Happy Hour:How much should you tip a bartender?

HuggyBeahr
HuggyBeahr Posts: 259
in Chit-Chat
I typically tip 1$ a drink or 2$ if its a L,I,T or something confusing, and if I plan on getting more drinks. But how much do you tip her if you opened up a tab?

Replies

  • The_1_Who_Knocks
    The_1_Who_Knocks Posts: 343 Member
    I typically tip 1$ a drink or 2$ if its a L,I,T or something confusing, and if I plan on getting more drinks. But how much do you tip her if you opened up a tab?

    Wait til you close out your tab to tip, then give them at least 20%. More if you are feeling generous. Less if you want them to spit in your beer next visit.

    Just kidding.
  • MelissaLong1984
    MelissaLong1984 Posts: 6 Member
    I bartended for many years. I always figured the minimum on a well drink or draft beer is .50. Anything else, $1 a for 1-4 drinks and $2-$3 for any more than that. I think that is fair and reasonable.
  • AthleticForties_wechanged
    AthleticForties_wechanged Posts: 611
    I once heard $1 for a beer, $2 for a mixed drink. I've stuck to that if I'm only having 1 or 2.

    If I'm staying for a while I usually just tip a $20 up front and I never have to wait to get a refresh.
  • JMoore221979
    JMoore221979 Posts: 266
    I always do $1 per drink and then if I have a tab open I do 20%
  • JackieRL55
    JackieRL55 Posts: 144 Member
    I once heard $1 for a beer, $2 for a mixed drink. I've stuck to that if I'm only having 1 or 2.

    If I'm staying for a while I usually just tip a $20 up front and I never have to wait to get a refresh.

    I actually do the same thing and if I got really great service I throw in another $20 before I leave.
  • The_1_Who_Knocks
    The_1_Who_Knocks Posts: 343 Member
    Geez I am happy I drink on a military base. I don't even spend 20 bucks when I go to the bar, much less tip 20 bucks.
  • JMoore221979
    JMoore221979 Posts: 266
    Geez I am happy I drink on a military base. I don't even spend 20 bucks when I go to the bar, much less tip 20 bucks.

    yeah I can't imagine throwing a $20 down for a tip but then again maybe that's big city life, I am in a small town so prices are much lower.
  • kikicooks
    kikicooks Posts: 1,079 Member
    I always do $1 per drink and then if I have a tab open I do 20%

    ^this
  • HuggyBeahr
    HuggyBeahr Posts: 259
    When I lived in NYC, I would spend 7$ a drink. Here in Dallas I spend 4$. I figure its better to pay 1$ a drink than tip 20% considering I get 5 drinks.
  • phuckingbadasscutie
    phuckingbadasscutie Posts: 1,619 Member
    As a bartender, I am happy to hear you are all treating yours well! :drinker:
  • Orion782
    Orion782 Posts: 391
    If I'm having 3-4 drinks, then it's $1 a drink. If it's more than that, then I'll usually settle in somewhere between 15%-20%, depending on their service level.

    If it's a busy night and I want some better attention, I slip them a $10 up front.
  • awtume9
    awtume9 Posts: 423 Member
    $1 per drink. But once I've had quite a few drinks I tend to get really generous and wake up in the morning with no money.
  • JackieRL55
    JackieRL55 Posts: 144 Member
    Geez I am happy I drink on a military base. I don't even spend 20 bucks when I go to the bar, much less tip 20 bucks.

    yeah I can't imagine throwing a $20 down for a tip but then again maybe that's big city life, I am in a small town so prices are much lower.

    LOL yes that's NYC tipping etiquette. Any time I've left NY I've had bartenders actually tell me I tip too much but a good bartender will throw in some buy-backs to cover big tippers so if I tip big I'm usually getting a few extra drinks in there that I'm not technically paying for so it usually balances out.
  • fuhrmeister
    fuhrmeister Posts: 1,796 Member
    I always do $1 per drink and then if I have a tab open I do 20%

    ^this

    I'm jumping on this bandwagon
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I typically tip 1$ a drink or 2$ if its a L,I,T or something confusing, and if I plan on getting more drinks. But how much do you tip her if you opened up a tab?

    I tip 20% if it's not a place I regularly go to. If it's a regular haunt I tip very well, occasionally as much as 50%. I like to be catered to.
  • pinkledoodledoo
    pinkledoodledoo Posts: 290 Member
    I tip $1 per drink every time I go up.
  • PhearlessPhreaks
    PhearlessPhreaks Posts: 890 Member
    $1 per drink. But once I've had quite a few drinks I tend to get really generous and wake up in the morning with no money.

    haha, this! It also ends up getting me free drinks. :drinker:
  • The_1_Who_Knocks
    The_1_Who_Knocks Posts: 343 Member
    Geez I am happy I drink on a military base. I don't even spend 20 bucks when I go to the bar, much less tip 20 bucks.

    yeah I can't imagine throwing a $20 down for a tip but then again maybe that's big city life, I am in a small town so prices are much lower.

    Yeah I was at the bar last night. Had three tall Coors Lights over two hours and ate some free fried chicken too. My tab was $8.25 . Three dollar tip for the bartender and three more for the lady running the karaoke - total expenditure - $14.25.....including free dinner.

    Love that place lol.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    $1-3 depending on the drink and situation.

    $1 or less would be at a bar for live music, having to wait in a considerable line to pay for a well drink or beer. And when I say 'or less' that would be like, $2.50 for a beer I would let them keep the change on three singles.

    $2-3/drink would be a night out with my girlfriends, occupying the space for awhile and getting several drinks served to us.
  • Sinisterly
    Sinisterly Posts: 10,913 Member
    Ehehehe.. I'll get banned if I give ideas.

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