beurre noisette from a beurre blanc.
You ever done a 13-hour shift, five days a week, for barely above minimum wage? You ever smiled through exhaustion, juggled ten tables, ducked a burn, carried six plates, fixed a kitchen mess, charmed a fussy guest—and ended your shift with nothing but a nod and a shrug?
No? Then maybe you don’t know what a pourboire means to the people who make your evening unforgettable.
I’ve had Parisians give me vintage champagne. Regulars handing over envelopes stuffed with fifties. Kids drawing pictures of me cooking. These weren’t tourists. These were locals who saw the craft, the care, the graft—and wanted to say thank you properly.
So no, tipping isn’t mandatory here. But if you’ve had a good meal, if someone looked after you, if you walked away glowing from the experience—leave something behind. Not because the guidebook told you to, but because you’re not an arsehole.
And here’s a secret most tourists will never learn:
If you’re still sitting there at closing time, glass half-full, heart full—invite your waiter or your chef to join you for a drink. Share a moment. You might end up with a lifelong friend, a late-night story, or a memory that no Michelin star could ever match.
That’s Paris, too. Not just the food. The people behind it.
So tip the team. Raise a glass. Be the guest worth remembering.
Want to support your favourite chef or french waiter? Sharing this post might help make your friendly restaurant workers day.
👋 P.S. Ever left—or received—a great pourboire? Got a story about a night that turned into something more? Drop it in the comments or hit reply. Let’s swap some tales from the other side of the service bell.
Interested in more tips about heading out to a restaurant in Paris. Check out our recent end to end guide for hungry visitors visiting Paris Restaurants in 2025: