The International’s Guide to Tipping in New York City

Let’s face it: one of the hardest adjustments to make as an international is getting used to all of the tipping that goes with living in New York City! Whether it’s your waiter, cab driver, or delivery guy, after a while you begin to ask yourself where all your small bills are going.Tipping can be a complicated thing to get used to. Luckily, New York International has put together these tipping guidelines just for you! So, how do you tip like a New Yorker?At a restaurant: A common rule to go by when tipping in NYC is simply to double the tax – though a lot of the time this leads to under tipping. We like to stick to the 15/18/20 rule. If the service was decent or if you ordered something relatively simple then we suggest you leave 15% of the final bill. 15% means you thought the service was satisfactory but could have been better. An 18% tip means the meal was at a top notch establishment and the service and environment were great. If you truly enjoyed the food and got great service, then a 20% tip definitely goes a long way in making the waiter’s night.At a bar: This situation definitely raises a lot of questions! If you order something simple like beer or wine a $1 tip is definitely expected. If you’re ordering a mixed drink like a vodka soda then a $2 tip for the bartender’s efforts will suffice. We usually reserve the $3 tips for drinks that require more effort (lighting something on fire, grinding, etc.). You always want to get on the bartender’s good side from the very beginning, so that you’re not left waiting long for your next drink -- and if that means a $2 tip for your first beer then go for it.In a cab: Tipping a cab driver can also be a tricky scenario. Though 20% - 30% of the total bill would be fine, if you follow those percentages a $20 cab ride everyday can really add up by the end of the week. We usually like to tip our cabs based on the distance between destinations. The most common tip is $2-$5 anywhere around the city. Of course, there are always exceptions – that really nice cab driver who was such a pleasure to talk to on your way home probably deserves a little more,  and a cab ride to the airport also warrants around a $10 tip. In addition, don’t be afraid not to tip if the cab driver was mean, drove too fast, made you uncomfortable or took a direction you didn’t ask for. Tipping cabs is more about how you felt about the experience and what you feel comfortable tipping.Food delivery people: What would we do without them? If your delivery person didn’t have to go a long distance and it’s only you eating then $2 is customary. If you’re throwing a party and the delivery guy is bringing along a heavy food order, do yourself a favor and tip well. In addition, if it’s an establishment close to your apartment and you know that you will be ordering a lot, then perhaps your first order should include a generous $5 tip, to help your next order come extra fast. Also, if it’s raining, sleeting, or just terrible weather, tip a little extra! You’ll be remembered.Misc. deliveries: This is things like furniture delivery or laundry delivery. If it is relatively easy to get up to your apartment (elevator) and if it’s not a large order (a chair) then generally a $5 tip is much appreciated. If your order is a lot more complicated (large air conditioners come to mind, going up to the 6th floor) then be prepared to fork out a $20 tip to ensure your delivery person doesn’t give you the stink eye. A good rule is: The more sweat you see, the more generous the tip should be.Nail/hair salon: This one doesn’t necessarily have to be for the ladies! If you’re getting just a manicure then generally a $2 tip is fine. If you’re getting both a manicure and a pedicure then tip a little extra  - something like $5. At the hair salon it is customary in New York to tip your hair stylist 15-20% of the total bill. As for the gentlemen, if you frequent a barbershop like Astor Place then $5 is fine. If you get your haircut at a fancier place then a 15-20% tip is customary.Hotels: At hotels it can often feel like you are tipping everyone – and it’s often because you are. One of our Twitter followers suggested always having small bills in your pockets when staying at a hotel, and we definitely agree. These small bills are handy when tipping employees like the doorman, room service waiter, and housekeeper. The doormen are highly useful when it comes to hailing a New York City cab and a $2 tip is the norm. As for porters and bellhops, $1-$2 per bag is appreciated. One of the trickiest people to tip at hotels is the housekeeper. Depending on the size of the room and the mess that you leave behind on a daily basis, we recommend $2-$5 daily. Perhaps $5 on the first day if you want the housekeeper to keep your room spotless! When ordering room service you should tip 15-20% of the entire bill.Doormen / superintendent: For Internationals, this is probably the trickiest category, because honestly, it depends a lot on the house and area you live in and what the doormen and super are doing for you. When it comes to the super, you don’t need to tip him when he fixes emergencies or appliances that are part of your lease. Once you ask the super to help you with your private belongings you definitely need to be generous with your tip – after all, he doesn’t need to be doing this – and it helps you to save on outside help. Tipping generously here will help you establish a relationship that will last, so start with $20 as a rule. Regarding doormen, every house is different. A lot of doormen will not accept tips for everyday services like helping you with the door, or storing your bike. When you get deliveries regularly and he helps you with services during your vacations you should write a thank you note and include a larger bill. The end of the year is a good time to thank everyone with a generous gift. You can always ask your neighbors what’s customary and then go by your own judgment: If you like the people who work for you everyday, treat them nicely!Getting used to tipping can be difficult for an international – and admittedly, it can become expensive and frustrating. New York City is already one of the most expensive cities in the world and adding tipping on top of that can burn a hole through your wallet. Nonetheless, for individuals in these service industries your tips make up a large portion of their income.  Remember, these people also need to make a living in New York City, and often support family outside the U.S. Due to the importance of your tip, most of the time you will be treated with great care and respect, which will make handing over that $5 bill a whole lot easier.If you believe in good karma and want to leave a positive impression at an establishment you really enjoyed then we suggest following the golden rule: When in doubt, tip more.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with being too generous and it’s guaranteed you will feel better about yourself.