Restaurant service is included in the Portuguese bill. A tip is still customary for good service, but it is an extra gesture rather than a missing part of the listed price.
Read, choose, say obrigado
Five to ten is a custom, not a debt
The national tourism board describes an additional 5-10% as customary in restaurants. That range is a useful ceiling for an ordinary good meal, not an automatic surcharge that must appear after every plate.
The cafe counter can stay simple
A quick bica at the counter is a small direct transaction. Leaving change is kind, but there is no need to calculate a restaurant percentage for every coffee or pastel.
Match the thank-you to the moment
Ask before the card payment closes
If you want to add a tip by card, say the final amount before the terminal transaction is completed. A small cash amount is an easy alternative when the terminal does not provide a clear tip step.
Use the thank-you that fits you
Obrigado is traditionally used by a male speaker and obrigada by a female speaker. Either way, a direct thank-you and a modest voluntary amount fit Portugal better than silent anxiety over a large imported formula.
