The American Express Gold Card combines exceptional dining and grocery rewards with premium travel perks. Here’s our detailed review of this popular rewards card.
Quick Overview
- Annual Fee: $250
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Rewards Rate: 4X on restaurants and groceries, 3X on flights
- Sign-up Bonus: 60,000 points after spending $6,000 in first 6 months
- Best For: Foodies and frequent diners who travel occasionally
Why We Recommend It
The Amex Gold Card offers the highest earning rates on dining and groceries among major cards, making it perfect for food enthusiasts. With $240 in annual dining and Uber credits, the effective annual fee drops to just $10. American Express Membership Rewards points are highly valuable, transferring to 18+ airline and hotel partners for outsized redemption value.
Rewards & Benefits
Earn Membership Rewards points:
- 4X points at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery)
- 4X points at US supermarkets (up to $25,000/year, then 1X)
- 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel
- 1X point on all other purchases
Annual credits and perks:
- $120 dining credit ($10/month at Grubhub, Cheesecake Factory, and select restaurants)
- $120 Uber Cash ($10/month for Uber Eats or rides)
- No foreign transaction fees
- Hotel Collection benefits (room upgrades, $100 credit, late checkout)
- Global Dining Access by Resy
- Purchase protection and extended warranty
Fees & Rates
- Annual fee: $250
- Purchase APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Cash advance fee: 5% ($10 minimum)
- Late payment fee: Up to $40
Who Should Get This Card
The American Express Gold Card is ideal for:
- Food lovers who dine out frequently
- Families with significant grocery spending
- Urban dwellers who use Uber regularly
- Travelers who value flexible point transfers
This card is NOT ideal for:
- People who rarely dine out or cook at home
- Those intimidated by annual fees
- Anyone who shops primarily at Walmart/Target (not coded as supermarkets)
The Bottom Line
The American Express Gold Card is unbeatable for food-related spending. Between the 4X earning on dining and groceries plus $240 in annual credits, this card essentially pays for itself while delivering premium value. If you spend $500+ monthly on restaurants and groceries, the Amex Gold will significantly outearn most other cards.
This card is offered by American Express. CleverCreditCards.com may receive compensation if you apply and are approved.