Restaurants: 18 to 20 per cent
Around 18 per cent is normal and 20 per cent is standard for decent service. Tipping under 15 per cent reads as a complaint. Check the bill first, because some restaurants now add a service charge automatically, particularly for larger groups, and you should not pay twice.
The double-the-tax shortcut
New York City sales tax is 8.875 per cent, and it is printed on every restaurant bill. Doubling it gives you 17.75 per cent, which is the quickest way to land on a correct tip without doing arithmetic at the table. Round up from there.
Bars, taxis and hotels
At a bar, one to two dollars a drink, or 20 per cent on a round. In a taxi or rideshare, 15 to 20 per cent. In hotels, a couple of dollars per bag for a porter, and two to five dollars a night for housekeeping, left in the room rather than at the desk.
Card machines will suggest amounts
Card terminals routinely offer 20, 25 and 30 per cent, and increasingly do so in places where tipping was not previously expected, such as a counter coffee. You are free to choose the custom option or none at all. The suggested figures are the venue's preference, not a rule.
Budget for it before you travel
Over a week of eating out, tipping adds a meaningful amount to the cost of a trip. Factor 15 to 20 per cent onto every restaurant and bar estimate when planning your budget, alongside the sales tax that is added at the till rather than shown on the menu.
Hotel mini reviews
Shortlist these hotels first.
The Plaza
- Best for
- Classic luxury, Central Park, once-in-a-lifetime trips
- Avoid if
- You prefer modern boutique energy or need strong value for a long stay.
- Nearest subway
- 5 Av/59 St and 57 St nearby
- Booking notes
- Check taxes, breakfast and cancellation carefully; the headline rate is only part of the decision.
Arlo SoHo
- Best for
- Repeat visitors, downtown food, compact-value stays
- Avoid if
- You need large rooms, family space or daily Midtown sightseeing convenience.
- Nearest subway
- Canal St / Spring St area
- Booking notes
- Look closely at room size and bed setup; compact rooms can be a fair trade for the location.
Hotel Beacon
- Best for
- Families, roomier stays, kitchenette convenience
- Avoid if
- You want nightlife on the doorstep or a design-led luxury hotel.
- Nearest subway
- 72 St nearby
- Booking notes
- Check kitchenette, sofa-bed and bed-type details; these matter more than star rating for families.
Fast answers
Questions UK travellers ask before booking.
How much should I tip in a New York restaurant?
Between 18 and 20 per cent for table service. Doubling the 8.875 per cent sales tax shown on your bill gives 17.75 per cent, which is a quick and accurate shortcut.
Do I have to tip in New York?
In practice, yes, for table service, bars, taxis and hotel housekeeping. Staff wages are frequently set on the assumption that tips form part of their income, so it is treated as part of the price rather than as optional.
Should I tip hotel housekeeping?
Two to five dollars a night is customary, left in the room rather than handed in at reception. Leaving it daily is better than at the end, because different staff may clean the room on different days.
What if a service charge is already on the bill?
Then you do not need to tip on top. Check before adding anything, as automatic service charges are increasingly common for larger groups and at some restaurants for everyone.
Sources and update notes
Last updated: 17 August 2026. Hotel rates, fees, rules and transport details can change.