How much should I tip my bartender?

Question

For one beer? For one shot? For one mixed drink? How would one really decide what quality service is if that affects the tip amount?

Answer 1

It depends on whether you are in one of your regular haunts or in a place you might not go very often.

First of all you should ALWAYS tip well no matter where you are at. Its shows class first of all. Secondly, tipping is how you ensure you get good service.

It is very important to tip your local bartender very, very well. If the bartender is any good at all THEY WILL REMEMBER. That is the way to get doubles for the price of a single, or even free drinks. The bartender plays "god" with the houses booze. Its more than just giving away free drinks or "long pours" with no return. A good bartender will use the "long pour" or free drink to increase both his tips as well as etablish a long term customer for the bar.

Okay . . .unless the place is just too busy and the service sucks, always run a tab if you are having more than 2 drinks. At the end of the night tip generously. You can tip less than if you pay and tip for each drink, it saves the waitstaff/bartender time from making change, and it allows you to grease the staff with a large tip. I personally tip a minimum of 10 dollars on any tab MAKE SURE YOU HAND THE MONEY DIRECTLY TO THE BARTENDER OR WAITSTAFF. That way they know you did it.

Your regular bartender will appreciate that you appreciate their efforts and you will see it in your pours. Also when the joint is PACKED and your 3 bodies deep from the bar, that same bartender will single you out and serve you FIRST if they are any good at all. (unless there is a large breasted woman standing in front of you)

If i know i'm going to be tying one on in another bar, i order my first drink directly from the bartender and I tip him with a 10 right off. Hand it to him directly. This is the universal sign. The next time you order a drink, it will be a double. Even when a waitress takes over, he will still remember your drink. Buy the bartender a few shots over the evening and tip a little at the end of the night. THAT'S HOW ITS DONE!!

Answer 2

As a bartender, I know that tips are the only way to get by. We get paid next to nothing per hour and work our tails off. On average, I serve up to 45 drink an hour on a slow night. That's on top of everything else that's going on. Dollar a drink is average. However, sometimes I get less, sometimes I get more. The trick I always use is NEVER give the customer back his/her change. Always put it down on the bar. It's natural reflex for someone to instantly put the money in their pocket forgetting about a tip. Many times, when the bill comes, the customer gives me the amount to the nearest 10 and gives the change as a tip. But one dollar per drink is average. When in a restaurant, keep in mind the tip you're leaving for the server goes to the bar, the cook and the house. What's left goes to the server.

Answer 3

I usually tip anywhere from a dollar a round to a dollar a drink, depending on the service. If I'm on a tab, I usually wind up tipping $10 for the evening.

Things I look for in service: If I have to go to the bar myself more than twice in a night, I stop tipping the waitress, period. If I'm waiting at the bar to order, and the bartender skips over me to serve someone who has been waiting less time, that cuts the tip in half, automatically.

I tip extra when the bartender or waitress knows what I'm drinking by memory after the 3rd order, and all the other "standard" measures of good service.

Answer 4

Bartender tips work just like any other types of tips. The going rate is 15%. However, if I go to a bar or restaurant, I always tip 20% if the service was outstanding. In your case, if you just want to tip a $1 on one beer, you can either hand the bartender the 4 and say "keep it" or you can leave it on the bar. Don't bother telling the barternder the $1 is the tip, thats kind of tacky. I have never been to a bar where the tip jar was in reach of the customers. The tip jar, if the bar has one, is always behind the bar and used to pool tips to be shared with other employees.

Answer 5

Usually a dollar a drink depending on the service you receive. If it's great service I tip any where between $1-$2 a drink...If they are service is good I will tip $1 for a round

Answer 6

depends on what you are drinking...
(this is for paying with cash)
if you are drinking beer out of a long neck, the change from buying it will do (50 cents to 1 dollar)
if you are buying mixed drinks, tip more, normally the bartender will reward you with stronger drinks
if you are running a tab, go around 20-25 percent or so unless you get really good service or really poor, than adjust accordingly.

Answer 7

Most bartenders rely on tips alone as the tipped minimum wage usually goes straight to taxes (most bartenders taxes are calculated on a minimum of 8% of the gross reciepts.)
18% is the customary gratuity. If you recieved superior service (a shoulder to cry on, someone to chat with, and/or perhaps a complemetary drink) then 20%+.

Answer 8

well i work in the restaurant business, fine dining. usually bartenders working in fine ding make money because of quality not quantity. so i would suggest that if you in a fine dining establishment to over tip, 5.00 is nice 3.00 is okay as well. anything under that for a fancy restaurant will get you talked about as soon as you leave the bar! If you decide to eat dinner at the bar then always tip like you would tip a waitor at leat 18%. if you at a local bar or something like outback or tgif's then a doller per drink is certainly fine. keep in mind there working on quantity.
that my opinion!

Answer 9

General rule is a dollar per drink. Extra should be considered for better service or for "buybacks" or one on the bartender.

If you get bad service, you can reflect that in your tip as well. No one likes to get stiffed.

Answer 10

Service is a factor. But $1 per drink is what most average.