Credit card rewards tend to get measured in points, miles, and statement credits. And when used strategically, those benefits can make a big difference in what you spend on travel and other experiences.
But there’s another side to credit card benefits that doesn’t get nearly as much attention: the experiences you can access simply by having a particular card in your wallet.
For Citi cardholders, that might mean getting a seat at a sought-after restaurant, attending a private dinner with a renowned chef, or enjoying an event built around Formula 1.
I recently spoke with Courtney “CJ” Joseph, Citi’s Head of Reward Products & Premium Customer Experience, about the bank’s growing focus on dining and entertainment. Much of our conversation centered on what cardholders can do with their cards, rather than just what they can earn and burn.
And Citi has a few neat programs worth knowing about, even if you’ve never given much thought to credit card experiences.
The Supper Club
Getting a reservation at a popular restaurant can be difficult enough. Finding a way into a private dinner with the chef is another matter entirely.
That’s the broad appeal of The Supper Club, which gives eligible Citi Strata Elite cardmembers access to exclusive dining events at restaurants around the country.
Events typically feature a specially curated menu, often developed with the restaurant’s head chef, and bring together a small group of cardmembers for an evening centered on the food and the people preparing it.
The program has expanded throughout 2026, with participating restaurants including Fooq’s in Miami, Mother Wolf in Los Angeles, Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf in Chicago, and Cafe Carmellini in New York (a personal favorite). Other events have taken place in Dallas and the Hamptons.
Citi says demand has been strong, as you might expect, and we’ve noticed that events frequently sell out quickly. Given the restaurants involved, that’s not all that surprising.
Of course, access doesn’t mean a free meal. Tickets for some events have started around $100 per person, though prices vary by restaurant.
Eligible Strata Elite cardmembers can browse upcoming events and purchase tickets through The Supper Club’s Citi page. Events for 2027 haven’t been announced yet, but you can join the notification list to hear when new dates become available.
New events are typically released one or two at a time, so it’s worth acting quickly if something comes up that you’re able to attend.
The Curated Table
Citi’s other dining series, The Curated Table, pairs food with major cultural events.
Developed in partnership with Mastercard’s Priceless program, the series has featured experiences tied to fashion, motorsports, and the arts.
For 2026, Citi organized three events:
New York City, September 9: A fashion-themed experience featuring designer Christian Siriano and chefs Michael and Bryan Voltaggio.
Austin, October 21: A Formula 1-themed event featuring the McLaren Mastercard team, dinner, and a special driver appearance.
Miami, December 2: An art-focused experience coinciding with Miami’s Art Week, featuring dining, music, and immersive programming.
The Austin event gives you a sense of where Citi is going with this partnership. With Formula 1’s growing popularity in the U.S. (and around the world), an evening involving an actual F1 team is quite different from a typical restaurant reservation.
Tickets have started at $100, with more expensive packages available for certain events. Access is limited to eligible Strata Elite cardmembers.
Citi Entertainment Isn’t Just for Premium Cardholders
The dining experiences above are geared toward Citi’s premium cardholders, but you don’t necessarily need a premium travel card to take advantage of Citi’s entertainment benefits.
Citi Entertainment has been around for years and offers eligible Citi credit and debit cardholders access to concert presales, preferred seating, sporting events, and other opportunities through partnerships including Live Nation.
The biggest draw is often the chance to purchase tickets before the general public. If you’ve ever tried getting tickets to a popular concert, you know how useful another presale window can be.
Depending on the event, there may also be VIP packages or other special experiences.
You can browse upcoming opportunities at Citi Entertainment. These aren’t necessarily discounted tickets, but it’s worth checking what’s available before heading straight to a general ticketing site.
Where Citi Goes From Here
Dining and lifestyle benefits have become an increasingly competitive space for credit card issuers.
American Express has its Resy partnership, which it expanded with the acquisition of Tock. Chase has built out Sapphire-exclusive dining experiences, and Capital One has been investing in restaurant access and entertainment benefits of its own.
Citi is looking to compete for that same audience.
During our conversation, Joseph described Citi’s dining strategy around three ideas: access, experience, and value.
The Supper Club focuses on private dinners at sought-after restaurants, while The Curated Table connects dining with cultural and sporting events. Citi also offers more everyday dining benefits, including elevated weekend “Citi Nights” dining rewards on the Strata Elite and inKind credits on the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Legend Mastercard.
But the value of these experiences depends quite a bit on where you live and travel. A private dinner in New York or Los Angeles isn’t particularly useful if you rarely visit either city.
That’s something I was curious about during my conversation with Joseph. Citi has expanded The Supper Club’s geographic reach this year, but hasn’t announced specific plans to bring these experiences to additional cities (beyond the obvious big ones) or make them available on more cards.
I also wouldn’t suggest opening a premium credit card solely for access to these events. Availability is limited, tickets cost extra, and there’s no guarantee that something you’re interested in will be offered near you.
That said, if you already have an eligible Citi card, take a look at the upcoming events. And if nothing catches your eye right now, check back from time to time. The Supper Club in particular is worth watching as Citi begins announcing its 2027 lineup.
