Tableside Payments with Stripe for Restaurants

In short: table payments with Stripe can be enabled via a guided onboarding process in the dashboard. Payments go directly to your restaurant's Stripe account; your existing POS remains in place, and customers pay from their phones whenever they are ready.

What 'tableside payment' means in practice

Using the same QR code used for the digital menu, customers can view their bill in real-time and pay directly from their own phones—in full or split among guests—without waiting for the waiter to bring the check.

Why Stripe and not a proprietary account

Funds go directly to the Stripe account linked to your restaurant (Stripe Connect), not to an intermediary account. You remain the seller at all times, with full visibility and control over your revenue, just like with any professional e-commerce platform.

Activation: what you need to do

The manager completes a guided onboarding (business details, IBAN, identity verification) directly from the restaurant dashboard. Once complete, direct table payment is enabled as an additional option, never as a replacement for traditional POS payments.

No replacement of existing systems

Your existing cash register continues to function exactly as before: online payment is simply an additional channel the customer can choose. The manager closes the bill in the same way, regardless of how it was paid.

What it costs to accept Stripe payments

Stripe charges a standard percentage fee per transaction (the same cost structure as any professional online payment processor), with no fixed monthly fees for activation. You only pay when you actually receive payments through this channel—no separate subscription required.

Card data security

The restaurant never sees or handles the customer's card data directly. The entire payment flow takes place on a PCI-DSS certified infrastructure (the international security standard required for card payments), the same protection level used by any major e-commerce store.

What happens in case of refunds or disputes

If a refund is necessary, it is handled directly through your linked Stripe dashboard with the same simplicity as a standard POS payment. The customer does not need to do anything different from a traditional card payment, and the manager maintains a complete history of every transaction for verification purposes.

Frequently asked questions about Stripe table payments

What data is needed to activate it?

Business information, an IBAN for deposits, and identity verification of the owner as required by Stripe's guided procedure. Timing depends on the verification process.

Do funds go to me or an intermediary?

They arrive directly in the Stripe account linked to your restaurant: you are the seller and see your revenue directly in your Stripe account.

Can I keep my current POS?

Yes. Online payment is just an extra channel. Customers can always pay at the counter as before, and you close the bill the same way.

How do I handle receipts?

Check with your accountant or POS provider on how to register online payments, as compliance requirements depend on your specific situation.

How do I introduce this to customers?

Using a QR code at the table that opens the menu, bill, and payment portal. Fewer waits and fewer requests to staff. Discover the page for restaurants and bars, with a 14-day free trial.

3 steps to get started today

1. Complete the Stripe onboarding from your dashboard.
2. Process a test payment at a table.
3. Inform your staff and place the QR code on all tables.