On entering a bar in Peekshill, New York, as a relatively naive 21 year old my local pal taught me a lesson. He ordered 2 beers at $5 a pop, took a slug from it, smiled at the barman and paid him $30 for the pair.
I was horrified, dumbstruck and flummoxed. Throughout the evening, we got the best service, best table and warmest smiles. Possibly a free Tequila as we stumbled out the door.
A year later my friend Daniel came to England and learnt a similar lesson. I ordered 2 beers in Greenwich, London. £3.92 said the barman. I diligently waited as the barman counted out £1.08p into my hand.
Had my friend been buying the beers in London he would have paid with a £5 note, taken the beers and walk away not waiting for the change. What a faux pas, what an insult to the barman.
Had I been buying the beers in New York I would have waited assiduously for my change. No smile or service thereafter.
Both of us were right in our seeminly similar yet diverse cultures.
Buenos Aires and Argentina are no different in their local protocol. The difficult thing as a new visitor is to grasp it before you insult or applaud.
Here are some insights to help you make your way.
In a restaurant, when you first look at a menu, look to see if it says “cubierto 5 pesos”. Cubierto more or less means cutlery and is a service charge placed by the house. “Una Propina” means literally a tip.
Tipping in restaurants or cafes here is not an obligation. If you are happy with the food and service please tip. If not, do not! It is true to say that in neighbourhoods that attract foreign visitors a hope verging on expectation has evolved where tips are concerned. A 10% tip for good service is good, if you want to tip more, you earnt it so you give it. If a meal for 2 in a Nice restaurant comes to 200 pesos, and you chose to tip 30 pesos more you will genuinely make the day of the waiter or waitress.
North Americans tend to be good tippers by nature and Europeans tend to be more restrained. I have witnessed with amusement a sort of double secret reverse style of behaviour in Buenos Aires.
Often Europeans, tight my nature in their tipping habits tend to tip more for various reasons. Maybe they don’t know the rules so more is better than less, maybe because they are on holiday and are happy to share the love and maybe because they feel that everyone thinks they are bad tippers so they overcompensate for those that came before.
North Americans can revert the other way. They know by portrayal that 15% is minimum. They also want and feel obliged to pay it by compunction. However, they don’t want to be another over tipping yankie. Having said that, they do not wish to leave the staff short following the good service and food they enjoyed.
Cubierto is a form of service charge and North Americans are not used to being charged service and then tipping on top. Cubierto is charged by the house and goes to the management. If you get funky bread, unasked for starters and a Limoncello on the house you should write that into the Cubierto. The tip you give will go directly to your waiter/waitress or shared collectively amongst the kitchen staff. I have never heard stories here where the management hold back the tips or indeed use them to pay the basic wages.
We have many guests in our B&B from all over the world. They often ask how it works here. Our guests are hard-working people who value their holiday time and who deserve to spend the fruits of their labour the way they wish.
Share the love I say,
Abrazos are free,
David x
To understand, to feel and to ultilmately watch a football match between River Plate and Boca Juniors is a privilege.
Yesterday was one of those days in Argentina that makes living abroad seem that bit more special. It opens the door to opportunities and events that would never be possible in your home country.
At Home @ Abode Buenos Aires 
Recent Comments