How much do you tip coat check attendants at restaurants?

[peter j]

I usually tip $2 per item, but my friend says that's too generous. What do you think?

[ZPrice]

Most museums I've been to have a mandatory coat check for bags (backpacks). I must be cheap because I tip $2 for everything we check (could be two coats in winter plus a backpack or just a backpack in summer).

[josephnl]

I don't think you're cheap. When I said what I tip, I was referring to checking coats at a nice restaurant.

[josephnl]

$2 for one person, $5 for two. Perhaps a buck more if the attendant comes out and helps in putting on the coat(s).

[Harters]

Never seen a coat check at a restaurant in Europe or north America.

[Bill Hunt]

Wow.

I have encountered many, in both Europe/UK and all around the US.

Maybe the season, or the exact location?

Hunt

[josephnl]

Have you ever dined out at a nice restaurant in New York City, Boston, Chicago, DC, or any other cold location in the US (or Europe) in the winter? If so, you just weren't looking for one...they are all over!!!

[rockandroller1]

I've never seen anything I would think of as coat check at any restaurants I've been to in Cleveland. Maybe one place I've dined the hostess offered to take my coat when I was seated (which I suppose is the same thing, and I declined), but there's no visible "coat check" room/person.

[Bill Hunt]

Probably has something to do with the venue?

Hunt

[rockandroller1]

I dunno, I've been to all types of restaurants here. White tablecloth/crumbing places and everything in between down to dive bar. Have just never seen it. I'm pretty well traveled in our restaurant scene here.

[Bill Hunt]

Interesting.

I see it all over the world, and especially when the weather turns a bit bad. Guess that it is just different venues?

Hunt

[rockandroller1]

I think so. Or perhaps the fact that I mostly go to more downscale places.

[Bill Hunt]

Not sure that is the difference. I think that it's just a difference in the venues.

Also, some restaurants might just not have "hat/coat check," so some might not see it.

Hunt

[ipsedixit]

It depends ...

... on the type of coat I'm checking.

... whether I have to ask for it to be checked, or whether it is offered without my asking.

... and whether it is the server doing the checking, or whether it is the maître d, if the latter than maybe a $1 or 2; if the former probably nothing.

[hsk]

OP asked what you tip attendants. I never tip server or maître d' for hanging up my coat, additional to what I tipped for the meal.

[jgg13]

What is the effect if they offer w/o you asking?

I ask because I was at a place recently that did that, the hostess offered the moment we walked in the door. After our meal I tried to hand her some money and not only did she turn it down she actually looked a little offended. I'm going back there in a few weeks and would rather not re-offend but would also rather not offend by not tipping if the person working there that night happens to have a different attitude.

[Monica]

geez, saying no to money? that's new...never seen or heard of it.

[jgg13]

Me neither, but it's appreciated. In this day and age of everyone and their brother feeling like they deserve a tip, it was refreshing.

[ipsedixit]

You don't tip if it is offered.

[jgg13]

I always have but never really thought about it until the incident I mentioned above. Outside of htat one time I've never had it turned down, but I guess that's not too surprising :)

[ipsedixit]

Think of it as a sartorial "amuse bouche".

[BrettLove]

Forgive me if my tone sounds at all off base, but that's like not tipping the bellhop because he offered (or the concierge offered for him) to carry your bags or hail a cab. While I'm inclined to perhaps agree that tipping the maitre'd for fetching your coat might be over the top, it's not the coatcheck person's fault if someone is bringing the fact that the coatcheck exists in the first place to guests' attention. I, for one, generally wouldn't even ask about checking my coat unless it was offered (or if the [attended] coatcheck room was flagrantly obvious on the way in - which it often isn't). I understand where you're coming from, but I don't think one is obliged to check one's coat if asked. I will occasionally decline to check mine if I feel like I'm being hustled into making money for the coatcheck person (which, I think is sorta' your angle, no?).

[hsk]

I think $2 per item is fine, it's what I usually tip (but I only ever have coats, never umbrellas, hats, etc. so I don't know if I would tip extra for them).

[Bill Hunt]

From Phoenix, I do the same - US$ 2 per item. That is true for restaurants, or for events. In the UK, where we spend a great deal of time, it's £ 1 per item. Now, if the worker is staying late (we are slow diners), I will usually tip anywhere between 1/2 and that amount, upon retrieval of the items.

Just me,

Hunt

[peter j]

Wow I appreciate all the replies. The $2 bill/strip club history lesson was really interesting,

[Bill Hunt]

Yeah, I did not know about that one either, and did not realize that the "whip" would be extra. Hey, a "son of the Old South," has a lot to learn about the "big city."

Hunt

[Motosport]

Nougatine (NYC) Saturday night. Two coats $5.

[Monica]

I live in NYC and almost all decent restaurants have coat check rooms.
I usually tip $2...but I've seen some guys(you know those high profile lawyers and wall street types) giving $5-$10.

[Bill Hunt]

US $ 5, I can see, but US $ 10 is pushing it a bit - however, I am not from Wall St., so what do I know?

Hunt

[beevod]

Always $3.00. A fiver if she's great-looking.

[Bill Hunt]

Or, she's efficient, and remember my name, even after 4 hours of dining.

Hunt

[UTgal]

One or two bucks per coat.

[LeoLioness]

Usually $2 per coat.

[Georgia Strait]

to answer the question above --- coat checks really do exist --- last time i went, the popular steak place in Toronto called Barbarians (spell?) (near Yonge on Elm) has a staffed coat check - -- and the mountain resorts have coat checks, like at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge during certain functions / and winter -- for obvious reasons.

2 dollars is what i am aware of - agree with the posters above.

[viperlush]

Since we rarely have cash we'll tip what we have in dollars up to $5. Most places here just have coat racks to hang up coats.

[bagelman01]

I agree with $2 for a coat, but only $1 for an unbrella or hat, maximum of $5 for whatever my wife and I have (example, 2 coats, hat and unbrella).

[BrettLove]

2nd Bagelman; $2 not too generous, and $5 for 2 people's "stuff", inclusively, sounds about right. If it was a really nice place, in the city, and I planned on returning, I might just go with a $5 min. tip - singles don't seem to have the same "whip appeal" these days!

[bagelman01]

One other determining factor is 'how many claim checks was I given? If the coat check person hangs two garments on one hanger I might not be as generous as if each is on ots own hanger and I get a stub for each.

[bobbert]

"singles don't seem to have the same "whip appeal" these days!"

Yeah, even strip clubs use $2 bills these days as a minimum. At least that's what I've been told.

[Bill Hunt]

Yes, but does that include the "whip," or do you pay extra?????

Hunt

[mucho gordo]

Where do you people go that has a coat check room??? I've lived 70+ years and have never seen one except in the movies.

[caseyjo]

I didn't know they existed until I moved to Chicago. I tend to use them most often at concert venues, but they're also at some restaurants. They also have them at museums and other places where people may be moving around a lot.

[mucho gordo]

I can understand that Chicago and N.Y. would have them. Harsh winters call for heavy coats that take up too much space at the table.

[latindancer]

Even though the winters in LA are nothing like the winters in Chicago or NY...

We still have 'cold' days...imo anything under 65 degrees where an extra layer of clothing is needed. Every decent restaurant in LA, that I know of, has some sort of coat check...even if the host has to find somewhere to put it.. The host/hostess is promptly tipped.

[Bill Hunt]

Wow, almost everywhere that we dine, or at all events, even in Phoenix, AZ, there are coat-check areas.

Where do you live?

Hunt

[mucho gordo]

I'm in the L.A. aea.

[Bill Hunt]

I am surprised that LA-Area restaurants do not have some sort of "coat-check," but then, like AZ, it would be seasonal, and for many months, one would likely have nothing to check.

Thanks,

Hunt

[ipsedixit]

Nick and Stef's, Patina, Cafe Pinot, Cicada, The Royce, Peninsula, Spago, Providence, etc. all have coat checks.

[latindancer]

Of course....

All the restaurants you've mentioned and then many, many more.

[josephnl]

Absolutely! Nevertheless, these are the exceptions. By far, the very great majority of restaurants in southern CA do not have a coat check facility. That said, nost fine restaurants will either have one, or will certainly arrange to hold one's coat while dining.

[josephnl]

Like Mucho Gordo, I too am from southern CA. Many venues have coat check facilities (Walt Disney Hall, for example), nevertheless most restaurants do not. Certainly, any fine restaurant in L.A. will hold your coat for you. Unlike NYC, Chicago or DC for example, coat checks at the point of restaurant entry are pretty rare in southern CA.

[caseyjo]

I do $2 for my coat, but not another $2 if I have a scarf, etc. I don't think I'd go over $3.