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If your love of fine food leads you to dine out often, you might consider applying for a credit card that features extra rewards at restaurants and other foodie-friendly perks.
The first thing to consider is additional points, miles or cash back for restaurant purchases. Beyond that, there are other features that foodies may want to consider. Some cards offer generous rewards at the supermarket, for example, while others offer benefits such as VIP dining experiences and discounts to exclusive restaurants.
Keep in mind, though, any rewards credit card, not just those geared towards foodies, are best suited to people who avoid interest charges by paying each month’s statement balance in full, as you can expect higher interest rates from a rewards card than from one that doesn’t offer any. It’s also a good idea to read the terms and conditions of any card you are considering before applying — and to check your credit to get an idea of whether you can qualify for some new plastic. (You can see where you currently stand by viewing two of your credit scores, updated every 14 days, for free on Credit.com.)
With that in mind, here are five credit cards sure to appeal to the foodie in everyone.
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card (see full review here) offers double points on both dining and travel purchases. As a Visa Signature card, accountholders receive access to food and wine events, including exclusive pre-sale opportunities, ticket discounts and onsite perks for Sonoma Wine Country Weekend. There’s a $95 annual fee and there are no foreign transaction fees. The card carries a standard purchase annual percentage rate (APR) between , depending on your creditworthiness.
2. The Platinum Card from American Express
The American Express Platinum card (see full review here) can be a good choice for foodies not because it offers additional rewards for dining, but because of its Platinum Dining program, which can help you make reservations at more than 1,000 of the most acclaimed restaurants in the world. This card is renowned for its travel benefits, including elite status with hotels and rental car companies, access to airport lounges and a $200 annual airline fee credit. Just be forewarned, there is a $550 annual fee for this charge card.
3. Citi ThankYou Premier Card
Foodies may love the Citi ThankYou Premier card as it offers double points on both dining and entertainment expenses, as well 3 points per dollar on travel and gas purchases and one point per dollar spent everywhere else. Citi also offers its Private Pass program, which provides access to many dining-exclusive experiences. (Full Disclosure: Citibank as well as Chase, American Express and Discover advertise on Credit.com, but that results in no preferential editorial treatment.) Cardholders can purchase preferred tickets to the Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival and receive 10% off No Kid Hungry Unforgettable Charity Dinners. There’s a $95 annual fee for this card that’s waived the first year, and there are no foreign transaction fees. The card carries a standard purchase APR of 16.24%.
4. Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
The American Express Blue Cash Preferred card offers cardholders 6% cash back on up to $6,000 spent each year at U.S. supermarkets (then 1%). It also features 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and 1% cash back on all other purchases. New applicants can also earn $200 statement credit after using their card to make $1,000 in new purchases within three months of opening their account. There is a $95 annual fee and it carries a standard purchase APR between , based on your creditworthiness.
5. Discover it Chrome
Being a foodie doesn’t mean that you have to pay an annual fee for a credit card that offers additional rewards at restaurants. The Discover it Chrome Gas and Restaurant card features 2% cash back at both restaurant and gas stations on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Additionally, Discover will match all of the cash back earned during cardholder’s first year, which equals up to 4% cash back at restaurants. There is no annual fee for this card.
At publishing time, the American Express Platinum, American Express Blue Cash Preferred, Citi ThankYou Premier and the Discover it Chrome card for Students are offered through Credit.com product pages, and Credit.com is compensated if our users apply and ultimately sign up for these cards. However, these relationships do not result in any preferential editorial treatment.
Note: It’s important to remember that interest rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products frequently change. As a result, rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products cited in these articles may have changed since the date of publication. Please be sure to verify current rates, fees and terms with credit card issuers, banks or other financial institutions directly.
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