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Tipping in Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
Tip 18–20% at restaurants, 15–20% for taxis, and $3–5 per night for housekeeping.
What to tip in Philadelphia
| Service | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurants | 18–20% | Philly has an excellent restaurant scene. BYO (bring your own wine) restaurants are common and don’t charge corkage — still tip 18–20% on food. |
| Cheesesteak shops | Not required | Counter-service spots like Pat’s and Geno’s don’t expect tips, but tip jars are there. |
| Bars | $1–2 per drink | Standard bar tipping. Philly has a great craft beer scene. |
| Taxis & rideshare | 15–20% | SEPTA (public transit) is cheap and effective. Tip taxi/rideshare drivers as usual. |
| Hotel housekeeping | $3–5/night | Standard. Leave cash daily. |
| Stadium food & drinks | Not required | Lincoln Financial Field concessions are standard — no tip expected. |
What's different here
- •The city is very walkable. Center City to the stadium area is a quick subway ride.
- •Pennsylvania sets the tipped cash wage at $2.83 an hour — barely above the federal floor and the lowest of any major East Coast city. Tips are most of a server’s pay here, which is worth knowing before rounding down.
- •Reading Terminal Market is mostly counter service. No tip is required at the stalls; sit-down spots inside follow the usual 18–20%.
- •BYOB restaurants are a Philadelphia institution. Tip on what the food would have cost with drinks in mind — servers still open, pour and clear, and the bill is smaller through no effort of theirs.