American Express and Resy announce new dining experiences, benefits for Amex cardholders
The coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on both restaurants and their patrons. Restaurants are going through tough financial times after being closed for months. And even now, most are restricted to outdoor dining, limited indoor seating and take-out and delivery income. Patrons, on the other hand, are finding it harder to get reservations at their favorite restaurants and — in some cases — are understandably wary of dining out during the pandemic.
In an effort to support local restaurants, American Express and its Resy subsidiary — a restaurant reservation platform — have partnered with a handful of restaurants around the U.S. to offer interesting at-home and outdoor dining this winter. This includes bringing exclusive benefits to The Platinum Card® from American Express and Centurion Card from American Express that give members early access to innovative new dining experiences.
Here's a look at all of the upcoming special events and benefits American Express and Resy are rolling out this winter. Trust us, if you're a foodie, you won't want to miss out on these.
The information for the Amex Centurion Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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Dine outdoors at an American Express yurt
All American Express cardholders will soon be able to reserve seats at outdoor yurts — another term for a circular tent — at a handful of foodie-centric restaurants this winter. These "Yurt Villages" will be placed outside select restaurants in Austin, Chicago, New York and other cities this winter, giving patrons a comfortable and stylish place to dine in the elements.
The following restaurants will host Yurt Villages:
- Arlo Grey in Austin, TX
- Bywater American Bistro in New Orleans, LA
- Canlis in Seattle, WA
- The Charter Oak in Napa Valley, CA
- Crown Shy in Manhattan, NY
- Fairfax in Manhattan, NY
- Fiola in Washington, DC
- Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder, CO
- The Grey in Savannah, GA
- Kann in Portland, OR
- Lilia in Brooklyn, NY
- Swift & Sons in Chicago, IL
- Zahav in Philadelphia, PA
Each restaurant will bring its own flair to its Yurt Village, offering special menus and interesting yurt designs. In a press release, American Express notes that Crown Shy in New York City will display graffiti art installations while the New Orleans based Bywater American Bistro will offer a prix fixe menu that highlights French tradition.
Yurt Villages will roll out between December and February 2021. Platinum Card and Centurion Members can reserve seats at a yurt starting today at 11 a.m. EST, while all other Amex cardholders can reserve seats starting Nov. 18. All reservations can be made using this page on the Resy website.
Even cooler, Platinum and Centurion members are also eligible for special perks like bottled cocktails, a VIP tour or even an extra course. This is an awesome way for American Express to give back to its cardmembers and — as a Platinum cardholder myself — makes me super excited to check out a yurt this winter.
Related: Your definitive guide to the American Express Global Dining Collection
American Express Winter Patios in NYC
In addition to Yurt Villages, American Express is rolling out a set of American Express Winter Patios in New York City. American Express and Major Food Group have partnered to offer these exclusive patios at Carbone and Sadelle’s.
These patios are heated and custom-designed by American Express and the restaurant. As you'd expect, all Amex Winter Patios will be well-ventilated and limited to 4-6 customers per table. This ensures a comfortable and safe place for patrons to enjoy an outdoor meal with friends and family this winter at some of the city's top restaurants.
These patios can be booked by all American Express cardholders through Resy starting on November 20. Again, this is an awesome initiative by American Express and Resy to support restaurants during this difficult time. Likewise, it provides exclusive benefits to Amex cardholders who are eager to get out and dine in a safe manner.
Related: An introduction to New York City’s neighborhoods
At-home culinary experiences
If you'd rather experience culinary delight from home this winter, American Express and Resy still have your back. The companies are partnering with some of the nation's top chefs to offer at-home dining experiences. These include delivered meals and sweet treats that will be available to purchase through the Resy website.
American Express shared two examples with us. The first is the Resy Cookie Box that will offer a selection of cookies curated by chefs like José Andrés, Missy Robbins and others. The box will also include an advance copy of Ovenly’s new cookbook and a portion of sales will be donated to World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit that provides meals to those affected by natural disasters. The Resy Cookie Box will be available for purchase on the Resy website starting December 1.
Related: We tested out Hilton DoubleTree’s chocolate chip cookie recipe
Additionally, American Express and Resy will soon introduce its latest installment of the Resy at Home series in partnership with MP Italian Specialties & Misipasta. Starting the week of December 7, you can order a curated selection of holiday cooking essentials from Chef Missy Robbins and Yeti, an outdoor accessory company.
Keep an eye on Resy's Holiday website for more information on these at-home promotions and others that will be announced in the future. From the looks of it, these won't be restricted to American Express cardholders, so anyone can enjoy a nice cookie tasting at home this winter.
Related: How to maximize your spending on these 5 meal-kit delivery services
Bottom line
It's great to see American Express and Resy work with restaurants to find new income streams during this difficult time. Likewise, it's great to see the companies offer added benefits to premium cardholders that may not be getting as much benefit from their travel perks. This is a win-win-win situation for everyone involved: Amex, restaurants and customers.
I'll personally take advantage of American Express Winter Patios and Yurt Villages this winter. They include some New York restaurants I've always wanted to check out. Plus, they seem like a super interesting way to dine safely during the coronavirus pandemic.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
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Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
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- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
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Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
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Rewards Rate
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
$250Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees