Is it customary to tip in France?

Is it customary to tip in France?

Okay, so tipping in France… it's kind of a funny thing. Where I'm from, you have to tip, like it's built into the bill almost. But in France? Not so much. It’s actually a relief, to be honest! You're not expected to, which takes a load off. See, I always feel this weird pressure back home, like, how much is enough? Did I tip too little? Too much? It gets in my head, you know?

In France, it feels more genuine. Like, if someone really made my meal special, or was super helpful – say, recommending a fantastic local wine I wouldn't have tried otherwise (which happened to me in this tiny bistro in Nice – oh my goodness, that wine!) – then I absolutely leave a tip. Usually cash, tucked under the corner of the bill. I feel like it’s more… direct? More appreciative? It just feels right. Plus, isn't it nicer to slip someone a little extra something directly, rather than it just being added onto a card payment? It feels more personal, don't you think? I dunno, maybe it’s just me. But the whole tipping thing in France feels less… obligatory, and more about genuinely acknowledging good service.