The Irish Pub Guide

It’s a question that many ask when they arrive in Ireland, do people tip staff at pubs here? Tipping culture varies greatly by country, and with so many American visitors to the country, you may be wondering how similar is the general etiquette here.

Here’s our general advice on how it all works in pubs across the country from Dublin to Galway to Belfast and everywhere in between.

This is of course just advice, and people can do as they please, but this will give those who are unsure of how it all works, a good idea of what way to go about things.

I’m just buying a drink or two in a pub, do I tip?

While in the US and some other countries, people generally tip after every single drink, this is not generally the done thing in most pubs in Ireland.

People generally pay for their drinks as they go and in many cases won’t tip after each and might not tip at all.

If you’ve been getting good service and want to tip it’s perfectly acceptable, most places are very happy to accept tips, but you are not obliged to do so.

It’s bar service rather than table service, should I tip the bartender?

It’s customary to order your drinks at the bar counter in many pubs in Ireland, especially in more nightlife style spots and particular busy establishments. At these places, you again are not obliged to tip but feel free to do so if you want to, bartenders will be delighted to receive it.

In many cases, at these types of busy bars, there will be a tip jar on the counter where you can throw in some change or notes or however much you feel like giving.

I’ve ordered food and table service, do I tip?

When you have food and are being properly served at your table, it makes things slightly different, this is when tipping becomes more common place and somewhat expected.

Look out for a service charge on the receipt, this is usually charged at 12.5% and is to be divided amongst service staff, so it is effectively a different name for a tip, if this is included in the bill, you aren’t obliged to tip more, as you already have, unless you wish to offer more to staff for their service.

If you don’t have a service charge, the general rate of tipping is between 10 and 15%.