Dining credit cards: What are they and how do they work?

August 20, 2025|5 min read

Maybe you have a mile-long list of restaurants to try. Or when you plan a vacation, the first thing you do is research the local food scene. If so, you might be curious about a credit card that lets you earn extra rewards on food and fun, including eating out.

But there’s a lot more to dining credit cards than that. Learn how these cards work and how to decide if one is right for you.

What you’ll learn:

Dining credit cards let cardholders earn rewards for dining out.
Some dining cards offer rewards for other kinds of spending, like entertainment and grocery store purchases.
Dining rewards programs may include additional perks and benefits. They can include access to exclusive restaurant reservations, events and more.
The Capital One Savor card is a dining credit card that lets you earn cash back on food and fun.

What is a dining credit card?

Typically, dining rewards credit cards reward cardholders for dining-related spending such as:

Eating at restaurants
Ordering takeout
Spending at bars

Depending on the card, you could earn rewards for other types of purchases too. Each card has its own rules on how you can earn and redeem rewards.

Capital One dining credit cards

The Savor and SavorOne cards are two dining credit cards from Capital One. They let cardholders earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores and on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services.¹ Plus, 1% cash back on all other qualifying purchases.

But the cards offer more than just rewards and bonuses.

Take Capital One Dining, for example. Eligible cardholders can access reservations at sought-after restaurants. They could also enjoy unforgettable dining experiences curated in partnership with experts like the MICHELIN Guide, the James Beard Foundation and Chef José Andrés.²

How do dining rewards cards work?

Dining rewards credit cards generally work the same as other rewards cards. As you use the card, you’ll earn back a percentage of your qualifying purchases as cash back or points.

Redeeming dining credit cards rewards

Ways to redeem rewards that you’ve earned by using a dining credit card can vary by card. For example, Capital One cardholders have lots of ways to redeem, including:

Cash in the form of a statement credit or a check
Reimbursement for a recent purchase
Gift cards from restaurants, retailers and more
Amazon.com payment at checkout
PayPal as your payment method when checking out online
Capital One Entertainment experiences including tickets for sporting events, concerts and more
Capital One Travel bookings for flights, hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars

Dining credit card benefits

Dining cards may offer a combination of things like rewards, benefits and extra perks—some that are related to dining and some that go beyond dining to give cardholders additional ways to use the card.

Savor card benefits

Here are some of the perks that Savor cardholders can enjoy:

Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus as a new cardholder by spending $500 on purchases within three months of opening an account.
Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores and on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services.
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Access exclusive reservations and events with Capital One Dining.
Earn 8% cash back on unforgettable experiences across sports, music, dining, theater and more with Capital One Entertainment.³
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Pay no foreign transaction fees or annual fees. View important rates and disclosures.
Help keep your account safe with Capital One card security features.

SavorOne card benefits

SavorOne cardholders can access many of the same benefits with a $39 annual fee. But there’s no bonus for new accounts. View important rates and disclosures.

Is a dining credit card right for you?

With a dining credit card, you can reward yourself while trying the newest restaurant in town or visiting your favorite local spot. And with a Savor card or SavorOne card, you also earn cash back on every purchase you make. Plus, you’ll have access to exclusive reservations and culinary experiences.

Dining credit cards FAQ

Want to know more? Here’s additional information about dining credit cards.

Do bars count as restaurants for dining credit cards?

With a Capital One dining card, purchases at bars typically qualify as dining-related purchases. To learn more about how a specific dining rewards credit card works, you could review its terms and conditions.

Does fast food count as a restaurant for dining credit cards?

This can also depend on the card. With Capital One dining cards, you can generally earn dining rewards at places like:

Fast-food chains
Restaurants
Cafés
Bars
Lounges
Bakeries

What is the best dining credit card?

The right dining card for you may depend on things like your lifestyle and budget. As you research cards, you can compare factors like rewards, perks, bonuses, fees and interest rates.

Key takeaways: Dining credit cards

With a dining credit card, you could earn rewards for ordering in or dining out. Plus, you could earn rewards on other kinds of spending, like entertainment and grocery purchases.

You can compare Capital One dining and entertainment credit cards to find one that’s right for you. And before you apply, you can see whether you’re pre-approved. Pre-approval is quick and won’t hurt your credit scores.

Footnotes

Learn more about FDIC insurance coverage.

¹The 3% grocery earn is limited to purchases made at grocery stores, excluding superstores like Walmart and Target.

²To use Capital One Dining, you must be a Capital One cardholder with an eligible rewards-earning credit card and in good standing; at least 18 years old; and either a primary account holder or an account manager for an eligible consumer credit card or a primary account holder for an eligible small business credit card. Eligible cards include U.S.-issued, Capital One branded rewards-earning consumer and small business credit cards. Capital One debit cards, private label retail credit cards and co-brand partner cards are excluded. Capital One Dining account setup required; additional terms apply.

The number of cardholder-only reservations varies by venue, capacity and other circumstances. These reservations are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, please see Capital One Dining’s reservation policies and terms and conditions.

³To use the Capital One Entertainment ticketing platform experience, you must be a Capital One cardholder with an eligible rewards-earning credit card and in good standing; at least 18 years old; and either a primary account holder or an account manager for an eligible consumer credit card or a primary account holder for an eligible small business credit card. Eligible cards include U.S.-issued, Capital One branded rewards-earning consumer and small business credit cards. Capital One debit cards, private label retail credit cards and co-brand partner cards are not eligible for the Capital One Entertainment ticketing platform. Capital One online account required; additional terms apply.

Capital One also offers eligible cardholders access to exclusive pre-sales at capitalone.com/pre-sales; a list of upcoming pre-sales, which is not part of the Capital One Entertainment ticketing platform. Capital One cardholder ticket and event offers on capitalone.com/pre-sales are open to Capital One cardholders with an eligible Visa or Mastercard credit card, as well as eligible Capital One debit cards and co-brand partner cards. Capital One private label retail credit cards are not eligible. Additional terms apply.

The site may be unavailable during normal maintenance or due to unforeseen circumstances.

Not all events are eligible for all payment methods. The available payment and/or redemption method(s) for your selected tickets or packages will be indicated during check-out. Rewards redemption rates vary and are subject to change. The availability of any particular ticket is not guaranteed and offerings may change.

The number of cardholder-only exclusive tickets or VIP packages varies by venue, capacity and other circumstances. The number of tickets you may purchase for an event may be limited and based on availability, and if offered, pre-sale tickets are available only during the pre-sale period, while supplies last.

Artist appearances and event dates, times and venues are subject to change and are not guaranteed.

Please see the Capital One Entertainment ticketing platform’s terms of use for more information about its ticketing policies and terms and conditions.

Events subject to COVID-19 restrictions and health and safety guidelines.

Events may be subject to age restrictions and you must be at least 21 years of age to consume alcohol. Please drink responsibly.

By participating in certain events, you may be revealing that you are a Capital One customer.

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