American Express Platinum Dining Credit: 253 Participating Restaurants
The American Express Platinum dining credit is worth $200 per calendar year. It applies to a single transaction of $200 or more, taxes and tip included, at one of 253 participating restaurants across Canada. Enrolment is required, and only the primary Cardmember is eligible.
The credit is one of the benefits of the American Express Platinum Card®. Here is how to activate it, where to spend it, and what to do when no restaurant on the list suits you.
- Annual fee
- $799
- Our valuation
- $1,700Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 100,000 points
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
Who qualifies for the American Express Platinum dining credit
The annual dining credit of $200 belongs to the primary Cardmember of the American Express Platinum Card®, in its personal version.
American Express sets out two conditions on its official page: you must be a primary Cardmember, and you must have received the offer. Supplementary Cardmembers do not get the credit.
How to activate the credit
Enrolment is done only once. Log in to your American Express Canada Online Services account, or open the mobile app.
Then enrol in the $200 Annual Dining Credit offer, the same way you would with any other American Express online offer. In following years, enrolment becomes automatic.
Once enrolled, simply pay the bill with your Platinum Card at a participating restaurant. The credit usually appears on your statement within 5 business days, but it can take up to 150 days. It may be reversed if the purchase is refunded.
On top of the credit, your eligible dining purchases in Canada earn 2 points per dollar, which puts this card among the best credit cards for restaurants.
253 participating restaurants in Canada
The selection covers 253 establishments across 40 cities, from Victoria to St. John's. American Express built it from restaurants that have appeared on the Canada's 100 Best list over the years.
The list reaches well beyond Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. Here is how it breaks down.
| Province or territory | Restaurants | Cities covered |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 76 | Toronto, Ottawa, Cambridge, Collingwood, Vaughan, Markdale, Flesherton, Owen Sound, St. Catharines, Jordan Station |
| Quebec | 66 | Montreal, Quebec City, Outremont, Verdun, Rimouski, Mirabel, Hudson, Chelsea, Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc |
| British Columbia | 43 | Vancouver, Whistler, Victoria, Richmond, Tofino, Ucluelet, Galiano Island |
| Alberta | 32 | Calgary, Edmonton |
| Nova Scotia | 12 | Halifax, Dartmouth |
| Saskatchewan | 8 | Saskatoon, Regina |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 7 | St. John's |
| Manitoba | 5 | Winnipeg |
| New Brunswick | 2 | Moncton, St. Andrews |
| Prince Edward Island | 1 | Souris |
| Yukon | 1 | Whitehorse |
American Express updates the list from time to time and notes that it may not be entirely accurate. Check the official participating restaurants page before booking.
Ontario
Toronto leads with 56 addresses, followed by Ottawa with 11. Several establishments are also located in smaller communities.
| Restaurant | Cuisine | City |
|---|---|---|
| Alo | French | Toronto |
| Actinolite | Canadian | Toronto |
| Alma Toronto | Chinese | Toronto |
| Bar Isabel | Spanish | Toronto |
| Canoe Restaurant and Bar | Canadian | Toronto |
| Antheia | Vegetarian | Ottawa |
| Arlo | Seafood | Ottawa |
| Beckta Dining & Wine Bar | Canadian | Ottawa |
| Pearl Morissette | French | Jordan Station |
| Fat Rabbit | American | St. Catharines |
British Columbia
Vancouver counts 32 participating addresses, and the selection stretches to Whistler, Tofino and Vancouver Island.
| Restaurant | Cuisine | City |
|---|---|---|
| AnnaLena | Canadian | Vancouver |
| Ask For Luigi | Italian | Vancouver |
| Bao Bei | Taiwanese | Vancouver |
| Blue Water Cafe | Seafood | Vancouver |
| Vijs Restaurant | Indian | Vancouver |
| Baan Lao Fine Thai Cuisine | Thai | Richmond |
| Wolf In The Fog | Seafood | Tofino |
| PLUVIO | Canadian | Ucluelet |
| Pilgrimme | Canadian | Galiano Island |
Quebec
Montreal holds 53 addresses and Quebec City 6, with several more spread across the regions.
| Restaurant | Cuisine | City |
|---|---|---|
| Au Pied de Cochon | French | Montreal |
| Bouillon Bilk | French | Montreal |
| Candide | Canadian | Montreal |
| Da Emma | Italian | Montreal |
| Damas | Middle Eastern | Montreal |
| Joe Beef | Steakhouse | Montreal |
| Le Vin Papillon | Vegetarian | Montreal |
| Battuto | Italian | Quebec City |
| Légende | Canadian | Quebec City |
| Chez St-Pierre | French | Rimouski |
Alberta
Calgary gathers 26 addresses and Edmonton 6, making Alberta the third best served province.
| Restaurant | Cuisine | City |
|---|---|---|
| Pigeonhole | European | Calgary |
| River Café | Canadian | Calgary |
| Calcutta Cricket Club | Indian | Calgary |
| JinBar | Korean | Calgary |
| Deane House | Canadian | Calgary |
| Bar Bricco | Italian | Edmonton |
| Bündok | Canadian | Edmonton |
| Clementine | Canadian | Edmonton |
| Baijiu | Asian | Edmonton |
Atlantic Canada, Prairies and Yukon
Seven more provinces and territories have at least one participating address, which makes the credit usable outside the largest cities.
| Restaurant | Cuisine | City |
|---|---|---|
| Bar Kismet | Seafood | Halifax |
| Highwayman | Spanish | Halifax |
| Dear Friend Bar | Canadian | Dartmouth |
| Bannerman Brewing Co. | Canadian | St. John's |
| Les Brumes du Coude | French | Moncton |
| Deer + Almond | Canadian | Winnipeg |
| Yujiro | Japanese | Winnipeg |
| Hearth | Canadian | Saskatoon |
| Avenue Restaurant and Bar | Canadian | Regina |
| Woodcutter's Blanket | Canadian | Whitehorse |
Dining at a hotel: the billing condition
Fourteen of the 253 participating restaurants sit inside a hotel, and they qualify for the credit under one specific condition.
American Express states that the purchase must be charged to your Card directly by the restaurant. The restaurant, not the hotel, must appear as the merchant on your statement. A meal added to your room bill may therefore fail to trigger the credit.
The establishments concerned, marked with an asterisk on the official page:
- Araxi Restaurant & Oyster Bar
- Auberge St-Mathieu
- Auberge Willow Inn
- Bacchus
- Bearfoot Bistro
- Clive's Classic Lounge
- Fogo Island Inn
- Hawksworth
- Hawthorn Dining Room & Bar
- Langdon Hall
- PLUVIO
- Rossmount Inn
- The James Lobby Bar
- The Raven Room
Simply ask the staff to bill the meal on site rather than charge it to your room.
Dietary needs and allergies
The official participating restaurants page includes a cuisine filter, which helps you find a table that matches a specific diet.
Two addresses are listed under vegetarian cuisine: Antheia in Ottawa and Le Vin Papillon in Montreal.
For an allergy or a strict restriction, the restaurant list carries a booking link for each establishment. Flag the constraint when you reserve.
Gift cards, takeout, delivery: what is excluded
The question comes up often: can you buy a $200 gift card at a participating restaurant to trigger the credit without dining there?
American Express terms limit the credit to meals eaten at the restaurant. They explicitly exclude:
- gift card and coupon purchases
- takeout orders
- home meal delivery
- deposits prepaid to the establishment
- cancellation and no-show fees
A $200 gift card or takeout order therefore stays on your bill, with no credit in return. The next section covers the options that do work.
If no restaurant suits you
Several options let you recover the $200 without forcing a meal that does not appeal to you.
- Use the credit while travelling. The list covers 40 cities: a trip to Halifax, Calgary or Winnipeg opens addresses missing from your own region.
- Invite others to the table. Settling the group's bill with your Platinum Card gets you past the $200 threshold quickly.
- Aim for an occasion. A birthday, a celebration or a business dinner clears the $200 threshold with ease.
- Pick a table outside a hotel to avoid the billing condition described above.
This dining credit is separate from the $200 annual travel credit on the same card, which follows its own terms.
Conclusion
Used well, the dining credit covers a meaningful share of the card's annual fee, alongside the other benefits of the Platinum Card.
- Annual fee
- $799
- Our valuation
- $1,700Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 100,000 points
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
Frequently Asked Questions about the Amex Platinum dining credit
How much is the Platinum Card dining credit worth?
The American Express Platinum Card® comes with a $200 annual dining credit, usable at participating restaurants across Canada.
Who can use the $200 annual dining credit?
The credit goes to the primary Cardmember of the personal version of the card, provided they have received the offer. Supplementary Cardmembers are not eligible, and the Business Platinum Card carries a wireless credit instead.
How do you enrol in the $200 dining credit?
Log in to your American Express Canada Online Services account or the mobile app, then enrol in the "$200 Annual Dining Credit" offer. Enrolment happens once: in following years it becomes automatic.
Can the credit be split across several meals?
The credit applies to one single transaction of $200 or more, taxes and tip included. It cannot be split across several bills, and any amount unused by December 31 is forfeited.
How many restaurants participate across Canada?
The selection counts 253 establishments across 40 cities, from Victoria to St. John's. American Express updates the list from time to time, so it is worth checking before you book.
Does a gift card or takeout order trigger the credit?
American Express terms limit the credit to meals eaten at the restaurant. Gift cards, coupons, takeout orders and home meal delivery do not qualify, and the amount stays on your bill.
Does a meal at a hotel restaurant qualify?
Fourteen participating restaurants are located inside a hotel. For the credit to apply, the purchase must be charged to your Card by the restaurant itself, which must appear as the merchant on your statement. A meal added to your room bill risks being excluded.
Are there vegetarian restaurants on the list?
The official page offers a cuisine filter that includes a vegetarian category, with Antheia in Ottawa and Le Vin Papillon in Montreal.
Our featured card
- Annual fee
- $799
- Our valuation
- $1,700Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 100,000 points
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
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