Many Canadians spend hundreds of dollars per month on restaurants and dining. Why? Because restaurants are a part of our daily lives. So it’s important to maximize your rewards as much as possible with credit cards for restaurants.
Ranging from premium to simple, here are our top three credit cards for restaurants in Canada.
1. MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard
One of Canada’s most flexible rewards credit cards, the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard®, allows you to earn points at restaurants. Cardholders earn 2 points for every $1 spent at restaurants, and the same rate also applies to groceries, digital media, memberships, and utilities (up to $10K in each category annually). During your first 90 days as a cardholder, you can double this to 4 points per dollar. This is a generous limit for a card without an annual fee.
In addition, you can earn an additional 10,000 points. When you sign up for paperless statements, you’ll earn 5,000 points. And when you make $500 worth of purchases within the first 90 days of membership, you’ll earn another 5,000 points.
Click here to read our complete MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard review
2. Scotiabank Gold American Express card
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card is one of the most lucrative restaurant rewards cards available.
There is a fantastic welcome offer right now, where you can earn up to 40,000 Scene+ points in your first year (that’s $400 towards travel).
Furthermore, there is no annual fee in the first year, even for supplementary cards. After the first year, the annual fee is $120.
Then, you can rack up those rewards on restaurant, and drinking establishment purchases, as well as food delivery and subscriptions to food boxes. For gas, daily transit, and selected streaming purchases, you’ll get 3 points per dollar spent and 1 point per dollar spent on everything else.
Your Scene+ points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, merchandise, cash credits, or charitable donations. Each point is generally worth 0.5–1 cent, depending on how you use it.
Click here to read our complete Scotiabank Gold American Express Card review.
3. Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
Our favorite cashback card to use at restaurants is the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card.
With the Tangerine Money-Back Card, you can earn 2% cashback in up to three different categories (including restaurants). All other purchases are eligible for 0.5% cashback. It’s that simple.
The redemption process is quite straightforward. Monthly rewards are credited to your credit card balance, or your Tangerine savings account if you have one.
The major benefit of this card is that it has no annual fee and no rewards caps. So no matter how much you spend at restaurants, cafes, and bars throughout the year, you will always earn 2%. This is a standout feature for a no-fee credit card, as most cards, like MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard, include spending caps in their terms and conditions that limit how much you can earn in rewards.
In Conclusion
Dining out is an essential part of our lives, whether in restaurants, meal subscription services, or through home delivery. Our recommendations above cover a broad range of options for a credit card that rewards this spending with points or cashback. Whether you are looking for a no-fee card or a low-interest card, one of the options above will meet your needs.