Which Premium Card Is Best for High-End Dining Perks?

More and more premium travel cards are trying to capture the money customers spend on dining, so they’ve added improved bonus categories, statement credits, and other perks to try and convince you to make their cards your No. 1 choice for whenever you spend at restaurants.

However, given how many cards are out there, how do you know which is best for you?

We’ve pitted the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card, and the Platinum Card^® from American Express against each other to provide a full breakdown of their dining-related benefits to help you figure out which to get.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card’s Dining Benefits

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card comes with a few notable dining benefits. For starters, you earn an uncapped 3x points on all dining purchases worldwide.

You also receive a $300 annual dining credit and primetime reservations at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables, available for booking on OpenTable. This dining credit is delivered in 2 $150 biannual credits, meaning you receive the first $150 credit between January and June and the second between July and December.

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Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

125,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,500

Annual Fee

$795

APR

19.99% - 28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Excellent

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like worldwide airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus, it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to cover you at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the more than $2,000 in annual credits, which can offset the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 8x points on all Chase Travel purchases
• 5x points on Lyft rides
• 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly

Cons

• $795 annual fee

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Card Highlights

• Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
• Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge^® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^® every 4 years
• Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
• Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $250 annually
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Chase Ultimate Rewards

That said, how useful this dining credit is depends on what city you live in and what restaurants you frequent. At the time of writing, Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables are only available in 25+ cities. Further, the city with the most eligible restaurants, New York City, features just 30+ restaurants to choose from, while other cities, like Charleston, South Carolina, and Detroit, have just 4 eligible restaurants. San Antonio, Texas, has just 1!

Outside of the points you earn and the annual statement credit you can receive, Chase also puts on the EEEEEATSCON food festival in multiple cities each year in partnership with the website The Infatuation. Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers who attend this event can score additional perks, like discounted presale tickets, early entrance, and access to a private lounge.

Citi Strata Elite Card’s Dining Benefits

While the Citi Strata Elite card doesn’t come with any annual dining credits, it does offer a series of exclusive dining experiences through a collaboration with The Supper Club, a members-only community dedicated to fine dining and culinary events. Cardholders get exclusive access to first-come, first-serve events in select cities.

Additionally, it offers the best bonus category for dining purchases — but only on select nights.

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Citi Strata Elite card is Citi's most premium card built for frequent travelers and foodies.

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

The Citi Strata Elite card is Citi's most premium card built for frequent travelers and foodies.

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 bonus ThankYou Points after spending $6,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.

100,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,600

Annual Fee

$595

APR

20.99% to 28.99% Variable

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Elite card is a great option for frequent travelers, foodies, and those who are fans of the Citi ThankYou Rewards ecosystem thanks to its combination of bonus categories, perks, and annual credits.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 12x points on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked through Citi Travel
• 6x points on airfare through Citi Travel
• 6x points on dining on Citi Nights (Friday and Saturday nights from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) and 3x points on dining at all other times

Cons

• $595 annual fee
• Boosted dining rewards are limited to 2 nights per week

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Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 bonus ThankYou Points after spending $6,000 within the first 3 months of account opening
• 12x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on cititravel.com
• 6x points on air travel booked on cititravel.com
• 6x points at restaurants, including restaurant delivery services, every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET, and 3x points any other time
• 1.5x points on all other purchases
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
• Up to $300 annual hotel benefit
• Up to $200 annual Splurge credit
• Up to $200 annual Blacklane credit
• 4 American Airlines Admirals Club passes every calendar year
• Transfer Citi ThankYou Points to partners like American Airlines
• Complimentary Priority Pass membership
• No foreign transaction fees

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.99% to 28.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Here is how it works. Usually, you earn 3x Citi ThankYou points on all dining spending with your Citi Strata Elite card, which is already a pretty solid amount of points to earn on dining in its own right. However, on Citi Nights, which is every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Eastern time, that doubles to 6x points at restaurants (including delivery services).

Given that, if you primarily dine out on Friday and Saturday nights, and tend to spend a lot when you do, you could come out way ahead by using the Citi Strata Elite card on these purchases.

Amex Platinum Card’s Dining Benefits

The Amex Platinum card is the weakest when it comes to return on your dining, offering just 1x points on worldwide dining purchases. However, what it lacks in points-earning it makes up for in dining-related perks, and it is arguably the strongest on that front.

With the Amex Platinum card, you receive up to $400 in annual Resy credits, broken up into 4 — up to $100 credits per quarter.

Further, unlike the dining credit offered with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, which is limited when it comes to the number of eligible restaurants, you can use your Resy credit on the Amex Platinum card at over 10,000 U.S. restaurants. Enrollment required.

Better yet, you don’t even need to make a reservation at the restaurant through Resy in order to receive the credit. You simply enroll in the benefit, dine at any U.S. restaurant listed on Resy, use your Amex Platinum card to pay, and receive a statement credit of up to $100 per quarter.

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Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,850

Annual Fee

$895

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than the Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,550 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $895 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

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Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards^® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel^®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts^® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel^® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
• More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection^®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club^® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
• More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card^® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card^® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
• More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card^® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
• More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel^® using the Platinum Card^®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card^® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card^®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
• More Value! $209 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card^®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card^® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts^® through American Express Travel^®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
• New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card^®.*Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
• $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card^®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
• Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
• $895 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

If you’re someone who would spend up to $100 on dining out each quarter anyway and would have no problem making full use of the up to $400 in annual Resy credits, you’ll find that this credit alone covers nearly 45% of the $895 annual fee (rates & fees) on the card without even factoring in all of the other Amex Platinum card benefits.

The dining benefits don’t stop there, though: You also receive Global Dining Access by Resy, which offers special access to sought-after restaurants when you add your card to your Resy profile. This includes features like Priority Notify, which notifies you of available reservations slots for restaurants you’ve preselected. You get this notification before other Resy members.

Lastly, you also receive access to Platinum Nights by Resy, which are nights at participating top Resy restaurants in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami when only Amex Platinum cardmembers can make reservations.

Premium Card Comparison

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all of those details, here is a comparison table so you can see how each card stacks up against the others in dining.

Which Dining Card Is Best for You?

Deciding which card is best for you ultimately comes down to what perks are most important to you.

If you want a card that offers the highest possible number of points on your dining spend, especially on Friday and Saturday nights, then the Citi Strata Elite card might be the best for you.

On the other hand, if you want a card that offers the best dining benefits when it comes to statement credits and helping you secure difficult reservations at sought-after restaurants, then the Amex Platinum card would be a better fit for you.

Lastly, if you want a card that blends a good point-earning rate with a few dining benefits, then the Chase Sapphire Reserve card might be the right choice for you.

All that said, ultimately, you’d do well to consider all of the other perks and benefits offered with each card, not just their dining perks, before making your final decision. This is especially helpful if you’re still undecided and are considering multiple cards.

Final Thoughts

If you’re someone who dines out often, adding a card that offers solid dining perks and helps you rack up rewards for these purchases is key. Fortunately, there are plenty of great cards that are rewarding for dining, and deciding which card is best for you depends on your personal preferences and what you’re hoping to optimize for.