The Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are celebrated travel credit cards, primarily due to their impressive earning rates on dining and travel. Both cards offer significant rewards: 3 points per dollar on dining worldwide. The Sapphire Reserve also offers 3 points per dollar on travel, while the Sapphire Preferred offers 2 points. Also, through March 2025, these cards offer elevated points on Lyft purchases. But what exactly qualifies as “dining” for Chase? Let’s explore.
Chase’s definition of what constitutes a travel purchase is broad, encompassing various trip-related expenses. Fortunately, their definition of dining is also quite inclusive.
Chase’s Definition of “Restaurants”
According to Chase’s official website, “restaurants” are defined as follows:
“This category’s merchants’ primary business is sit-down or eat-in dining, including fast food restaurants and fine dining establishments. Merchants that sell food and drinks located within facilities such as sports stadiums, hotels and casinos, theme parks, grocery and department stores will not be included in this category unless the merchant has set up such purchases to be classified in a restaurant category. Bakeries, caterers, meal kit delivery services, and gift card merchants are not included in the category. Delivery and takeout services will be included if they classify as a restaurant merchant.”
Essentially, if an establishment serves food or drinks and classifies itself as a restaurant when processing credit card transactions, it will likely qualify for the bonus dining rewards. This extends beyond traditional restaurants to include various types of establishments.
For example, bars and coffee shops, like Starbucks, commonly code as dining purchases. Most restaurant delivery services, including DoorDash, also fall under this category, allowing you to earn 3 points per dollar.
What Chase Typically Counts as Dining Purchases
Here’s a more detailed breakdown of what Chase typically includes as dining purchases:
- Bars
- Breweries
- Cafes
- Coffee shops
- Fast food restaurants
- Juice bars
- Restaurant delivery services (Caviar, DoorDash, Eat24, Grubhub, and Seamless)
- Restaurants
- University dining halls
- Vending machines
This broad definition ensures that cardholders can maximize their rewards across a wide range of dining experiences, including quick stops at fast-food chains and enjoying meals at fine dining establishments.
What Chase Typically Does Not Count as Dining Purchases
Conversely, certain establishments and services are generally excluded from Chase’s dining category:
- Amazon Restaurants
- Bakeries
- Catering services
- Food and drinks establishments located within larger merchants (e.g., food courts in malls unless coded separately)
- Grocery stores
- In-flight food and drinks
- Meal kit subscriptions
Additionally, Chase Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve cardholders receive complimentary DashPass membership with DoorDash for at least one year, offering free delivery and reduced service fees on eligible orders (activation required by Dec. 31, 2027).
What to Do If a Purchase Doesn’t Code Correctly
It’s worth noting that sometimes, restaurants may not be categorized accurately. If you believe a qualifying dining purchase was incorrectly coded, you can dispute it with a Chase representative via phone or Twitter to potentially receive the bonus points.
Conclusion
Chase provides an expansive definition of dining purchases, granting Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Preferred cardholders ample opportunities to accumulate valuable Ultimate Rewards points. The inclusion of fast food restaurants, coffee shops, and restaurant delivery services significantly broadens the scope of eligible purchases. Cardholders can earn up to 6.15% on these purchases based on TPG’s valuations. To maximize rewards, consider linking your card with dining rewards programs like Rakuten or Seated.
