An issue that often goes unnoticed when planning a trip is tipping. A practice that in some countries like Japan is an offense, in other parts of the world it is a habit. And, as such, it is necessary to incorporate it into our “lexicon” of norms and customs as a foreigner.
In Buenos Aires, and in Argentina, tipping is a custom. It usually occurs in restaurants and bars, as well as delivery drivers, taxi drivers, tour guides, and luggage attendants. It constitutes a kind of “recognition” for the services received and, although it is not mandatory, it has become established as a cultural and social habit.
Here we will explain how much, where and when you should tip in Buenos Aires. As an advance payment, we recommend setting aside a reserve of cash for tips.
Tips in Buenos Aires: When, Where and in What proportion you Should Give Them
Key Points About Tipping in Buenos Aires
- The usual and average amount is 10% of the bill (more or less depending on the quality of service).
- It is usually given in cash and in local currency.
- Tipping is a recognition of the service received.
- While it is “optional,” tipping is quite common in Argentina.
- Some cafés and bars do not have table service, so you place your order at the counter and collect it yourself. In these cases, tipping is not necessary.
- Some restaurants and bars include “table service or cover charge” in their bills. This is not optional and is separate from the tip.
- It is advisable to set aside some cash (in Argentine pesos) for tips, as they cannot be paid with debit cards or digital payment methods.
When and Where is Tipping Customary in Buenos Aires?
Bars and Restaurants
Tipping is common for waiters. The tip can be given to individual waiters or pooled together and shared among all staff.
Do not confuse the tip with the table service or cover charge. This fee is not optional and is charged along with the total bill. It corresponds to the table service.
Take Away and Delivery
For Take Away, tipping is not necessary as it is for table service. However, you might find a tip jar on the counter, indicating “we don’t expect tips, but we appreciate them.”
For delivery, it is customary to tip. While it may not be 10% like in a restaurant or café, a symbolic amount is appreciated.
Taxis
It is not customary to tip taxi drivers as you would in a restaurant or for delivery. Instead, when paying in cash and expecting change, you can tell the driver to keep the change.
For example, if the fare is 2800 pesos and you pay with 3000 pesos, you can tell the driver to keep the 200 pesos change.
Tour Guides
It is customary to tip tour guides between 10% and 15%, provided the service was good and efficient. However, a “free tip” logic also prevails, meaning the amount reflects how significant their service was to you as a traveler.
Luggage Assistants
In these cases, the tip is a symbolic amount, not associated with a specific percentage. This tip acknowledges the assistant’s work handling your luggage, giving you peace of mind about your luggage’s treatment, whether at a hotel or the airport.
The Issue of “Trapitos” or Illegal Parking Attendants
Parking on public streets is free as long as you don’t see a yellow curb or park in front of a driveway, pedestrian crossing, or disabled ramp. However, in some parts of Buenos Aires, especially in busy areas at night, you might encounter illegal parking attendants, known as “trapitos.”
These are often homeless individuals or opportunistic criminals who, after “helping” you park (often doing nothing), will suggest that you need to tip them or pay a fee to ensure your vehicle’s safety. This practice is illegal.
You have three options in these situations:
- Pay them what they ask (or approximate their request) to avoid any potential issues (damage to your car).
- Refuse to pay them and hope they do not retaliate against your vehicle.
- Refuse to pay them and move your vehicle to another location or choose a private parking lot.
Street Performers
Here, tipping is more of a contribution to talent and art. In various parts of Buenos Aires, you’ll find performers such as dancers, musicians, magicians, and others sharing their talents with pedestrians. You may also encounter performers on public transport, especially subways and trains.
In the first case, you can drop a bill as a free contribution into a hat or instrument case the performers have for tips. For performers on public transport, you can recognize their talent or effort similarly, though you may need to wait until they finish their act and pass around a hat or bag for tips.
How Should You Tip in Buenos Aires?
Tips are almost always given in cash. As an informal contribution not recorded in receipts or payment slips, tips are usually given in Argentine pesos or dollars (though local currency is more common). In restaurants and bars with table service, tips are left on the table or handed directly to the waiter.
For take-away, tips are placed in a jar often found on the counter where orders are placed and collected. For delivery, if the order was placed by phone, the tip is given in cash to the delivery person. If you used a delivery app, the app may allow you to choose a tip amount, which is deducted directly and transferred to the employee’s account.
Tour guides, luggage assistants, and ushers (in theaters or cinemas) typically receive their tips in cash after completing their task. Street performers receive their tips in cash, either handed directly or placed in a hat or instrument case without waiting until the end of their performance.
How Much Should You Tip in Buenos Aires?
The most common amount is 10%, though this is primarily a guideline for restaurants and bars with table service. For delivery, luggage assistants, ushers, street performers, taxis, and tour guides, the tip amount can be below or above 10%, depending not only on the quality of service but also on how easily the percentage can be calculated for non-tangible services and goods.
Remember that the Argentine peso, the local currency, is subject to constant volatility due to factors such as inflation and devaluation.
(Featured Image Source: Fernando Calvo/flickr.com)
