Credit Cards With Best Dining Programs

Credit Cards With Best Dining Programs

Singaporeans are a bunch of foodies – just check out your Facebook feed to see how many photos of food you’ve got from your network visiting new restaurants and cafes every other day. Eating is almost like a national past time!

If eating out and indulging in good food is one of your guilty pleasures, you might not be new to the specialty dining programs that provides users with discounts and privileges at dining outlets. While most credit card comparison sites look at cards that give you the most miles or cash rebates, in this issue of our blog, Enjoycompare will bring you the credit cards with the best dining programs.

American Express Platinum Card

With the American Express platinum card, members enjoy unique ‘Palate Dining Privileges’ which offers up to 50% savings on food orders at handpicked popular restaurants islandwide. In addition, you enjoy 15% savings on beverage at some of the island’s trendiest bars, including Gem Bar and Maison Ikkoku.

All Platinum card holders receive a complimentary ‘The Far Card Classic Membership’ worth S$425 (inclusive of GST), which offers discounts and promotions for accommodation experiences as well as year-round savings of up to 50% on dining. Enjoy special savings and unlimited visits at 10 restaurants, including the Fairmont Singapore, Equinox Complex, Swissôtel The Stamford Singapore and the Swissôtel Merchant Court.

What it’s great for: The real deal for this card is that you get the complimentary membership for 2 of the best dining programs in town. – The FAR card and Palate Dining Privileges. The great discount of 50% is something that isn’t common even with other credit cards. What’s more, other than food, the Far card also has a host of discounts for hotel stays and spa treatments which works for those who love staycations!

UOB Cards

UOB has one of the most extensive dining privileges for credit cards in Singapore and are quite known for their 1-for-1 deals. The dining deals offer a range of dining options as well and are not only limited to hotels. Some of the currently featured deals include 1-for-1 red plates at Sakae Sushi, 1-for-1 crabs at House of Seafood as well as selected hotel buffets. There’s exclusive dining privileges for UOB Reserve, Visa Infinite and Privilege banking Cardmembers.

What it’s great for: A variety of dining offers from affordable to fine dining.

CitiBank Cards

Citibank has a gourmet pleasures program which offers dining deals to its cardmembers, not unlike those of other banks. The list is however pretty limited comparatively, but there’s something special about their program which might appeal to you.

Every month, an award-winning overseas chef will pair up with two top Singapore-based restaurants to create a 6-course meal at an amazing price of $100++ exclusively for Citi Credit Cardmembers only. Non-Citi Cardmembers will need to pay S$180++.

Those who frequent Marina Bay Sands will also be delighted with Citibank’s special discounts for various restaurants there.

What it’s great for: Those who are willing to splurge on a good meal once a month will love its $100Gourmet program. Citibank also offers a best deal promise, which assures you that card members get the best promotion at a Citibank Gourmet Pleasures preferred restaurants. If you find any better offer with another credit card, they will refund you the difference!

Maybank Cards

Maybank has been a little underrated in its credit cards departments, but in the last 2 years, the Malaysian bank has ramped up its credit card privileges to another level. While the dining discounts are nothing to shout about (usually 10 to 20%), it does have a good variety of restaurants and hidden gems.

Looking through its list of restaurant affiliates, you can actually find some neighbourhood seafood restaurants which isn’t common with other banks. There are also discounts with food delivery merchants, as well as the usual discounts with hotel buffets.

What it’s great for: Discounts at authentic local eateries for family meals.

DBS Cards

Most of us are no stranger to DBS and the bank has a nifty app that shows you its card members privileges. How many of us have missed a promotion simply because we did not know that we’ll get a discount at the restaurant just by using a certain credit card? With this mobile app, you can use it to browse for the eateries that offer discounts and filter it according to your criteria. Choose from “dine for free”, “Buffet”, “Cafe” and other options to help you enjoy your credit card privileges in a more convenient way!

What it’s great for: The mobile app makes searching for dining privileges a more convenient experience.

OCBC Cards

If you are one of those who spends abit pampering your loved ones during festive seasons, you might love the dining deals offered by OCBC. One look at their lists of dining affiliates and you’d recognise many of the top hotels in Singapore that are known for their quality restaurants. These usually offer great festive deals and food products during Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn festival and Christmas.

What it’s great for: Seasonal deals with hotel restaurants

CIMB Cards

Earlier this year, CIMB has revamped some of its credit card privileges. For instance, the CIMB Visa Signature and Platinum Mastercard now gives you a 10% cash rebate on your wine and dine spending. On its website, the bank also features a CIMB Epicure’s Dining in the City guide, which allows you to filter its dining affiliates by 5 categories: