Never, ever place your handbag on the floor! No matter what you read on blogs. Here’s is an actual guide on where to put your handbag in the restaurant according to international dining etiquette.
Why not put your handbag on the floor?
First of all, the floors are dirty. Your handbag says a lot about you, so it should never be dirty, worn out, and unorganized. The other reason is etiquette. In general, by placing your handbag on the dirty floor you show no respect and appreciation for the money you earned with your hard work (we store our wallets in our bags). Many cultures have proverbs like “Don’t put your handbag on the floor or your money will run away”.

The right spot for your handbag according to dining etiquette
Depending on the size of your bag, there are multiple places where to park your bag. A large handbag – a tote, shoulder bag, or usual size crossbody bag, belongs on the handbag hook mounted on the bottom side of the tabletop. If there’s no hook, you can ask the waiter for a purse hanger (called often a handbag table hook). There is a high chance that staff in regular restaurants won’t know what you ask for, so it’s always a good habit to carry one in your bag.
High-end restaurants often offer a small side table to put your handbag on. They usually place this side table next to you. If you’re worried that someone will steal your bag, it’s very rare in costly restaurants. The third spot where you can place your bag is on the empty chair next to you. If none of these places work out for your large handbag, you can put it behind your back, but do so on very rare occasions.
Easier to handle, a small handbag like the clutch is ideal for dining out. The proper place for your tiny bag is on your lap, underneath the folded napkin.
TIP: A handbag doesn’t belong on the top of the table, nor does your wallet or phone.