Best Dining Credit Cards

Credit cards are frequently used to pay restaurant bills, so it makes sense for card issuers to treat their customers to dining discounts and benefits. Your card can unlock a range of savings when you eat out: from money off your bill, to 1-for-1 main meals or bonus rewards simply by swiping your dining credit card.

Best for

Base Rate Cashback

HSBC Revolution Credit Card

Best for

Promotional Offers

American Express Platinum Credit Card

Best for

Bonus Cash Rewards

HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card

Compare credit cards that offer dining rewards

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Name	Product	Reward	Cashback Offer	Annual Fee	Min Income - Singaporean and PR
HSBC Revolution Credit Card		Earn up to 10X Reward points or 4 miles per $1 spent on qualifying purchases.	Receive up to $200 cashback. T&Cs apply. Ends 31 Dec 2022.	$0 annual fee	$30,000	New cardholders can choose from a Samsonite Prestige 69cm Spinner Exp with built-in scale (worth $670) or $200 cashback upon $500 minimum spend. Plus, receive up to $150 cashback when you apply for supplementary cards. Existing HSBC credit cardholders are eligible to receive $50 cashback. T&Cs apply. Ends 31 Dec 2022.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card		Earn 1 Reward point for every $1 on all spend.	Up to 5% cash rebates on groceries, dining and fuel with minimum monthly spend of at least $600.	$0 annual fee for the first 2 years and $192.60 thereafter	$30,000	New cardholders can choose from a Samsonite Prestige 69cm Spinner Exp with built-in scale (worth $670) or $200 cashback upon $500 minimum spend. Plus, receive up to $150 cashback when you apply for supplementary cards. Existing HSBC credit cardholders are eligible to receive $50 cashback. T&Cs apply. Ends 31 Dec 2022.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express Platinum Credit Card		Up to 50% off your food bill for unlimited visits at hotels around Singapore	N/A	$321 annual fee	$80,000	Get $100 CapitaVoucher upon payment of annual fee and first transaction within 30 days from card approval. An additional $100 worth of CapitaVouchers when you spend $2,000 within the first 3 months of card approval. Also, receive 2,500 Membership Rewards points from your base earn rate for the $2,000 spent. T&Cs apply. Valid until 30 Sep 2022.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
HSBC Advance Credit Card		Receive up to $200 cashback when minimum spend requirements are met.	Enjoy up to 3.5% cashback on all purchases with no minimum spend	$0 annual fee for the first 1 year (permanently waived for HSBC Advance banking customers) and $192.60 thereafter	$30,000	New cardholders can choose from a Samsonite Prestige 69cm Spinner Exp with built-in scale (worth $670) or $200 cashback upon $500 minimum spend. Plus, receive up to $150 cashback when you apply for supplementary cards. Existing HSBC credit cardholders are eligible to receive $50 cashback. T&Cs apply. Ends 31 Dec 2022.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Citi Cash Back Card		Get up to 20.88% fuel discounts at Esso and Shell, 6% cashback on dining and 8% cashback on groceries.	6% cash back on dining, 8% cashback on groceries and petrol transactions. 0.25% cashback on other retail purchases, capped at $80 for all transactions per statement month.	$0 annual fee for the first 1 year and $192.60 thereafter	$30,000	Get a welcome gift of $300 cash back when you spend $800 in the first two months. T&Cs apply. Ends 31 Oct 2022.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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• *Disclaimer

  *The products compared here are chosen from a range of offers available to us and are not representative of all the products available in the market. There is no perfect order for the products we list on our site, so we enable you to re-order and compare products. The initial display order is influenced by a range of factors including commercial partnerships, product costs and conversion rates, so please don’t interpret the listing order as an endorsement or recommendation from us. We’re happy to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions, and we encourage you to make your own decisions and compare and assess products based on your individual needs, preferences and circumstances.

What is a dining credit card?

A dining credit card is a type of credit card that offers various benefits if you enjoy dining out (or order in) regularly. You can look forward to more than just discounts. The dining perks on some cards include preferential bookings or special events at exclusive restaurants. What’s more, you could get rewarded with bonus cashback, air miles or loyalty points when you charge restaurant meals or bar drinks to your card.

A dining credit card is different from other types of credit cards because the card issuer pays special attention to negotiating offers that are exclusive to individuals who hold the card. Your dining credit card can have other benefits outside of dining, but it tends to offer something exclusive when eating out.

How does a dining credit card work?

Dining benefits are usually part of a wider group of benefits on your credit card, known as rewards. However, some credit cards are focused exclusively on dining. Typically, your dining credit card will entitle you to discounts at a range of restaurants, with these discounts exclusive to individuals who hold a specific credit card. To enjoy your dining benefit, you’ll typically have to pay with your dining credit card when you visit the restaurant.

Restaurants are often enthusiastic about signing up with credit card providers to offer discounts to cardholders, especially when these are premium credit cards that are held by high earners. Dining benefits vary. For example, your dining credit card could offer a substantially accelerated reward earnings rate when you pay at restaurants.

What features should I look for in the best dining credit cards?

• Exclusive offers. Enjoy special cardmembers privileges with most dining credit cards, such as exclusive promotions or priority bookings at top restaurants.
• On-the-spot discounts. Enjoy a discount when you use your credit card at selected restaurants. Discounts can be anything between 5% and 30% off your dining bill; or two main courses for the price of one. Make sure to check the fine print as some discounts may only apply to certain items on the menu or require a minimum spend.
• Rewards boosters. Enjoy increased rewards when you dine at any restaurant, or a selection of partner establishments. While spending on food and beverage, you could earn up to 10x the standard reward earnings rate.
• Increased cashback. Many dining credit cards also provide a cashback offer by crediting a percentage of your dining bill amount to your primary card account. Again, you could enjoy a higher cash rebate (such as double cashback, or more) when you pay your restaurant bill.

How should I compare the best dining credit cards?

• Multiple savings. Look for a dining credit card that offers discounts in a wide range of restaurants, even if the actual discount percentage is a bit lower. Some cards offer a high discount at only a few restaurants, which will limit your choice and reduce the chances to save money.
• Cashback. Don’t ignore accelerated cashback and reward earnings rates. These dining benefits can be an excellent way to save, even if the saving doesn’t show up on your credit card bill immediately.
• Extra privileges. If you’d like extra features such as complimentary travel insurance, airport lounge access, new sign-up bonus and other perks, be sure that the card you choose provides them.
• Suitability. Different cards have different dining benefits. So, when you compare dining credit cards, pick the card that offers benefits at the type of restaurant and the individual restaurants you visit the most.
• Value. Always look at the entire credit card package. If your dining credit card charges a high annual fee, it could erase the benefits you get from the dining benefits.
• Interest rates and fees. Before applying for any credit card, you’ll need to compare all the fees associated with the card – annual fees, late payment penalties, cash advance fees and any service charges to ensure that the cost of the card doesn’t outweigh its potential savings.

3 tips for using a dining credit card

• Plan ahead. This means calling up the restaurant in advance to ensure that the promotional offer is still valid before heading down. Planning ahead, making reservations and checking if you’re eligible for the privilege can save you a lot of time and disappointment.
• Consider any guests. If you’re dining with a group of friends, you might want to check if the same promotion or discount will still be valid. Different card issuers have different benefit structures. For example, the American Express Love Dining programme works in a way that the discount reduces the more people you’re dining with, or if you’re dining alone.
• Know your privileges. It’s important to fully understand the rewards you’re being offered. Some restaurants offer complimentary items, but you may need to meet a minimum amount before you’re entitled to them. Some credit cards impose a monthly cap on your rewards, while others require you to charge a certain amount to your card before you qualify for the cashback or discount.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Savings. Most of us eat out at restaurants some of the time. Your dining credit card will save you money when you enjoy a meal at a restaurant.
• Ease of use. Often the savings are applied directly to your bill so you don’t have to wait for a statement credit, or until you redeem your reward points, before you realise your discount.
• Exclusive access. You may get special access to exclusive restaurants that have negotiated a deal with a credit card provider, including access to unique evenings which are not open to the public.

Cons

• Some restrictions. The discounts on dining credit cards can be excellent, but sometimes exclude beverages, including alcoholic drinks. Think where most of your dining money is spent, and whether you will really benefit from the discount on offer once you’ve factored in any restrictions.
• Annual fee. A dining credit card can come with a high annual fee or a high income requirement. Consider the entire credit card package before you decide.
• Suitability. You might not always be able to make use of your dining benefits when you want to, due to the fact that your preferred restaurants are not on the credit card’s program, or because of booking restrictions on discounted deals.

What should you avoid when considering these types of cards?

When comparing credit cards, check to see if a provider is not simply repeating offers you can find elsewhere. It’s also a good idea to look at the restrictions and conditions around the dining benefits, because sometimes they are structured in a way that minimises the opportunity to save money. Don’t apply for a dining credit card if other cards offer more rounded benefits that you can take advantage of more often.

Frequently asked questions

• Will my dining benefit automatically be applied to my bill?

  In many cases, your dining benefit will automatically be applied to your bill at the restaurant, but may also appear later, on your credit card statement. Some dining benefits are given as cashback, which will only appear on your statement at the end of the month, or reward earnings, which you can redeem for goods or coupons at a later point.

• Do I need to tell the restaurant I’m visiting that I have a credit card with a dining benefit?

  When making your reservation, in order to avoid any need to query your bill at a later point, it’s always wise to tell the restaurant which card you are planning on paying with and what benefit you are expecting. Restaurant staff are not always aware of the full range of offers, and it gives you an opportunity to become aware of any booking restrictions or exclusions.

• Are the annual fees on dining cards expensive?

  Dining benefits are often part of a wider credit card benefits package, which can come with substantial annual fees in the case of some cards. However, credit card annual fees are occasionally waived and you could save a lot more with your dining benefits than the total annual fee.

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