American Express Gold Card review: Elevate your dining experience

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If you're constantly seeking out the latest restaurant hotspots or whipping up gourmet meals at home, the American Express® Gold Card might be your perfect companion.

This premium rewards card is designed with foodies in mind. It offers an unparalleled 4X points on restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1X). Along with an impressive array of benefits, the Amex Gold Card can help you take your gastronomic adventures to new heights.

While the card has a higher annual fee, the credits and benefits can help offset this cost for those who use it regularly.

In this review, we'll examine the card's features, reward structure, and potential drawbacks to help you determine whether it's the right fit for your lifestyle and spending habits.

American Express Gold Card benefits

The American Express Gold Card has several benefits, making it one of the best American Express credit cards. Here's a closer look at its features. 

Generous rewards on dining and groceries 

The American Express Gold Card excels in its rewards structure. If offers:

• 4X points on restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) 
• 4X points on U.S. supermarket purchases (up to $25,000 per year, then 1X)
• 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel
• 1X points on all other purchases

This earning potential makes it a standout choice for those who spend significantly on dining and groceries.

To put this into perspective, if you spend $500 per month on dining and $500 on groceries, you'll earn 48,000 points annually from those two categories alone. That's equivalent to $480 in statement credits or up to $960 when transferred to select travel partners.

Welcome bonus

New cardholders can earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months. This solid welcome offer can offer significant value, especially when points are transferred to travel partners.

Annual credits 

In addition to its impressive rewards, the American Express Gold Card offers a smorgasbord of credits and perks:

• Up to $120 in annual dining credits: Use your card at participating partners, including Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Chris Steak House, and participating Shake Shack locations, to receive up to $10 in monthly statement credits.
• Up to $120 annual credits for Uber Cash: Add your Gold card to your Uber account and automatically receive $10 in Uber Cash each month, which can be used for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders. To earn up to $120 in Uber Cash credits, you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express Gold Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account. The Amex benefit may only be used in United States.

Using the credits can help offset the annual fee — but it’s important to consider your spending habits to ensure these perks align with your lifestyle. 

Travel benefits 

Though the Gold Card is geared towards dining and grocery rewards, it offers a few notable travel benefits:

• Up to $100 with The Hotel Collection: Book a stay of at least two consecutive nights at properties in The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel and receive a $100 hotel credit for qualifying activities like dining or spa treatments.
• Travel protections: This card comes with trip delay insurance, baggage delay insurance, and car rental loss and damage insurance.
• No foreign transaction fees: This card is a solid travel card because you can use it internationally without worrying about foreign transaction fees. 

Amex Offers 

One unique feature of American Express cards is Amex Offers, which provides cardholders with discounts and bonus points at select merchants.

These offers are automatically applied when you make an eligible purchase. Amex Offers can help you save money and earn additional rewards on purchases you were already planning to make.

Redeeming rewards with the American Express Gold Card 

American Express offers a wide range of redemption options, including:

• Statement credits
• Gift cards
• Charitable donations
• Shopping with points at select merchants
• Booking travel through Amex Travel
• Transferring points to airline and hotel loyalty programs

American Express Membership Rewards points values range from 0.6 cents per point when redeemed for statement credits to up to 2 cents per point when transferred to select travel partners.

Use your Gold Card for all restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases to maximize your rewards. For example, a $100 restaurant bill will net you 400 points, worth $2.40 as a statement credit or up to $8 when transferred to a travel partner.

Some notable transfer partners include Delta SkyMiles, British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy, and Hilton Honors. By transferring points and booking high-value awards, travelers can maximize the value of their points.

Don't forget to take advantage of the annual dining and Uber credits, which can significantly offset the card's annual fee.

Potential drawbacks of the American Express Gold Card 

While the Amex Gold Card offers an impressive number of benefits, it's important to consider its drawbacks:

• Annual fee: The card carries a $250 annual fee, which may be steep for some users. See rates and fees. 
• Charge card structure: The Gold Card is a charge card, meaning you'll need to pay your balance in full each month. American Express does offer a “Pay Over Time” feature. However, depending on your creditworthiness, you might pay a penalty APR if you carry a balance. (See rates and fees). 
• No intro APR offers: Unlike other cards, the Gold Card doesn't offer an introductory APR period for purchases or balance transfers.

Is the American Express Gold Card right for you? 

The American Express Gold Card is ideal for frequent diners and U.S. supermarket shoppers who prioritize earning rewards and want various redemption options.

If you can maximize the 4X bonus categories and take advantage of the dining and Uber credits, the card's benefits can easily justify its annual fee.

The main drawbacks are the annual fee and the charge card structure, which may not suit everyone. However, the American Express Gold Card is a top contender in its category for those who can manage their spending and take full advantage of the card's rewards and benefits.

Alternatives to the American Express Gold Card

If the American Express Gold Card doesn't quite match your spending habits or preferences, consider several other rewards cards. 

American Express Gold Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card can be a solid option if you're after travel rewards. 

This card charges a $95 annual fee — less than half of what the American Express Gold Card costs — and has a solid welcome offer.

The Preferred Card earns slightly less on dining and groceries than the Amex Gold. With the Preferred, you’ll get 3X points on dining (including eligible delivery services) and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs).

Frequent travelers may prefer the Preferred card over the Gold card. You can earn 5X points on travel through Chase Travel℠ and 2X points on other travel. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed through Chase Travel. 

American Express Gold Card vs. Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

If you want to earn dining and grocery rewards without the annual fee, consider the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.

This card offers an unlimited 3% cash back on dining and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target).

If that wasn’t enough, you could earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber and Uber Eats (through Nov. 14, 2024), 8% back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 3% back on entertainment and popular streaming subscriptions, and 1% back on everything else.

How we rated this card 

Every credit card review we publish has gone through a rigorous editorial process to ensure accuracy and objectivity.

We rate all credit cards on a 10-point system, with 10 being the highest possible score and 1 being the lowest possible score. We assess each card across several key factors, weighted based on what our research shows matters most to readers like you. Learn more about our methodology here.

Here are some of the factors that influenced this card’s overall score:

• Rewards: The American Express Gold Card excels in its rewards structure, offering 4X Membership Rewards points on restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1X), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com, and 1X points on all other purchases. 
• Redemption flexibility: American Express offers many redemption options, including statement credits, gift cards, and travel bookings through Amex Travel. Cardholders can also transfer points to numerous airline and hotel loyalty programs, often at a 1:1 ratio. 
• Annual fee: The American Express Gold Card charges a $250 annual fee, which is higher than some other rewards cards. See rates and fees. However, the fee can be justified for those who can maximize the card's earning potential and take advantage of its various credits and perks.
• Benefits: The American Express Gold Card offers an impressive array of benefits, including up to $120 annual dining credit, up to $120 in annual Uber Cash, and a $100 experience credit for hotel stays booked through The Hotel Collection. 
• Welcome bonus: New cardholders can earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months. This solid welcome offer can provide significant value, especially when points are transferred to travel partners.
• APR & other fees: As a charge card, the American Express Gold Card requires users to pay their balance in full each month, which can be seen as a drawback for those who may need to carry a balance. The card does not charge foreign transaction fees, a plus for international travelers.

The bottom line

The American Express Gold Card is a top-tier card that caters to the needs of food enthusiasts. With its elevated points on dining and U.S. supermarkets, generous welcome bonus, and valuable credits, the card offers a ton of value for those who spend heavily in these categories.

While the annual fee may initially seem daunting, the Gold Card's benefits can offset this cost for the right user. You can maximize your rewards by using this card for bonus category purchases and taking advantage of the monthly credits.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company

Editorial disclosure: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.