Does dining cashback apply to both Swiggy and Zomato orders?

Co-branded cards are specific to one platform — the HDFC Swiggy card earns 10% only on Swiggy, not Zomato, and vice versa. General dining reward cards earn at the same rate on both platforms under the food delivery or dining merchant category.

Are restaurant expenses at hotel restaurants eligible for dining rewards?

Hotel restaurants often register under the hotel's MCC (Merchant Category Code) rather than the restaurant MCC. Check whether your card defines dining rewards based on MCC or by physical location. Some cards cover all food transactions; others only standalone restaurant MCCs.

What is the best credit card for Zomato orders?

While there is no dedicated Zomato-branded credit card for India, the RBL Zomato Edition credit card offers Zomato Gold membership and dining-focused rewards. Alternatively, the Axis ACE card's 2% flat cashback or HDFC MoneyBack+ provide solid base returns on Zomato transactions.

Do dining rewards cards charge an annual fee?

Entry-level dining cards (SBI SimplySAVE, ICICI Coral) have modest fees of ₹499–₹1,499, often waived on ₹1.5–3 lakh annual spend. Premium dining cards (Amex MRCC, HDFC Swiggy) charge ₹3,000–₹5,000. The value of dining benefits on premium cards usually justifies the fee for regular diners.

Can I earn rewards on alcohol purchased at restaurants?

In most cases yes — the entire restaurant bill (food + drinks) is processed as a single transaction under the restaurant MCC and earns rewards at the dining rate. Some banks specifically exclude alcohol-related MCCs in their T&Cs — check your card's exclusion list.

Dining Credit Cards

Exclusive deals and discounts on top restaurants

217 Cards Available

About Dining Credit Cards

Best Dining Credit Cards in India for 2026

India's restaurant industry has exploded with the rise of Zomato, Swiggy, and a booming cafe and fine-dining culture in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. If food-related spending — whether at restaurants, cafes, or through delivery apps — is a significant part of your monthly budget, a dining credit card can return 5–20% of that spend in real value.

What Do Dining Credit Cards Offer?

Dining credit cards typically provide one or more of these benefits:

Accelerated reward points (5X to 15X) on restaurant transactions
Complimentary dining vouchers from partners like EazyDiner, Dineout, and Zomato Gold
Flat cashback (10–20%) on dining spends, sometimes capped monthly
Buy 1 Get 1 offers at partner restaurants
Discount on minimum order for food delivery apps

Key Cards for Dining in India

Several card programmes have built dining partnerships into their core value proposition:

SBI Card ELITE — Complimentary Trident Privilege and Club Vistara memberships alongside dining-focused reward rates.

HDFC Swiggy Credit Card — Co-branded with Swiggy, earns 10% cashback on Swiggy app orders (restaurant, Instamart, Dineout). The best card for heavy delivery app users.

Amex Membership Rewards — 5X points at standalone restaurants; points transfer to airlines at a 1

ratio.

Axis Bank Vistara — Accelerated miles on dining alongside travel.

ICICI Bank Coral — Complimentary 1+1 dining offers through EazyDiner membership.

Online Food Delivery vs. Restaurant Dining

Dining credit cards typically split into two optimisation modes:

Restaurant dining — Physical POS transactions at restaurants and cafes. Cards like Amex, HDFC Regalia, and ICICI Sapphiro excel here.
Online delivery apps — Co-branded cards (Swiggy HDFC, Zomato RBL) deliver far higher returns on app-based orders than generic cards.

If you split spending evenly, a high base-rate cashback card (Axis ACE, HDFC MoneyBack+) may outperform niche dining cards.

Entertainment and Dining Bundles

Several cards bundle dining with entertainment — free movie tickets, OTT subscriptions, or live event access — creating strong lifestyle value for urban cardholders. HDFC Millennia, SBI Card Prime, and ICICI Coral are notable examples.

Compare Top Dining Cards

Rewards Type:

Reward Points

ShoppingTravelDining

How to Choose

Separate restaurant and delivery app spending

Identify whether most of your dining spend is at physical restaurants or through apps like Swiggy and Zomato. Co-branded app cards (HDFC Swiggy) dominate for delivery; general dining reward cards are better for restaurant POS transactions.

Check if dining partners match your preferences

Cards offering EazyDiner, Dineout, or specific restaurant partnerships deliver real value only if you dine at those partners. Verify that partner restaurants include places you already frequent before factoring in partnership value.

Joining Fee:

₹499 + GST

Renewal Fee:

Nil

Rewards Type:

Reward Points

ShoppingTravelDining

KVB Platinum Credit Card

Joining Fee:

Nil

Renewal Fee:

₹599 + GST

Rewards Type:

Reward Points

TravelDiningMovies

SBM ZET Credit Card

Joining Fee:

Nil

Renewal Fee:

Nil

Rewards Type:

Zet Coins

PremiumDiningShopping

American Express Platinum Charge Card

Joining Fee:

₹66,000 + GST

Renewal Fee:

₹66,000 + GST

Rewards Type:

Reward Points

TravelPremiumDining

Frequently Asked Questions

Clear, concise answers to help you understand this card better.

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