This article explains what to expect about paying for food and drink items at Timeleft events and recommendations on how to handle various situations.
At Timeleft, we aim to make your dinner experience smooth and enjoyable. That includes paying for your food and drinks at events.
You are responsible for paying for whatever you choose to order at an event. In some places, it may also include a tip and taxes not directly included in the menu prices.
Paying for Your Meal or Drinks
The cost of your meal is not included in your Timeleft subscription fee. You’ll pay for your food and drinks directly at the restaurant or venue.
Each participant is responsible for paying for their own meal, including drinks. If you or your group orders any shared items, please discuss upfront how these items will be paid for so they can be handled during the event, rather than at the time of payment, to avoid surprises.
In many countries, tips are also expected by servers, so please remember to pay the correct percentage based on what you order. And if you do not remember the cost of your order, the server won't mind quickly bringing you the menu at the end to double-check. Please don't expect others to cover the full tip. If groups fail to tip based on cultural standards, the best venues may be at risk of rejecting Timeleft groups in the future.
We expect all participants to be respectful and to always treat others respectfully, but this can prevent confusion or misunderstood intentions.
Individual Payments vs. Splitting the Bill
We work with our partner restaurants to ensure they allow individual payments whenever possible. In some countries, such as France, it is standard for venues to handle split bills seamlessly; in other countries, such as the United States, even after telling us they can split the bill for the table by 6, it can be complicated, and staff sometimes forgets that Timeleft tables have this exception.
However:
- In some cases, restaurants and venues may have difficulty processing multiple cards due to system limitations.
- Your group may decide together to split the bill evenly.
Again, we recommend discussing payment preferences at the beginning of the dinner or event so everyone is aligned and there are no surprises at the end. While it may seem a little odd at first, likely others are sharing the same concerns, so bringing it up tends to be a relief for many others.
Bringing Cash
Although we request that restaurants and venues accommodate individual payments, it’s a good idea to bring some cash just in case processing multiple cards becomes complicated.
While it is common not to have cash on you, making a quick stop at an ATM on your way to an event can make things much smoother and ensure the experience ends with smiles instead of stress.
Never Feel Pressured
You should never feel pressured to cover someone else’s meal, share the costs evenly, share plates, or consume something that you are not interested in having.
Each guest is responsible for their own portion of the bill. If the group suggests splitting the bill evenly and you’re not comfortable with that arrangement, it’s always okay to speak up.
Even if a restaurant suggests sharing dishes, you are not obligated to do so. It is important that you are comfortable throughout your experience to be at your best to fully enjoy and relax.
We Are Here to Help If You Have an Issue
If you experience any issues during your event, please scroll to the bottom of this page and select “Submit a request.” Our team is here to help.