Best Restaurant Credit Cards In Canada For 2025
Credit cards to maximize your rewards while dining out or ordering in.
Dining out can be expensive, but the right credit card helps you earn rewards every time you grab a meal. For Canadians, the best restaurant credit card is the American Express Cobalt Card, which makes everyday dining an easy way to rack up points.
Other contenders on the list of top restaurant cards include the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card and Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card, offering valuable options for anyone who prefers to stay away from Amex.
Below, you'll find extensive reviews of the best credit card choices for foodies in Canada, including a guide on how to choose the best fit for your refined tastes.
Best credit cards for restaurants for 2025
For all your dine-in, take-out, or food delivery needs, these credit cards will help you earn the most rewards.
| Category | Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall restaurant credit card | American Express Cobalt Card | $191.88 |  $100 GeniusCash + Up to 15,000 bonus points (terms) | * 5 points per $1 spent on eligible groceries and restaurants (up tp $2,500 spent per month) * 3 points per $1 spent on eligible streaming services * 2 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit, and ride share purchases * 1 point per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases |
| Best premium Visa for restaurants | BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card | $120 | $150 GeniusCash + Up to 70,000 bonus points, first year free (terms) | * 5 BMO Rewards points for every $1 spent on dining, groceries, gas, and transit * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases |
| Best restaurant rewards credit card with premium benefits | National Bank World Elite Mastercard | $150 | Up to 40,000 bonus points (terms) | * 5 points per $1 spent on groceries and restaurants, up to $2,500 in total spend per month (2 points after) * 2 points per $1 spent on gas, electric vehicle charging, recurring bills, and travel booked through À La Carte Rewards * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases |
| Best restaurant credit card with no FX fees | Scotiabank Gold American Express Card | $120 | $100 GeniusCash + Up to 50,000 bonus points, first year free (terms) | * 6 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and more * 5 Scene+ points per $1 spent on groceries, dining, and entertainment * 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent on gas, select streaming services, and transit * 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases * 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on all other purchases |
| Best no fee restaurant credit card | MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard | $0 | $100 GeniusCash + 10,000 bonus points (terms) | * 2 points for every $1 spent on restaurants, groceries, and select recurring bills (up to $10,000 spent annually per category) * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases |
| Best cash back restaurant credit card | Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card | $0 | $120 GeniusCash + 10% extra cash back for the first 2 months (terms)
| * 2% cash back on purchases in up to 3 Money-Back Categories * 0.5% cash back on all other purchases |
1. Canada’s best overall restaurant credit card
×8 Award winner 
GC: $100
8x Award winner Rewards:
- 5 points per $1 spent on eligible groceries and restaurants (up tp $2,500 spent per month)
- 3 points per $1 spent on eligible streaming services
- 2 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit, and ride share purchases
- 1 point per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Pros:
- Best credit card in Canada
- Excellent earn rate at restaurants
- Points worth up to 2 cents each
- Multiple ways to redeem points for high value
- Up to 15,000 welcome bonus points
Cons:
- Lower acceptance as an American Express
For the most rewards you can earn at restaurants, look no further than the American Express Cobalt Card. No other card comes close to the total earnings you can get with this card. You'll earn 5 points per $1 on all restaurant purchases and groceries, up to a maximum of $30,000 in annual spend.
With an American Express Membership Rewards point worth up to 2 cents when transferring points to Aeroplan, that's an astounding 10% return on your food spend.
Throw in a welcome bonus worth up to 15,000 points, plus no income requirements, and it makes for a great card whenever you go out to restaurants – it’s the king of credit cards in Canada for rewards, period.
2. Best premium Visa for restaurants
GC: $150
Rewards:
- 5 BMO Rewards points for every $1 spent on dining, groceries, gas, and transit
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Pros:
- Up to 70,000 bonus points
- $50 annual lifestyle credit
- 10% bonus points when you add an authorized user
Cons:
- Low points value of 0.67 cents
- High income requirements of $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card is a premium flexible rewards credit card that includes valuable Visa Infinite perks and gives you 5x points at restaurants.
This flexible rewards credit card also has a few unique features, including 10% bonus rewards if you add an authorized user to your account and an annual $50 lifestyle credit you can use to buy anything
Top that off with 6 types of complementary travel insurance and purchase protection – including rare mobile device coverage. You'll get the entire package for a reasonable $120 annual fee that's waived for the first year.
3. Best restaurant rewards credit card with premium benefits
Rewards:
- 5 points per $1 spent on groceries and restaurants, up to $2,500 in total spend per month (2 points after)
- 2 points per $1 spent on gas, electric vehicle charging, recurring bills, and travel booked through À La Carte Rewards
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Pros:
- 5% return on both your restaurants and groceries
- 10 types of insurance
- Annual $150 annual travel enhancement credit
Cons:
- Income requirements of $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
- Only high value redemption options are flights or vacation packages
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is among the best foodie credit cards. It earns an outstanding 5 points per $1 spent on restaurants and groceries. Plus, you’ll earn 2 points per $1 spent on gas (or EV charging), recurring bill payments, a la carte travel, and 1 point per $1 on other purchases.
Each year, cardholders can be reimbursed up to $150 on various travel expenses like airport parking fees, baggage charges, and even seat selections or upgrades. The total reward you get from this card effectively offsets the annual fees, making it a smart choice for travellers.
You'll also enjoy unlimited access to the National Bank lounge in Montreal (international travellers only), a Mastercard Travel Pass membership, and 10 types of insurance.
4. Best restaurant credit card with no FX fees
×1 Award winner GC: $100
1x Award winner Rewards:
- 6 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and more
- 5 Scene+ points per $1 spent on groceries, dining, and entertainment
- 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent on gas, select streaming services, and transit
- 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases
- 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Pros:
- Up to 50,000 bonus points
- No foreign exchange fees
- Four ways to redeem points for high value
- 12 types of insurance
Cons:
- Lower acceptance as an American Express
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is our top pick for the best rewards restaurant credit card with no foreign exchange fees. It earns Scene+ points (starting with a welcome bonus of 50,000 points), which are highly flexible with loads of redemption options, including high-value options like travel, groceries, restaurants, movie tickets, and Home Hardware. These all give you a 5% return on your food and entertainment purchases.
You’ll also enjoy no foreign exchange fees, access to Amex perks and benefits, and a low income requirement of $12,000 to qualify for the card.
5. Best no fee credit card for dining in Canada
Rewards:
- 2 points for every $1 spent on restaurants, groceries, and select recurring bills (up to $10,000 spent annually per category)
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Pros:
- 2 points per $1 spent on restaurants, up to $10,000 spent annually
- No annual fee
- Up to 10,000 bonus points
Cons:
- Limited insurance compared to other no fee cards
If you want a card that earns you points on dining without the annual fee, the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard might be more your speed. This credit card also offers flexible MBNA Rewards, which you can redeem for everything from travel (the highest-value option) to gift cards to straight-up cash (the lowest-value option). You can also earn up to 10,000 bonus points after spending $500 in the first 90 days and signing up for paperless e-statements.
Throw in 3 types of complementary insurance for added peace of mind and you’ve got a pretty solid no fee credit card for maximizing rewards when going to restaurants or ordering takeout.
6. Canada’s best restaurant credit card with cash back
×1 Award winner GC: $120
1x Award winner Rewards:
- 2% cash back on purchases in up to 3 Money-Back Categories
- 0.5% cash back on all other purchases
Pros:
- 2% cash back on up to 3 categories of your choice
- No annual fee
- Earn an extra 10% cash back for the first 2 months, up to $1,000 spent
Cons:
- Only earns 0.5% cash back on non-category purchases
- Only includes 2 types of insurance
While it doesn’t appear in our comparison table on this page, the no annual fee Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card is our top pick for best cash back credit card to use for restaurants, dining, and take out.
You get to choose which categories you earn the most rewards on – typically two categories but three if you deposit your money into a Tangerine account. You can change your 2% cash back categories at any time – but keep in mind that it can take up to three billing cycles for the changes to go into effect. Here are your choices:
Want a cash back card with a few more perks? If you can meet the income requirements ($60,000 personal, or $100,000 household), the Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard is also an excellent choice, offering Mastercard Travel Pass membership (no free passes), World Mastercard benefits, and 4 types of insurance.
Compare Canada’s top restaurant credit cards by Genius Rating
Our Genius Rating system uses a refined algorithm to generate a score out of 5 for every credit card we review. It considers 126+ card features, broken down into seven main categories.
But since we're interested in the best rewards when it comes to restaurants, our Genius Ratings are solely based on rewards.
Here’s how the top restaurant credit cards in Canada compare when arranged by Genius Rating:
×8 Award winner GC: $100 8x Award winner ×4 Award winner GC: $100
4x Award winner ×1 Award winner GC: $100 1x Award winner 
Learn more about our Genius Rating methodology
Pros and cons of restaurant credit cards
As with any type of credit card, there are benefits and drawbacks to consider:
- No shortage of rewards
- Plenty of choices for earning and redeeming points
- No fee cards are available
- Limited number of cash back credit cards – restaurant credit cards are the domain of travel and flex rewards
- High income requirements are typical
Best rewards restaurant credit cards head-to-head
While the cards in some credit card categories are pretty similar, this list includes a wide range of credit cards, including top-of-the-line premium Visa cards and simple, no fee cash back cards.
Here's how they measure up in terms of welcome bonus, annual fee, average rate of return, insurance value, and perks.
Restaurant credit card welcome bonuses
First up, the welcome bonus. Since we have a variety of cards, they feature a range of welcome bonuses.
Restaurant credit card annual fees
In the end, more than half of these cards have an annual fee of $120 or higher, and less than half have a relatively low or no annual fee at all.
If you're looking for a no fee restaurant card that scores relatively well for all of the features we're looking at here, the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard might be worth a look.
Restaurant credit card average returns on spending
This is where the Amex cards take a serious lead over the rest, with one offering a staggering 10% average rate of return for spending at restaurants.
Of course, these numbers are just the estimated rate of return on spending at restaurants, so your numbers might look a little different. And some credit cards (such as the MBNA) have a cap on some spending categories, so the final results will be different if you exceed those caps.
How to choose the right restaurant card for you
You’ve got some great credit cards to choose from, so you might be unsure which to get. Here are some things to consider when picking a restaurant card for your wallet:
- Decide if you want to pay an annual fee: If paying a fee is a deal breaker, narrow your options to no fee cards. Otherwise, set a limit on how much you’re willing to pay to use your restaurant card.
- Consider whether you need a card with no foreign exchange fee: If you’re mainly eating out when you’re travelling abroad, it’s smart to use a card that also waives the 2.5% foreign exchange fee – like the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card.
- Determine how you want to receive rewards: Consider whether you prefer points that can be redeemed for a variety of items, or simple cash back. If you participate in any other loyalty programs, do you want the ability to transfer points?
- Think about which network you prefer: Look at the basic benefits you get with Visa, Mastercard, and American Express to decide which card network you want to work with. You might not have a preference, or you may decide that Amex’s limited acceptance is a non-starter.
How to maximize your restaurant rewards
To earn the most on your meals out (or in), here are a few tips:
- Understand your spending habits: Look at your dining out (or ordering in) habits and choose a card that aligns with them. For example, the American Express Cobalt Card is excellent for those who frequently eat out, as it offers 5x the points on dining and food delivery services.
- Leverage welcome bonuses: Big welcome bonuses can give new cardholders a significant boost, but be mindful of the spending requirements often required to qualify for the full bonus.
- Combine with loyalty programs: When possible, link your credit card with restaurant loyalty programs to stack your rewards. Earn loyalty points and credit card points to get additional savings.
- Use your additional perks: Learn about your card benefits – and use them! Perks like comprehensive travel insurance or no foreign transaction fees can add value beyond your restaurant rewards.
- Monitor promotions: Stay updated on limited-time offers or category-specific promotions that can help you maximize your rewards for certain periods.
FAQ
What credit card is best for restaurants?
The American Express Cobalt Card is the best credit card choice for restaurant purchases – in fact, it's the overall best credit card in Canada, which means it's the best choice for nearly all types of purchases.
Does fast food count as dining on a credit card?
While it’s completely up to the credit card issuer, most major credit cards consider fast food establishments to be restaurants when categorizing credit card rewards. When in doubt, check the code on your credit card statement.
Does coffee count as dining on a credit card?
You can breathe a sigh of relief – purchases at coffee shops usually count, but it depends on how the coffee shop codes its purchases. If you’re unsure, check your credit card statement to see how it’s categorized.
Does Starbucks count as a restaurant?
Although it can differ between credit card issuers, most major credit cards count Starbucks as a restaurant or in the dining category, especially since they offer snacks, sweet treats, and small meals on their menu.
What credit card has the best benefits and perks?
When it comes to benefits, American Express cards lead the pack. If you’re willing to pay a premium annual fee of $799 for the American Express Platinum Card, you can expect top-of-the-line perks – especially for travel.
Editorial Disclaimer: The content here reflects the author's opinion alone. No bank, credit card issuer, rewards program, or other entity has reviewed, approved, or endorsed this content. For complete and updated product information please visit the product issuer's website. Our credit card scores and rankings are based on our Rating Methodology that takes into account 126+ features for each of 227 Canadian credit cards.
