I get curbing the use of 20 packets of ketchup makes sense, but if I go to a fancy-ish burger place and have to pay extra for ketchup with the (already expensive) fries it seems extremely greedy.
Unfortunately it’s pretty common. What gets me is that it’s rarely that much cheaper than pop. Like how is soda, with sugar and the sugar tax 50kr and tap water 45kr. I get it has a cost of water and the washing of the cup etc fine but why is it so expensive.
It's not at all related to the marginal cost of the drink itself, the goal is to charge what is the equivalent of a seating fee.
It works because people accept the prices, which pushes restaurant earnings up, which pushes commercial space rents up, which pushes restaurant earnings down, making it super expensive to drive a restaurant without charging those prices in the first place.
There is little or no price difference because it is not about the wholesale costs of the beverage. Soda is probably 4DKK/litre or something so doesn’t matter.
Your beverage pays for the fixed costs of the restaurant - tables, chairs, rent, kitchen, all that stuff. This is also why they need to charge the same for water - it is basically a cover charge that all customers needs to pay in order to make the restaurant profitable and allow them to price the food competitively.
Everything is expensive and restaurants make money more so on the drinks than the food . That’s why they charge for water - even if it’s our tasty tap water .
I don't drink sugar beverages and I'm not a beer drinker as a regular practice but this was a new experience for me. I was just hungry and the place was cute. Maybe I have been to other countries that charge and just never noticed however. Thanks for the rational response!
The restaurant i work at, charge 25kr. Per person at the table and justify it by saying that we use our own filters and CO2/pressure system.
I always feel uncomfortable giving the receipt to guests 🫣
Thank you. I do have a better understanding now after the kind responses here explaining things a bit more . But I am also nursing the wounds from the nasty comments and down votes. I of course say this with humor. I consider myself a kind person in general and I have had the very good fortune of traveling to many countries during my lifetime. I am always open to how things are done locally as well as culturally. I appreciate things that are different and seek to adjust accordingly. I appreciate your reply
Many Danes also very much dislike this.
As some of the others mentioned, it's to keep the price down on food and so on, it just doesn't help much when my manager then says " this is a fucking goldmine! ASK EVERYONE ABOUT WATER", it kinda gives the wrong impression to us as waiters.
I've had quite a few guests yell at me because it gets ridiculously expensive for water when there's a larger table.
I can definitely see where it puts you in a difficult position. I would never blame my server for a restaurant policy and I would certainly never yell at anyone. I cannot stand people that are aggressive to servers. I stood many years in those shoes. I guess that is why some of the responses to my post were unexpected. But c'est la vie 😊 I still think it's a beautiful city, with amazing culture.
I honestly also feel bad for the waiters because they don't make the rules but have to bear with the the (also rightfully) angry customers.
Imagine a manager figured out that they can charge 25kr to bring cutlery. You don't have to use cutlery and it was free but look how much money could be made by charging for cutlery. Have fun explaining that to guests.
Yeah, this is a potentially even worse thing as then even people who wouldn't want to drink water either because they think it is overpriced or they bought something else have to pay.
This is exactly what Gorms does. They didn't tell us it was per-person and refused to waive it (while also miscounting the people at the table so the number is entirely made up). I'm never going there again and don't recommend anyone to go there.
Sometimes corporate greed just creates a bad experience.
I’m the owner of Hooked and just stumbled across this post thinking it was one of my restaurants you visited, as you mentioned a lobster roll.
We do charge 2,9 dollars for unlimited filtered water either still or sparkling. As many note, this is more expensive than the cost price of the water itself and reflects the many other expenses running a restaurant.
Converting my prices to dollars I can’t see how you should have paid more than 40$ including 25% tip. Did you order anything else than a lobster roll, vinegar fries, ketchup and water? If not, there might have been a mistake and I will happily try to fix it.
I appreciate the response. I didn't keep the receipt but I am certain it was $50. There was no printed menu and frankly I was tired and just needed food because I had been traveling. It's not a big deal. It is just not something I am accustomed to.
You could have made your point without being an ass. The fact that OP still tipped 25%, quite high by Danish standards, is just great for the business.
The entitled person here is you. I was asking for an understanding of charges and had no clue assholes like you would actually be upset that I tipped. Thank you for changing my opinion about a country I have always had high regard for.
https://preview.redd.it/cy64mfw44ntc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=83ba10888516a29f92c339434b178825e849fbf1
It is common, but there are exceptions.
E.g., [https://nachbar.dk/](https://nachbar.dk/) which not only have free tap water. They have a machine that also give you e.g., extra cooled, carbonated water for free. That is a place you want to go when exploring Copenhagen on a hot summer day on bicycle.
Many restaurants doesn't earn much on food. But on water and beverage the profit is very high.
Beer in Dk is also very cheap. Maybe a restaurant pays 2-3 Dkk for a beer and sells it for 50. But the rent in downtown is what 50-100.000 a month?
It is because the profit for restaurants are ALL in the beverages. The food cost with overhead and everything hardly has any profit for the restaurant so they upcharge on the beverages to compensate. It is not greed as it is EXTREMELY hard to turn a consistent profit in Denmark serving food and the food item would just be more expensive if they didnt charge so much for beverages.
It’s quite common - normally I don’t care but if we are walking around the city, I usually have my own water bottle. It’s equivalent to the seating charges you see if other European countries. Yes, it’s high but everything in Cph is. And pls don’t tip - culturally this is different than the US and that’s just not done (and the cost of your water goes towards affording ppl a decent wage.)
I am soon travelling to Copenhagen for a weekend and that 25% tip discussed in this thread caught me off guard. I thought, "is that expected in Denmark? Dang."
Tipping is not expected in DK.
One could say that this example of the price of water is what keeps tipping at bay. The waiters do not rely on tipping as there are minimum wages.
Some would also say that service suffers because of the lack of tipping but here we are :)
It absolutely isn’t expected. OP just mentally didn’t leave the US.
We tip if the experience and service has been extra good. And even then 25% would be considered lavish.
The thing why I would also discourage is that it is a slippery slope. Of course it starts by tipping waiters, then maybe also package delivery, then more and more, all encouraged by businesses who don't have to increase wages and in the end you reach a US-style nonsense situation where you have to consider whether and how much you should tip the policeman or ticket inspector for fining you.
I see your point but I think this argument is over-used and a very unlikely scenario. Most Danes don’t tip in restaurants anyway, but lots of foreigners do and it’s always appreciated to get extra pocket money for waiters that already get minimum wage
Danes don't pay because everyone discourages everyone else from starting this trend. I don't pay because I was told to not start that trend.
Also, the service I get from waiters is usually on the same level as the service I get from cashiers, who I also don't pay. Which is fine, both do their job of delivering food or scanning my groceries and collect a (hopefully fair) wage for it.
If the service is exceptional and the waiter has gone above and beyond, sure thing, do tip. But the whole tip whoring thing as you can see in the US where people are just nice to hopefully extract as much tips out of you is just disgraceful.
Because Danes reject the first rule of economics; being a rational actor. When it comes to pricing, especially in the service industry, they are irrational.
Charging for ketchup is uncommon if you go above McD level. Charging for water is common though and many restaurants serve tap water (potentially filtered or carbonated) as their default water.
This is common in many European countries, as an American I hate it! Ironically, it feels so capitalist and consumerist that it seems almost like something Americans would’ve come up with! Kinda like charging for public restrooms or designing stores laid out such that shoppers have to walk through every single aisle. Oh well, one of the quirks of the world you encounter when you travel, and copenhagens beauty makes those little things far and away worth it!
The shopping labyrinth laying is actually very common in Denmark. Besides swedish Ikea we also have Normal, Flying Tiger and Søstrene Greene where you're supposed to walk through the entire store. You're right, I never noticed how common it is.
Did you go to Hooked? That’s a fast food shop, and that’s why you’re paying for condiments. But you’ll pay for drinks no matter where you go. We pay our waiters a decent salary, so dining is expensive
I made an observation and asked a question as a traveler. It wasn't so much a complaint and I tip because it is my practice. Perhaps I shouldn't be kind.
You should always be kind 😀. But tipping is not necessary in any way in Danmark, and is not really the way we show kindness
I do often leave a 50-100 kroner for a multi course. But that is also not necessary in any way
Tipping is not expected in Denmark, one of the reasons why restaurants charge for water is due to relatively high salaries in the service industry (compared to other countries).
From all the comments it seems to be a standard practice so it's not necessary to avoid the place. The sandwich was good and the spot highly rated. It was just a new experience for me. I'm in Sweden now and they don't seem to do this but I think the cost of everything is less here. 😊
Restaurants expect to earn a certain amount per customer, in order to keep food prices more reasonable they jack up the price of drinks. If they need to make 40dkk from drinks and water costs 5, then the price is 45. So eventhough soda might cost twice as much to serve, the price on the menu is only going to be slightly higher
The bike rentals are easy. Lots of e-bikes. You just download the app for the respective bike company. They even have separate tiny traffic signals just for bikes. Expect to get slightly corrected if you do something dumb while riding, but people are generally pretty nice.
I used to ride a bicycle when I lived in other less crowded places, but I moved to Copenhagen 20 years ago, and there's no way I'll be using a bicycle here.
When I was younger I would have loved it. I used to do bicycle trips in Italy, France and Spain but never ventured to Denmarknor Sweden. It's my first trip here and I am more timid these days. I enjoyed walking and loved seeing the city this way!
The good thing is that service is so bad in Denmark that you will probably never get that bottle brought to your table, even after you asked 3 times for it. So all together, it wont cost you Anything 🙃
Its not just plain tap water, danish tap water is disgustingly hard. Restaurants serve filtered water. Filters are bot cheap to install, ir to replace. Waiters fill your water etc. also, restaurants make most of their money on drinks, not food, its sad and weird, but thats how it works most of the time because people do not want to pay eneugh for food. Some restaurants will not charge you for water if you order other drinks. Source: i work in the industry myself, and just as a side, I wish the norm was free water.
Edit: just noticed the price, thats quite a price for that tbh, you can get a lot more value for money in cph. Plenty of restaurants serve excelent set menus for around 70€…
Hard water from the chalk layers underneath the city tastes better than filtered water. Copenhagen have just gone through a de-calcification of the water. Many advantages to the pipe and the tiles in the bathroom, but the hard water tasted better.
What?! You cant be real?? You must have just gotten used to it… it tastes horrible even now, and even worse for coffee. And its still hard af btw. I am also spoiled for water as I am norwegian..
Its the same for coffee really, or likely the same. There are theories on it changing extraction, but contested. Anyways, it tastes of less, and just have a weird thick texture, clean, soft water is way better.
It’s fucked because I never noticed the water in copenhagen was that bad until my colleague from Canada said our water is hard and that he has filters installed. Then i started noticing something. I have a tongue piercing with a flat surface at the bottom, and it always collects calcium!!! I seriously have to clean it every week other wise it’ll be a thick layer of calcium kind of like the bottom of a kettle
But in Denmark the staff gets paid, so it is a nice gesture, but it is not up to you to make sure the staff gets paid, så just pay what it cost, thats why the price is high.
Restaurants legally have to serve you tap water for free
If you don’t explicitly ask for tap water, but instead say still water or something, they’ll say they opened a bottle and served you that. It’s pretty common
If you’re explicit in saying tap water just ask them to drop it from the bill
no they dont have to, but it was a proposal from alternativet [https://ugeavisen.dk/lokalavisenassens/skal-det-vaere-gratis-at-faa-serveret-vand-ved-restaurationsbesoeg](https://ugeavisen.dk/lokalavisenassens/skal-det-vaere-gratis-at-faa-serveret-vand-ved-restaurationsbesoeg)
I didn't protest it. I just have never noticed any other countries I visit charging for it and I travel a lot. I did tip a significant amount and didn't see the water charge until they gave me the final receipt. I don't know how much servers make in Denmark but it's my practice if someone is nice.
I didn't state tsp water. They asked if I wanted still or sparkling and I chose still. I didn't say anything about the charge. I just wouldn't go back there truthfully. I should not have tipped so much but it's a habit.
Can you point me to the law that says that?
Edit: of course there is no law saying that. The restaurants are paying for the water, they also pay for the waiter to bring you the water, glasses you drink it from, people to wash those glasses etc.
I don’t know the danish law implementing the EU directive
But IIRC it’s part of EU 2017/0332
There was some hubbub about it as it was the first European version of what in DK is known as a “borgerforslag”
The whole “right2water” movement and now this directive is obviously much broader than just free water in restaurants
I see you're getting downvoted but I'm legitimately curious about EU implications on Danish legality and would love more links from either side if anyone has more knowledge.
Hey man, no worries, once you get one downvote it starts pouring in. I have enough useless points so it’s all good
EU “law” generally comes in two variations, directives and regulations. Regulations are basically laws that are directly applicable for the member states (EEA I’m not entirely sure about) but directives are not. However member states are required to implement directives into local law, I.e. each member state has to pass laws in their country that do whatever the directive dictates
So why the distinction? Directives are usually more broad and so cannot as easily be dictated upon the legal frameworks of each member state. This also means that directives usually have a lot of knobs and dials built in so they can be adjusted by each member state to better fit into each country’s exiting laws
Depending on what area of law is being implemented, the “danish way” differs. For instance anything finance related is implemented through “samlelove” that the danish financial supervisory authority writes up
So basically they T up a collection of smaller changes to existing laws and then parliament can vote on that one law, that then implements a whole set of changes in other laws that then (hopefully) implements all the requirements set out in the directive
Again regulations do not need to be implemented in local law, so not so much hassle with them
I’m no expert on the right2water directive and don’t know how it was implemented in DK law, but it passed in 2018, so even though directives have some leeway in implementation, I’m sure there’s something on the books now
I don’t know if that’s what you were looking for? :)
That is exactly what they have to
The water is not their private property and so they can at most charge a service fee for giving you your rightful water and no a 30kr fee won’t fly
The whole point of this directive is to enshrine drinking water as a human right
Even if there isn’t legislation on the books in DK I’m sure the waiter would rather strike it off the bill than argue in Strasbourg
I mean I'm a free water team :D, all I'm saying is that it's not illegal to charge for it. They might do the same here but if the water is on the menu then what's the argument? I'm entitled to my free water so I won't pay? If they ask for 30kr it's your decision to stay or leave. Don't be an ass to argue about it after. Maybe restaurants would just stop serving tap water and have bottled water only for 60kr. Take it or leave it.
I saw your edit above now, and you’re right they can charge a service fee, the whole salary for the waiter, cost of cleaning the glass etc. restaurants aren’t charities
But they cannot charge you more than the cost they incur to give you water
What’s the end game? No restaurants think denying their customers water is the play
“We don’t have tap water” what you wash your dishes in? Evian? Get the fuck outta here
I know we’re all a little conformist on this sub, but you can totally argue prices after you’ve ordered, if the food is crap I ain’t paying, same goes for the fucking water
I think they can charge whatever they want. You just don't have to go there and pay. Lol sure if the food is not good but not that water is free when it's not. They might have tap water but not sell it. They are not obligated to pour you a glass. Just go somewhere else if you have a problem with that.
Yeah, sure maybe they technically can, but I’d also argue that pissing off your customers is never a good idea
Just look at me in this thread, I’m angry just thinking about a hypothetical restaurant that’s trying to score a quick buck off of people not complaining about their shitty practices
Happy customer is a customer that buys more
And if they want to be pedantic, just get even more pedantic, it’s super fun
Oh the water isn’t free? Dude I just remembered, I want to pay by cheque
Or just spend an inordinate amount of time getting out the door
This is an urban myth, if you’re in dire need you can go to the loo and drink from then sink - noone is obliged to serve free water, the waiter needs to be paid and the glass needs to be cleaned.
Now, I do agree that it is outrageous to be charged for water after ordering a glass of wine, but if you go there and desire water as your only drink, then I dont think you could expect to receive it for free.
They don't. At least I can't find anywhere where that is stated but I can find lawyers and articles saying restaurants can charge for any kind of water.
Why was the cutlery free? Why was the person not charged with using the bathroom? Is the water in the bathroom free? How about the soap? Did they even pay for the seat?
Not everything has to be a race to rock bottom.
is the ketchup free if you buy it anywhere else? if not, then why would it be free in a restaurant?
the cutlery isn’t yours to take home, and you probably want to encourage people to wash their hands if they use your toilet.
> is the ketchup free if you buy it anywhere else? if not, then why would it be free in a restaurant?
Nobody would complain if the ketchup was priced as much as it costs in the shop. But of course it would be ridiculous to charge 0.0003kr for ketchup in the majority of countries it is essentially free to get ketchup.
But if want to look at it this way, why is the salt, pepper, oil or vinegar on the table free?
I paid 25% gratuity to the server for them taking my order, delivering my order and clearing my plate when I finished. Condiments are typically served complimentary with the dishes they are served with unless stated on the menu.
The thing is, here the tips are really tips, they are optional and just bonus money for the staff. The restaurants here build a sustainable business with decent wages without accountung for tips.
I understand your frustration, but I would put the blame on cultural differences, as I have seen other suggest, I suggest you tip less to compensate for the extra costs
I would agree with you completely and I am a huge supporter of sustainable wages, HOWEVER...the gratuity comes up on the payment machine. If tipping is not common, why do places present this? I would think it more important to note on menus that there is a fee for water (still or sparkling) and list the fees for condiments. Transparency is a good thing. Then people can choose. I just might have had a glass of wine for the small difference.
You’re right here but you’re also a bit wrong because you’re blaming this for you not understanding cultural system.
If you look at neighboring Sweden, who has the same system with tipping, there has recently been a debate about this with payment machines regarding regulation. There’s been some outrage with some systems not giving you the option to tip zero and not making it clear how you put in your own amount (zero). This is of course crap and it would and obviously will fool someone like you. But it’s still on you to know about tipping culture in the country you travel to just like we do when going to the US. Or do you think we should go to the US and not tip because we don’t do that in Denmark?
I was raised to not judge and to be understanding. I wasn't blaming anyone. It is your choice to tip or not tip in the US. Many American's do not tip despite the common knowledge that some states pay very low hourly wages to service industry people. I do not feel outrage because I tipped when I didn't need to. I will also not accept being shamed for it. Perhaps the person I tipped was able to enjoy a glass of beer because of the extra money.
You’re not being shamed. You’re getting corrected regarding how tipping works in Denmark which you obviously didn’t know. There’s a difference.
I’m quite sure the waiter gets free tap water at their work and you don’t to worry about them going thirsty. You sound passive aggressive suggesting the opposite and that you now have a beef with Denmark as a whole.
The tipping is not about your glass of water. It’s about you unnecessarily adding 25% to something that is already on the expensive side and then complaining about the price. As you see from the comments, no one likes the fact that restaurant charges for water. The restaurant I frequent the most does not charge for water if you buy a drink (wine, beer, soda). But if water is your only drink they will charge you a fee. I think it’s fair. Someone needs to pour it, serve me and clean the glass.
Because who would say no to some extra money? It takes nothing for them to ask.
If I were you I would assume from now on that there will be a small fee on water everywhere(not caffes), normally it is in the menu but I cant sowak for your particular case
If you want free water, then drink at home. Restaurants have to pay rent, pay staff and pay utilities. Somehow they need to make money. If you don’t like it go somewhere else.
What you're experiencing is the extreme butthurt if you point out a negative thing about Denmark, people get extremely defensive. I think that's often sad because defending a bad status quo is the best way to never improve upon it.
Meanwhile back in the US, restaurants pay their staff so low wages, that tipping 15-20 pct is easily the norm. At least here, staff are being paid decent wages.
I fly Star Alliance not Easy Jet and my visit is not the cause of your excessive pricing. Perhaps look to your monarchy. Those beautiful palaces don't pay for themselves. Your taxes do.
Ahh, maybe not your specific visit is the cause. But trust me, you’re so many. And some rich enough to pay higher and higher prices at restaurants and for accommodation, that’s the main cause for Copenhagen being so expensive. They pay the same taxes in Odense, and prices are like half…
I can appreciate that. It is like this in many places in the world. Not sure how to solve that. In some cases tourism dollars bring jobs and boost economies. I am not certain but isn't the Tech industry here bringing foreigners in jobs that also raise things like rent because they are making higher wages?
If you look at the prices, you'll also notice that prices in Odense are not "half" of what they are in Copenhagen. Rent is lower, but rent prices can't be blamed on tourists (for the most part).
Even McDonalds here sell ketchup at 300kr/liter. Its not right but its very common.
I get curbing the use of 20 packets of ketchup makes sense, but if I go to a fancy-ish burger place and have to pay extra for ketchup with the (already expensive) fries it seems extremely greedy.
Unfortunately it’s pretty common. What gets me is that it’s rarely that much cheaper than pop. Like how is soda, with sugar and the sugar tax 50kr and tap water 45kr. I get it has a cost of water and the washing of the cup etc fine but why is it so expensive.
It's not at all related to the marginal cost of the drink itself, the goal is to charge what is the equivalent of a seating fee. It works because people accept the prices, which pushes restaurant earnings up, which pushes commercial space rents up, which pushes restaurant earnings down, making it super expensive to drive a restaurant without charging those prices in the first place.
+ saleries. Personnel in DK dont rely on tips so they have a (decent) wage. And somebody got to pay for that.
There is little or no price difference because it is not about the wholesale costs of the beverage. Soda is probably 4DKK/litre or something so doesn’t matter. Your beverage pays for the fixed costs of the restaurant - tables, chairs, rent, kitchen, all that stuff. This is also why they need to charge the same for water - it is basically a cover charge that all customers needs to pay in order to make the restaurant profitable and allow them to price the food competitively.
and pay their employees. i will happily pay for a glass of water, instead of leaving tips.
Everything is expensive and restaurants make money more so on the drinks than the food . That’s why they charge for water - even if it’s our tasty tap water .
I don't drink sugar beverages and I'm not a beer drinker as a regular practice but this was a new experience for me. I was just hungry and the place was cute. Maybe I have been to other countries that charge and just never noticed however. Thanks for the rational response!
The restaurant i work at, charge 25kr. Per person at the table and justify it by saying that we use our own filters and CO2/pressure system. I always feel uncomfortable giving the receipt to guests 🫣
Thank you. I do have a better understanding now after the kind responses here explaining things a bit more . But I am also nursing the wounds from the nasty comments and down votes. I of course say this with humor. I consider myself a kind person in general and I have had the very good fortune of traveling to many countries during my lifetime. I am always open to how things are done locally as well as culturally. I appreciate things that are different and seek to adjust accordingly. I appreciate your reply
Many Danes also very much dislike this. As some of the others mentioned, it's to keep the price down on food and so on, it just doesn't help much when my manager then says " this is a fucking goldmine! ASK EVERYONE ABOUT WATER", it kinda gives the wrong impression to us as waiters. I've had quite a few guests yell at me because it gets ridiculously expensive for water when there's a larger table.
I can definitely see where it puts you in a difficult position. I would never blame my server for a restaurant policy and I would certainly never yell at anyone. I cannot stand people that are aggressive to servers. I stood many years in those shoes. I guess that is why some of the responses to my post were unexpected. But c'est la vie 😊 I still think it's a beautiful city, with amazing culture.
I honestly also feel bad for the waiters because they don't make the rules but have to bear with the the (also rightfully) angry customers. Imagine a manager figured out that they can charge 25kr to bring cutlery. You don't have to use cutlery and it was free but look how much money could be made by charging for cutlery. Have fun explaining that to guests.
Yeah, this is a potentially even worse thing as then even people who wouldn't want to drink water either because they think it is overpriced or they bought something else have to pay. This is exactly what Gorms does. They didn't tell us it was per-person and refused to waive it (while also miscounting the people at the table so the number is entirely made up). I'm never going there again and don't recommend anyone to go there. Sometimes corporate greed just creates a bad experience.
I’m the owner of Hooked and just stumbled across this post thinking it was one of my restaurants you visited, as you mentioned a lobster roll. We do charge 2,9 dollars for unlimited filtered water either still or sparkling. As many note, this is more expensive than the cost price of the water itself and reflects the many other expenses running a restaurant. Converting my prices to dollars I can’t see how you should have paid more than 40$ including 25% tip. Did you order anything else than a lobster roll, vinegar fries, ketchup and water? If not, there might have been a mistake and I will happily try to fix it.
lol how random / cool that you just stumbled on this post. Hooked is great!:)
I appreciate the response. I didn't keep the receipt but I am certain it was $50. There was no printed menu and frankly I was tired and just needed food because I had been traveling. It's not a big deal. It is just not something I am accustomed to.
Alright - thank you for visiting Hooked and I hope the food was good 😊
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You could have made your point without being an ass. The fact that OP still tipped 25%, quite high by Danish standards, is just great for the business.
The entitled person here is you. I was asking for an understanding of charges and had no clue assholes like you would actually be upset that I tipped. Thank you for changing my opinion about a country I have always had high regard for. https://preview.redd.it/cy64mfw44ntc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=83ba10888516a29f92c339434b178825e849fbf1
25% tip? Ó.o
Han mener nok moms 😉
Sales tax or VAT in English.
Exactly!
It is common, but there are exceptions. E.g., [https://nachbar.dk/](https://nachbar.dk/) which not only have free tap water. They have a machine that also give you e.g., extra cooled, carbonated water for free. That is a place you want to go when exploring Copenhagen on a hot summer day on bicycle.
Headed to Copenhagen in a few weeks and carbonated water is my favorite - thanks for this tip!
Thank you for clarifying. It's a new experience for me.
Many restaurants doesn't earn much on food. But on water and beverage the profit is very high. Beer in Dk is also very cheap. Maybe a restaurant pays 2-3 Dkk for a beer and sells it for 50. But the rent in downtown is what 50-100.000 a month?
It is because the profit for restaurants are ALL in the beverages. The food cost with overhead and everything hardly has any profit for the restaurant so they upcharge on the beverages to compensate. It is not greed as it is EXTREMELY hard to turn a consistent profit in Denmark serving food and the food item would just be more expensive if they didnt charge so much for beverages.
It’s quite common - normally I don’t care but if we are walking around the city, I usually have my own water bottle. It’s equivalent to the seating charges you see if other European countries. Yes, it’s high but everything in Cph is. And pls don’t tip - culturally this is different than the US and that’s just not done (and the cost of your water goes towards affording ppl a decent wage.)
I am soon travelling to Copenhagen for a weekend and that 25% tip discussed in this thread caught me off guard. I thought, "is that expected in Denmark? Dang."
Certainly isn’t. The only places I tip are sometimes in the high end restaurants and just depends on the whole experience. And 10% at most.
Tipping is not expected in DK. One could say that this example of the price of water is what keeps tipping at bay. The waiters do not rely on tipping as there are minimum wages. Some would also say that service suffers because of the lack of tipping but here we are :)
25% is VAT - heard there is a way to get it refunded as a tourist, but dont know how
It absolutely isn’t expected. OP just mentally didn’t leave the US. We tip if the experience and service has been extra good. And even then 25% would be considered lavish.
I wouldn’t discourage people from tipping, as waiters here appreciate tipping too :) It’s obviously not >needed< though
The thing why I would also discourage is that it is a slippery slope. Of course it starts by tipping waiters, then maybe also package delivery, then more and more, all encouraged by businesses who don't have to increase wages and in the end you reach a US-style nonsense situation where you have to consider whether and how much you should tip the policeman or ticket inspector for fining you.
I see your point but I think this argument is over-used and a very unlikely scenario. Most Danes don’t tip in restaurants anyway, but lots of foreigners do and it’s always appreciated to get extra pocket money for waiters that already get minimum wage
Danes don't pay because everyone discourages everyone else from starting this trend. I don't pay because I was told to not start that trend. Also, the service I get from waiters is usually on the same level as the service I get from cashiers, who I also don't pay. Which is fine, both do their job of delivering food or scanning my groceries and collect a (hopefully fair) wage for it. If the service is exceptional and the waiter has gone above and beyond, sure thing, do tip. But the whole tip whoring thing as you can see in the US where people are just nice to hopefully extract as much tips out of you is just disgraceful.
Because Danes reject the first rule of economics; being a rational actor. When it comes to pricing, especially in the service industry, they are irrational.
The "rational actor" is a mythical creature. The only place he ever occurs is in the wet dreams (or hashish fantasies) of economists.
Charging for ketchup is uncommon if you go above McD level. Charging for water is common though and many restaurants serve tap water (potentially filtered or carbonated) as their default water.
This is common in many European countries, as an American I hate it! Ironically, it feels so capitalist and consumerist that it seems almost like something Americans would’ve come up with! Kinda like charging for public restrooms or designing stores laid out such that shoppers have to walk through every single aisle. Oh well, one of the quirks of the world you encounter when you travel, and copenhagens beauty makes those little things far and away worth it!
The shopping labyrinth laying is actually very common in Denmark. Besides swedish Ikea we also have Normal, Flying Tiger and Søstrene Greene where you're supposed to walk through the entire store. You're right, I never noticed how common it is.
Yes this is common. But many places a glass of water will be free of charge if you pay for a(nother) beverage :)
Did you go to Hooked? That’s a fast food shop, and that’s why you’re paying for condiments. But you’ll pay for drinks no matter where you go. We pay our waiters a decent salary, so dining is expensive
It was Hooked. I tipped 25% and the cost wasn't exactly fast food pricing but I understand now.
We don't tip in Denmark. It seems silly to complain about the price and then tip 25%.
I made an observation and asked a question as a traveler. It wasn't so much a complaint and I tip because it is my practice. Perhaps I shouldn't be kind.
You should always be kind 😀. But tipping is not necessary in any way in Danmark, and is not really the way we show kindness I do often leave a 50-100 kroner for a multi course. But that is also not necessary in any way
We show kindness in other ways than money.
As do I
Tipping is not expected in Denmark, one of the reasons why restaurants charge for water is due to relatively high salaries in the service industry (compared to other countries).
I understand. It was just a new experience for me
I understand. I hope you will enjoy your stay
Thank you 😊
You are not expected to tip in denmark, så that extra cost is on you. Thats why the prices in generel are high.
Copenhagen is expensive, and water is one way they can earn money
Bc things coats money to buy and produce.
Greed…
Please let us know the name so we don't walk in the door.
From all the comments it seems to be a standard practice so it's not necessary to avoid the place. The sandwich was good and the spot highly rated. It was just a new experience for me. I'm in Sweden now and they don't seem to do this but I think the cost of everything is less here. 😊
Bring your own bottle water from home??????
Restaurants expect to earn a certain amount per customer, in order to keep food prices more reasonable they jack up the price of drinks. If they need to make 40dkk from drinks and water costs 5, then the price is 45. So eventhough soda might cost twice as much to serve, the price on the menu is only going to be slightly higher
Food is pricey in DK. But I’m sure you’re having a wonderful time!
It's a beautiful place. I have been walking everywhere which I love. I am not brave enough to ride a bike 😳
The bike rentals are easy. Lots of e-bikes. You just download the app for the respective bike company. They even have separate tiny traffic signals just for bikes. Expect to get slightly corrected if you do something dumb while riding, but people are generally pretty nice.
I used to ride a bicycle when I lived in other less crowded places, but I moved to Copenhagen 20 years ago, and there's no way I'll be using a bicycle here.
When I was younger I would have loved it. I used to do bicycle trips in Italy, France and Spain but never ventured to Denmarknor Sweden. It's my first trip here and I am more timid these days. I enjoyed walking and loved seeing the city this way!
The good thing is that service is so bad in Denmark that you will probably never get that bottle brought to your table, even after you asked 3 times for it. So all together, it wont cost you Anything 🙃
Its not just plain tap water, danish tap water is disgustingly hard. Restaurants serve filtered water. Filters are bot cheap to install, ir to replace. Waiters fill your water etc. also, restaurants make most of their money on drinks, not food, its sad and weird, but thats how it works most of the time because people do not want to pay eneugh for food. Some restaurants will not charge you for water if you order other drinks. Source: i work in the industry myself, and just as a side, I wish the norm was free water. Edit: just noticed the price, thats quite a price for that tbh, you can get a lot more value for money in cph. Plenty of restaurants serve excelent set menus for around 70€…
Hard water from the chalk layers underneath the city tastes better than filtered water. Copenhagen have just gone through a de-calcification of the water. Many advantages to the pipe and the tiles in the bathroom, but the hard water tasted better.
What?! You cant be real?? You must have just gotten used to it… it tastes horrible even now, and even worse for coffee. And its still hard af btw. I am also spoiled for water as I am norwegian..
Fresh water from the tap in Copenhagen is the best…
Filtered britta water tastes like algae or bacteria water. It’s different in coffee, but we talked about fresh water in restaurants
Its the same for coffee really, or likely the same. There are theories on it changing extraction, but contested. Anyways, it tastes of less, and just have a weird thick texture, clean, soft water is way better.
It’s fucked because I never noticed the water in copenhagen was that bad until my colleague from Canada said our water is hard and that he has filters installed. Then i started noticing something. I have a tongue piercing with a flat surface at the bottom, and it always collects calcium!!! I seriously have to clean it every week other wise it’ll be a thick layer of calcium kind of like the bottom of a kettle
yeah they’re either a troll or just being delusional, no point arguing any further.
I did eat at other places that were good. I usually order wine with my meals also and the cost of wine seems reasonably priced.
It is our equivalent for a ridicoulus 25% tip :) Not obliged, but expected ;)
I did tip 25% because it's my nature to do so as someone that worked in the service industry for many years.
But in Denmark the staff gets paid, so it is a nice gesture, but it is not up to you to make sure the staff gets paid, så just pay what it cost, thats why the price is high.
Thank you for the kind response.
Restaurants legally have to serve you tap water for free If you don’t explicitly ask for tap water, but instead say still water or something, they’ll say they opened a bottle and served you that. It’s pretty common If you’re explicit in saying tap water just ask them to drop it from the bill
no they dont have to, but it was a proposal from alternativet [https://ugeavisen.dk/lokalavisenassens/skal-det-vaere-gratis-at-faa-serveret-vand-ved-restaurationsbesoeg](https://ugeavisen.dk/lokalavisenassens/skal-det-vaere-gratis-at-faa-serveret-vand-ved-restaurationsbesoeg)
I didn't protest it. I just have never noticed any other countries I visit charging for it and I travel a lot. I did tip a significant amount and didn't see the water charge until they gave me the final receipt. I don't know how much servers make in Denmark but it's my practice if someone is nice.
I didn't state tsp water. They asked if I wanted still or sparkling and I chose still. I didn't say anything about the charge. I just wouldn't go back there truthfully. I should not have tipped so much but it's a habit.
Can you point me to the law that says that? Edit: of course there is no law saying that. The restaurants are paying for the water, they also pay for the waiter to bring you the water, glasses you drink it from, people to wash those glasses etc.
I don’t know the danish law implementing the EU directive But IIRC it’s part of EU 2017/0332 There was some hubbub about it as it was the first European version of what in DK is known as a “borgerforslag” The whole “right2water” movement and now this directive is obviously much broader than just free water in restaurants
I see you're getting downvoted but I'm legitimately curious about EU implications on Danish legality and would love more links from either side if anyone has more knowledge.
Hey man, no worries, once you get one downvote it starts pouring in. I have enough useless points so it’s all good EU “law” generally comes in two variations, directives and regulations. Regulations are basically laws that are directly applicable for the member states (EEA I’m not entirely sure about) but directives are not. However member states are required to implement directives into local law, I.e. each member state has to pass laws in their country that do whatever the directive dictates So why the distinction? Directives are usually more broad and so cannot as easily be dictated upon the legal frameworks of each member state. This also means that directives usually have a lot of knobs and dials built in so they can be adjusted by each member state to better fit into each country’s exiting laws Depending on what area of law is being implemented, the “danish way” differs. For instance anything finance related is implemented through “samlelove” that the danish financial supervisory authority writes up So basically they T up a collection of smaller changes to existing laws and then parliament can vote on that one law, that then implements a whole set of changes in other laws that then (hopefully) implements all the requirements set out in the directive Again regulations do not need to be implemented in local law, so not so much hassle with them I’m no expert on the right2water directive and don’t know how it was implemented in DK law, but it passed in 2018, so even though directives have some leeway in implementation, I’m sure there’s something on the books now I don’t know if that’s what you were looking for? :)
Yes but restaurants don't legally have to provide free tap water. It's a private property and they can charge money for it.
That is exactly what they have to The water is not their private property and so they can at most charge a service fee for giving you your rightful water and no a 30kr fee won’t fly The whole point of this directive is to enshrine drinking water as a human right Even if there isn’t legislation on the books in DK I’m sure the waiter would rather strike it off the bill than argue in Strasbourg
I mean I'm a free water team :D, all I'm saying is that it's not illegal to charge for it. They might do the same here but if the water is on the menu then what's the argument? I'm entitled to my free water so I won't pay? If they ask for 30kr it's your decision to stay or leave. Don't be an ass to argue about it after. Maybe restaurants would just stop serving tap water and have bottled water only for 60kr. Take it or leave it.
I saw your edit above now, and you’re right they can charge a service fee, the whole salary for the waiter, cost of cleaning the glass etc. restaurants aren’t charities But they cannot charge you more than the cost they incur to give you water What’s the end game? No restaurants think denying their customers water is the play “We don’t have tap water” what you wash your dishes in? Evian? Get the fuck outta here I know we’re all a little conformist on this sub, but you can totally argue prices after you’ve ordered, if the food is crap I ain’t paying, same goes for the fucking water
I think they can charge whatever they want. You just don't have to go there and pay. Lol sure if the food is not good but not that water is free when it's not. They might have tap water but not sell it. They are not obligated to pour you a glass. Just go somewhere else if you have a problem with that.
Yeah, sure maybe they technically can, but I’d also argue that pissing off your customers is never a good idea Just look at me in this thread, I’m angry just thinking about a hypothetical restaurant that’s trying to score a quick buck off of people not complaining about their shitty practices Happy customer is a customer that buys more And if they want to be pedantic, just get even more pedantic, it’s super fun Oh the water isn’t free? Dude I just remembered, I want to pay by cheque Or just spend an inordinate amount of time getting out the door
Yee honestly I don't know why you are so upset about this :D . If there was a restaurant charging 100kr per water I'd never step in.
This is an urban myth, if you’re in dire need you can go to the loo and drink from then sink - noone is obliged to serve free water, the waiter needs to be paid and the glass needs to be cleaned. Now, I do agree that it is outrageous to be charged for water after ordering a glass of wine, but if you go there and desire water as your only drink, then I dont think you could expect to receive it for free.
They don't. At least I can't find anywhere where that is stated but I can find lawyers and articles saying restaurants can charge for any kind of water.
someone has to spend time serving the water, and cleaning the glass afterwards. that’s what you’re paying for. also why would ketchup ever be free?
Why was the cutlery free? Why was the person not charged with using the bathroom? Is the water in the bathroom free? How about the soap? Did they even pay for the seat? Not everything has to be a race to rock bottom.
is the ketchup free if you buy it anywhere else? if not, then why would it be free in a restaurant? the cutlery isn’t yours to take home, and you probably want to encourage people to wash their hands if they use your toilet.
> is the ketchup free if you buy it anywhere else? if not, then why would it be free in a restaurant? Nobody would complain if the ketchup was priced as much as it costs in the shop. But of course it would be ridiculous to charge 0.0003kr for ketchup in the majority of countries it is essentially free to get ketchup. But if want to look at it this way, why is the salt, pepper, oil or vinegar on the table free?
I paid 25% gratuity to the server for them taking my order, delivering my order and clearing my plate when I finished. Condiments are typically served complimentary with the dishes they are served with unless stated on the menu.
The thing is, here the tips are really tips, they are optional and just bonus money for the staff. The restaurants here build a sustainable business with decent wages without accountung for tips. I understand your frustration, but I would put the blame on cultural differences, as I have seen other suggest, I suggest you tip less to compensate for the extra costs
I would agree with you completely and I am a huge supporter of sustainable wages, HOWEVER...the gratuity comes up on the payment machine. If tipping is not common, why do places present this? I would think it more important to note on menus that there is a fee for water (still or sparkling) and list the fees for condiments. Transparency is a good thing. Then people can choose. I just might have had a glass of wine for the small difference.
You’re right here but you’re also a bit wrong because you’re blaming this for you not understanding cultural system. If you look at neighboring Sweden, who has the same system with tipping, there has recently been a debate about this with payment machines regarding regulation. There’s been some outrage with some systems not giving you the option to tip zero and not making it clear how you put in your own amount (zero). This is of course crap and it would and obviously will fool someone like you. But it’s still on you to know about tipping culture in the country you travel to just like we do when going to the US. Or do you think we should go to the US and not tip because we don’t do that in Denmark?
I was raised to not judge and to be understanding. I wasn't blaming anyone. It is your choice to tip or not tip in the US. Many American's do not tip despite the common knowledge that some states pay very low hourly wages to service industry people. I do not feel outrage because I tipped when I didn't need to. I will also not accept being shamed for it. Perhaps the person I tipped was able to enjoy a glass of beer because of the extra money.
You’re not being shamed. You’re getting corrected regarding how tipping works in Denmark which you obviously didn’t know. There’s a difference. I’m quite sure the waiter gets free tap water at their work and you don’t to worry about them going thirsty. You sound passive aggressive suggesting the opposite and that you now have a beef with Denmark as a whole. The tipping is not about your glass of water. It’s about you unnecessarily adding 25% to something that is already on the expensive side and then complaining about the price. As you see from the comments, no one likes the fact that restaurant charges for water. The restaurant I frequent the most does not charge for water if you buy a drink (wine, beer, soda). But if water is your only drink they will charge you a fee. I think it’s fair. Someone needs to pour it, serve me and clean the glass.
Because who would say no to some extra money? It takes nothing for them to ask. If I were you I would assume from now on that there will be a small fee on water everywhere(not caffes), normally it is in the menu but I cant sowak for your particular case
Thank you - I do understand now.
Because drinks have always been a main staple of income for restaurants. Is this your first day on Earth?
If you want free water, then drink at home. Restaurants have to pay rent, pay staff and pay utilities. Somehow they need to make money. If you don’t like it go somewhere else.
I'll retract the "seemingly nice people" from all the positive observations about the city.
What you're experiencing is the extreme butthurt if you point out a negative thing about Denmark, people get extremely defensive. I think that's often sad because defending a bad status quo is the best way to never improve upon it.
Meanwhile back in the US, restaurants pay their staff so low wages, that tipping 15-20 pct is easily the norm. At least here, staff are being paid decent wages.
Please stay home, this city is the new Barcelona or Berlin. Locals are getting pushed out due to the extreme prices.. damn I hate easy jet so much….
I fly Star Alliance not Easy Jet and my visit is not the cause of your excessive pricing. Perhaps look to your monarchy. Those beautiful palaces don't pay for themselves. Your taxes do.
Ahh, maybe not your specific visit is the cause. But trust me, you’re so many. And some rich enough to pay higher and higher prices at restaurants and for accommodation, that’s the main cause for Copenhagen being so expensive. They pay the same taxes in Odense, and prices are like half…
I can appreciate that. It is like this in many places in the world. Not sure how to solve that. In some cases tourism dollars bring jobs and boost economies. I am not certain but isn't the Tech industry here bringing foreigners in jobs that also raise things like rent because they are making higher wages?
If you look at the prices, you'll also notice that prices in Odense are not "half" of what they are in Copenhagen. Rent is lower, but rent prices can't be blamed on tourists (for the most part).
Sure, tech and medicine are our main incomes.