Best Restaurant Credit Cards in Canada for 2026
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 top picks include the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard and National Bank World Elite Mastercard cards, offering valuable options for anyone who prefers to avoid Amex.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Cobalt Card | $191.88 | Up to 15,000 bonus points (terms) | * 5 points per $1 spent on eligible groceries and restaurants (up to $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 |
| MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard | $120 |  $20 GeniusCash + 30,000 bonus points (terms) | * 5 points for every $1 spent on restaurants, groceries, and select recurring bills (up to $50,000 spent annually per category) * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases |
| 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 |
We identified the best restaurant credit cards by calculating the rewards you can earn when dining out. Since every rewards program is different, our algorithm calculates each card's return rate based on the value of your rewards points.
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.
Key Takeaways
- The best possible credit card return rate at Canadian restaurants is 10%.
- With the American Express Cobalt Card, every $100 spent dining out can be worth up to $10 toward your next vacation.
- Merchant Category Codes tell your credit card company what type of purchase you've made, so restaurant bonus points are dependent on MCC.
Best restaurant credit cards in Canada
Our Gold award for the #1 restaurant card in Canada goes to the American Express Cobalt Card. It's hard to beat this card's restaurant rewards – you can earn up to 10% back in highly versatile Amex Membership Rewards.
Our Silver award goes to the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard, which earns 5% at restaurants. This card also comes with 10% in bonus points every year on your birthday.
And our Bronze award goes to the National Bank World Elite Mastercard, which also earns 5% on dining. Plus, it comes with a welcome bonus worth up to $400.
Since the best restaurant cards are Mastercard or American Express cards, we'll also highlight the best Visa for restaurants, the RBC ION+ Visa. This card has a much lower annual fee of $48 but still earns up to 3% back at restaurants – and on food delivery.
Canada's best restaurant card: American Express Cobalt Card
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 $2,500 in spend each month.
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.
Silver award restaurant card: MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard
×7 Award winner 
GC: $20
7x Award winner 
If you want a versatile rewards card with a birthday bonus, the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard is ideal for you.
This card earns up to 5x points on purchases at restaurants, groceries, and select bill payments. Plus, it includes a special 10% points bonus on your birthday.
This dining card collects MBNA Rewards, which is one of the few rewards programs that lets you cash out for e-gift cards at almost the same rate as travel.
Bronze award restaurant card: National Bank World Elite Mastercard
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard also 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, À La Carte travel, and 1 point per $1 on other purchases.
Each year, cardholders can be reimbursed up to $150 for travel expenses, including airport parking, baggage fees, and seat selection or upgrades. The total rewards you earn with this card effectively offset the annual fees, making it a smart choice for travellers.
You'll also enjoy unlimited access to the National Bank international lounge in Montreal, a Mastercard Travel Pass membership, and 10 types of insurance.
Best Visa restaurant card
If you want dining rewards but prefer the Visa payment network, the RBC ION+ Visa is an excellent option.
For a lower annual fee of $48, you'll earn 3 points on dining, food delivery, groceries, and more.
Cardholders also receive 3 cents in fuel savings at Petro-Canada. Where the card struggles, however, is its insurance, offering just 3 types.
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.
A card's overall Genius Rating considers 126+ card features across 7 main categories, but our rankings for the best restaurant credit cards are focused on dining rewards.
Here's how the top restaurant credit cards in Canada compare:
×7 Award winner GC: $20 7x Award winner ×3 Award winner GC: $100
3x Award winner 
Learn more about our Genius Rating methodology
How to choose the right restaurant credit card
If you're strictly looking for the best possible return on dining, you can save yourself the search and apply for the American Express Cobalt Card.
But all of Canada's best restaurant credit cards have other features to consider. You may want to consider annual fee, insurance offerings, or other perks.
You should also think about other bonus reward categories and redemption options. Are you looking to earn bonus points in other areas? Do you prefer travel points or e-gift cards? If you participate in any other loyalty programs, do you want the ability to transfer points?
Let's explore how these cards stack up in each category.
Rewards
American Express Cobalt Card's restaurant rewards are hard to beat. Here's how all the best restaurant cards compare:
But restaurant rewards cards earn bonus points on more than just dining out. You'll also find bonus points in categories like recurring bills, transit, gas, and groceries.
The American Express Cobalt Card earns:
- 5 points per $1 spent on eligible groceries and restaurants (up to $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
This card collects American Express Membership Rewards, which can be transferred to Aeroplan points at an excellent value of 2 cents per point.
The MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard earns:
- 5 points for every $1 spent on restaurants, groceries, and select recurring bills (up to $50,000 spent annually per category)
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
This card collects MBNA Rewards, which lets you redeem for e-gift cards at almost the same rate as travel. Most rewards points decrease significantly in value when you choose gift cards over travel, making MBNA Rewards highly flexible.
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard earns:
- 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
This card collects À La Carte Rewards, a lesser-known but still valuable type of travel points.
If you want to pay a much lower annual fee, you can expect reduced rewards. The RBC ION+ Visa earns:
- 3 points per $1 spent on groceries, dining, food delivery, daily transit, rideshares, EV charging, streaming, digital gaming, and subscriptions
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
This card collects Avion Rewards, which can be transferred to WestJet.
Fees
As with other types of rewards credit cards, dining cards can vary significantly in annual fees. The RBC ION+ Visa, for instance, charges a modest $48 annual fee, while our top pick—the American Express Cobalt Card—charges a much higher $191.88 annual fee, though that fee is billed monthly to make it more manageable. Weigh the annual fee against the rewards and perks to ensure you are getting your money's worth from a card.
All of the best restaurant cards in Canada also charge the standard 2.5% foreign transaction fee. If you're planning to dine abroad, consider a card with no FX fees, like the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, which also earns Scene+ points on foreign currency purchases.
Perks
Dining cards typically offer fewer perks than travel credit cards. But that doesn't mean these cards lack quality benefits and incentives.
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard offers international travellers unlimited access to the National Bank lounge in Montreal. It also provides up to $150 in travel reimbursements, making it a great one-two punch for travellers who also dine out.
Other cards may provide more "everyday" perks, such as discounts or bonuses. The MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard offers 10% bonus points every year on your birthday, for example, while the National Bank World Elite Mastercard provides $0.03 in fuel savings when you link the card to your Petro-Canada account.
Insurance
How much insurance you'll get with a dining credit card depends on the annual fee you pay. Cards with lower fees, such as the RBC ION+ Visa, offer reduced insurance benefits, while premium options, such as the American Express Cobalt Card, can include robust insurance protections.
Here's how our top restaurant picks compare:
| American Express Cobalt Card | MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard | National Bank World Elite Mastercard | RBC ION+ Visa | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extended warranty | 1 year | 1 year | 2 years | 1 year |
| Purchase protection | 90 days | 90 days | 180 days | 90 days |
| Travel accident | $250,000 | $1,000,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Emergency medical | 15 days | N/A | 60 days | N/A |
| Trip cancellation/interruption | N/A | $2,000/N/A | $2,500/$5,000 | N/A |
| Flight delay | $500 | $500 | $500 | N/A |
| Baggage delay | $500 | $500 | $500 | N/A |
| Hotel burglary | $500 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Rental car | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A |
| Mobile device | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
Interest rates
Rewards credit cards (such as restaurant credit cards) typically carry higher rates—our top picks range around 20.99% to 21.99% for purchases (and balance transfers) and 21.99% to 29.99% for cash advances—because the bank must cover the cost of the rewards program and guard against higher misuse risk.
Acceptance
Mastercard and Visa are more widely accepted than American Express, so the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard and RBC ION+ Visa score slightly higher for acceptance. However, you'll find most merchants accept Amex, too.
It's always smart to dine with a few cards in your wallet, just in case.
Approval
Most dining cards require a good credit score (660-724), while premium cards often prefer a very good or excellent score (≥720) because they offer higher rewards and additional perks to cardholders.
Additionally, income requirements can vary significantly. The American Express Cobalt Card and RBC ION+ Visa, for example, have no minimum income requirements. But the National Bank World Elite Mastercard and MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard both require a minimum personal income of $80,000 or a household income of at least $150,000.
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: Review your dining-out (or ordering-in) habits and choose a card that aligns with them.
- Check your statements: Double-check your statements to check that your favourite dining establishments count toward your bonus categories. Credit card companies use merchant category codes to determine spend categories.
- 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.
- Monitor promotions: Stay up to date on limited-time offers and category-specific promotions to maximize your rewards during specific periods.
FAQ
What credit card is best for restaurants?
The American Express Cobalt Card is the best credit card choice for restaurants, earning an exceptional 10% on dining. In fact, the American Express Cobalt Card is 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. Credit card companies use Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) to identify spend categories.
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 your favourite coffee shop is categorized.
Does Starbucks count as a restaurant?
Although definitions can vary by issuer, most major credit cards classify Starbucks as a restaurant or dining category, given that it offers snacks, sweet treats, and small meals.
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 231 Canadian credit cards.
