Just wondering how many of you tip in bars and restaurants.Got to admit that we very often dont but is it expected.

lots of books on Spain indicate it is normal, but on my first trip to Pradollano with a couple Spanish friends when I left a tip after coffee they jumped on me and said most emphatically NO !!

Most spanish only leave the odd few cents. They do expect foreigners to tip. I tip in every country unless food or service has been bad.

exactly - I think it depends what you're having

if it's just a coffee, then no - if the bill comes to an odd amount then leave the odd change maybe

if out for a meal, yes usually, but it depends on the place, service & overall bill

I usually leave a 10% tip, whether it's for coffee, a meal or a taxi, unless the service is poor.

I very rarely tip, the OH is more generous.

But as a rule, the smallest of change is the target. If it costs 4,95; Leave the 5cents. If it costs 49,95; Again leave the 5 cents.

Watch out though..........because now that people are not tipping as much, they FIX the bill, deliberate mistakes, etc.

So it's more important to check your bill in detail.

Imagine leaving a 10% tip, to find that they had added an extra 10% by MISTAKE in the bill.

I've been told by lots of Spanish that I shouldn't tip, as service is included in the bill. I do however tip when I feel I've had a good service and the waiter or waitress has had to do a lot of to-ing and fro-ing.
However I don't usually tip for drinks at the bar, nor for the menu del dia. Perhaps I should?

Have you noticed there is always a saucer on the bar for tips I throw odd change, if only to save myself for having a purse full of bits.

It's normally a jar or such like behind the bar - at least it is in the various places I've been to in Spain. But maybe you're referring to the saucer they give your change in? As I mentioned before I don't normally tip at the bar, especially if it's just a coffee or a glass of wine. But I do sometimes become generous when they give me substantial free tapas...

I do occasionally, but only if its a bar/restaurant I'm likely to go back to, or if the service was exemplary. Mainly tho, I go to the same places and they know me so it seems a bit pointless

Jo xxx

I bet their faces light up when you come in! We've always tipped in the past, but the last visit in May we purposedly refrained from tipping, only for very good service. Interestingly, a Spanish friend showed me that if they have had very bad service, they leave the smallest coin they have, simply to show that they have remembered the tip and that's what they think it was worth. Your 5 cents made me think of it!

We did that at one place. We had a drink whilst studying the menu and asked for some olives. When the bill came we had been charged 3 euro for about 12 olives. I handed over the plate with 1 cent on and said thankyou for the olives.

If going to a place regularly and service is good then I think it pays to be generous.

Don't know if it makes me a tight**** but I don't tip in places I go regularly, possibly because I know a regular customer is worth having... but if we go somewhere the OH definitely tips and tips more than I would!
As for bad service or dodgy bills, well then I simply don't tip or pointedly remove all the change from the saucer when they bring it back to the table. Oh, and yes I do query bills when they've been 'miscalculated' or have a different price on the spanish/english menus (not usually in these 'ere parts, but on the coast!)

Thanks for all your comments.

an old trick from repping - I used to use the same hotel everytime I stayed in Norwich, would go into the restaurant, pick up a menu, give the maitre d' a wave and get a drink in the bar. He would come to me in the bar, take dinner order, I bought him and chef a drink (always only a half was asked for ). When meal was ready, taken to good table and the food just flowed, no excessive waiting between courses getting bored. Dirty looks from other diners but thats their problem.

when dining out I occaisionally buy a drink for staff in Spain, not often but it has helped a guiri with a bad accent and little language skills to break the ice.