Best Credit Cards for Dining and Restaurants in Canada
Restaurants and takeout are one of the easiest categories to earn big rewards on. Here's which cards pay the most, where the caps kick in, and how to handle places that don't take Amex.
By Andrew Updated How we review cards
Dining is one of the most generously rewarded categories in Canada. Several cards pay the equivalent of 3% to 5% at restaurants, bars, cafés and on food delivery. The catch is usually a cap, or the fact that the strongest earners are American Express cards. This guide compares the main options and shows how to pick one based on how you actually eat out.
What counts as dining
Issuers rely on the merchant category code. Restaurants, fast food, bars and cafés generally qualify. Food delivery apps often qualify on cards that name them, like the Cobalt and Scotiabank Gold Amex. Restaurants inside hotels, stadiums or grocery stores may code differently and earn the base rate.
Top points cards for dining
American Express Cobalt ($15.99 a month, $191.88 a year) 5 Membership Rewards points per $1 at restaurants, bars and cafés in Canada, stand-alone grocery stores, and food and grocery delivery, up to a combined $2,500 in purchases a month, then 1x. Also 3x on eligible streaming and 2x on gas, transit and rideshare. No published income requirement. Points can be transferred 1:1 to Aeroplan. For how it compares with Amex Gold, see Cobalt vs Gold Rewards.
Scotiabank Gold American Express ($120) 5x Scene+ points on dining, food delivery, food subscriptions, entertainment and non-Sobeys groceries, and 6x at Sobeys-family grocers, on the first $50,000 in accelerated purchases a year. At 100 points = $1, 5x is about 5% back. No foreign transaction fees, and a listed personal income requirement of $12,000.
BMO eclipse Visa Infinite ($120) 5 BMO Rewards points per $1 on dining, including takeout and food delivery, on up to $6,000 a year in dining. At 150 points = $1 on travel, that’s about 3.3%. It’s a Visa, so it’s accepted almost everywhere. Income requirement: $60,000 individual or $100,000 household.
MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard ($120) 5 points per $1 on restaurants, groceries, digital media, memberships and household utilities, until $50,000 is spent annually in the applicable category. MBNA redeems at 100 points = $1 on travel, so that’s about 5% on travel redemptions. Income requirement: more than $80,000 personal or $150,000 household.
Top cash back cards for dining
| Card | Annual fee | Dining rate | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa | $0 | 4% at restaurants, bars, coffee shops and fast food | First $5,000 a year, then 0.5% |
| RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite | $120 | 3% on dining and food delivery (also groceries, gas, transit and more) | No maximum on cash back earned |
| CIBC Costco Mastercard | $0 (Costco membership required) | 3% at restaurants | — |
| CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite | $120 | 2% on dining | Shares a $20,000 category / $50,000 total annual cap |
The Simplii card is hard to beat for a no-fee dining card if you spend under about $400 a month at restaurants. $5,000 a year at 4% is $200 in cash back. It’s not available in Quebec. The RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite suits heavy spenders who’d blow through a cap; it lists an $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income requirement.
Amex acceptance at restaurants
The Cobalt and Scotiabank Gold Amex earn the most, but not every restaurant, food truck or café takes American Express. If you go with an Amex card, keep a Visa or Mastercard for the places that don’t accept it. A no-fee dining card like the Simplii makes a good backup. See Amex acceptance in Canada.
Picking the right card
- You eat out and order in a lot, and your places take Amex: Cobalt or Scotiabank Gold Amex.
- You want no fee: Simplii Cash Back Visa, or the CIBC Costco Mastercard if you’re already a Costco member.
- You spend heavily across many categories and want unlimited cash back: RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite.
- You want a Visa that pays well on dining and groceries: BMO eclipse Visa Infinite.
Dining cards often pay well on groceries too, so it helps to compare them alongside our grocery cards guide.
FAQ
Does food delivery count as dining? On many cards, yes. The Cobalt, Scotiabank Gold Amex, BMO eclipse Visa Infinite and RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite all name food delivery. Check each card’s wording.
Do tips earn rewards? Generally yes, when the tip is part of the same card transaction.
Do restaurant purchases outside Canada earn the dining rate? On some cards, no. The Cobalt’s 5x applies to eligible restaurants in Canada. Check the card’s terms.
What to do next
Compare dining cards on the rewards hub and the cash back hub, or use the finder to rank cards by your own spending.
Offers change. This is not financial advice. Approval is never guaranteed.
