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Tourists Charged €8 'Music' Fee at Ostuni Restaurant, Fueling Questions Over Hidden Costs

The separate line item revived questions over disclosure practices around Italy's customary cover charges.

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Overview

  • A group of four dining in Ostuni on August 17 found an €8 charge labeled 'music' on their bill.
  • The fee worked out to about €2 per person, and staff said it covered a DJ playing background tracks.
  • The diners say they were not told about the charge beforehand and shared the receipt online.
  • Reactions on social media compared the line item to Italy's coperto, with some calling for such costs to be built into menu prices.
  • Coverage linked the case to other small surcharges reported to travelers, including a €12 handbag-hook fee in Ibiza and a 45p pepper grind in Bari, with no reported refund or official response in this instance.