How does tipping work in Barcelona?
Tipping in Barcelona is optional and modest by North American standards. Locals rarely tip at all, and nobody will chase you down or stare if you leave nothing. At sit-down restaurants, rounding up the bill or leaving a euro or two per person is considered generous; 10% is the ceiling, reserved for genuinely exceptional service. At coffee bars and casual tapas spots, dropping the small change from your coins is plenty. Hotel housekeeping gets one to two euros per night if you choose to leave anything. Taxi drivers are not tipped as a rule; rounding up to the nearest euro is a courtesy, not an expectation. The one context where tipping shifts is high-end restaurants, particularly in Eixample or the waterfront, where the staff is accustomed to international visitors and a 5-10% tip lands well. Card machines will not prompt you for a gratuity the way American terminals do, so cash is the practical medium when you do tip.
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