6 times I wish I had the Amex Gold card

I have a confession to make: Before this month, I hadn’t opened a new credit card in, well, a while.

But now that I’m able to start opening new lines of credit once again, the American Express® Gold Card is at the top of my list. And it has been for a while. That’s because I consistently run into situations when I think to myself, “If only I had the Amex Gold card in my wallet.”

And it was an increasingly frequent refrain during the years of the pandemic, since a bulk of my spend seemed to be on takeout orders, groceries and, ahem, whiskey delivery. So here are some of the reasons why you should consider this card for a slot in your wallet.

Every time I order from a restaurant…

The Amex Gold card is one of the top cards for earning bonus points at restaurants — you get 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar whenever you swipe your card at a restaurant. That’s an 8% return based on TPG’s most recent valuation.

I currently rely on my Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for my dining spend, which earns 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar.

… Especially when I splurge

Depending on the total bill, not having a credit card with a higher category bonus for dining out can hurt.

I find myself waiting for a Gold card to magically appear in my wallet whenever I order something listed at market price without asking first (most recently, a plate of Dover sole); or when I realize it’s a tasting menu — not a la carte.

I’m also consistently disappointed that I don’t have the Gold card when I accidentally order a fancy bottle of still water instead of tap; when the breadbasket isn’t included; and when I meant to get the glass but actually bought the whole bottle.

Related: The best credit cards for dining out, taking out and ordering in

After my Seamless Amex Offer ended

I was getting bonus points on my Seamless orders for a long time when I paid with my The Platinum Card® from American Express. But when that Amex Offer expired, my weekly takeout order started to feel way more expensive.

The Amex Gold comes with a $10 monthly statement credit for Grubhub orders (plus purchases at select restaurants such as The Cheesecake Factory and certain Shake Shack locations). That’s a benefit I know I can easily use every month to the tune of $120 in value to me over the course of a year. Enrollment is required.

When I run out of Uber credits

The Gold card offers way more than just food perks. When the card is added to the Uber app, cardholders get up to $10 in Uber Cash in the U.S. every month ($120 annually).

I quickly blow through the $15 Uber Cash credit from my Platinum card between Uber rides and Uber Eats delivery orders, so I know I won’t leave this new benefit on the table. That’s another $120 in annual value to me that I’m currently missing out on.

Related: 4 of my favorite under-the-radar Amex Gold card perks

When I buy groceries

While I do still order takeout and such, I’m not sure if I’ve ever spent this much money on groceries in my life, and the Amex Gold card also earns 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar).

This benefit also works with grocery delivery services such as Instacart, so I could get quadruple points every time I place my weekly grocery order.

When Rose Gold made its comeback

Almost all of my credit cards are the same blue color, making it a real pain when I’m holding up the line at the drugstore rooting around my wallet for the one that will get me the most cash back on my vitamins.

Yes, I could get a different wallet. But I could also get the glitzy Amex Gold card in rose gold. I won’t lie: I felt pretty left out a few years ago when everyone at the office was flashing their upgraded rose gold cards and I was scrambling to meet minimum-spend requirements on other cards.

It’s always nice to have a hefty metal card in your wallet in a bright metallic hue that easily stands out in a pile of blue plastic. And, let’s be honest: having a pretty card always feels like a treat.

Bottom line

If you often think about missed opportunities to earn bonus points, you might also have a gap to fill in your wallet.

Based on how much I spend at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants, I need a card that performs better in that category — and with a $250-a-year annual fee (see rates and fees), the Amex Gold card is hard to beat.

I can easily take advantage of the card’s other perks, such as the monthly Uber credit. And, when I travel, I know I’ll also be able to take advantage of the 3 points per dollar bonus on flights booked directly with the airline (or through Amex Travel).

With this card's welcome offer, you can also earn 60,000 more Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. However, you might be able to earn a higher sign-up bonus through a friend or loved one’s referral link through June 7.

Related: 5 amazing ways to use 60,000 Membership Rewards points for your next trip

Apply here for the Amex Gold card

Additional reporting by Emily Thompson.

For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here.