What is the established practice of tipping in German restaurants?
It is worth noting that in Germany, unlike in some other countries, waitstaff and other restaurant employees are paid a fair wage and do not rely on tips as a significant source of income. As a result, tipping in German restaurants is more of a gesture of appreciation than a necessity.
In Germany, in the past tipping meant rounding up the amount to the next Euro - 24.23 was rounded up to EUR 25.00. Nowadays, the established practice of tipping in restaurants is to leave usually between 5 and 10 percent of the total bill, as a gesture of appreciation for good service. 10% may make the waitperson’s day, because very few people pay that much.
Tipping is not required to tip in German restaurants, but it is considered polite to do so if you are satisfied with the service you received.
In some cases, especially in trendy restaurants in large cities, tip may be added to the bill as a separate service charge, especially for parties of 5 or more people. In this case it is not necessary to leave an additional tip.