What Is Dining by Amex?
Dining by Amex is one of the benefits of the American Express Platinum Card. Amex offers the cardholder and a companion a meal six times a year. The meal typically includes a starter + main or a main + dessert. Drinks are paid separately. The benefit applies per American Express account, meaning the primary and additional cardholders can use it only once per period, even if there are two cards.
The Dining by Amex benefit is available only at restaurants selected by American Express in Helsinki, Espoo, Turku, and Tampere. The lineup changes seasonally and, on average, has improved over time. There are six periods each year, and you can use the benefit once in each period. Dining by Amex is sometimes also called the Dinner for Two benefit, but it’s the same thing.
American Express customers usually get a dedicated menu. It’s typically a selection from the full menu, so you can’t order absolutely anything. The number of choices has varied from one to dozens. In our experience, the food has been high-quality, so there’s no need to worry that you’ll be offered only the cheapest items. Some restaurants upsell more or higher-end options for an extra charge.
The benefit doesn’t include extras such as drinks or after-dinner coffee. You pay for those separately to the restaurant.
How Does Dining by Amex Work?
The cardholder needs to install the American Express Experiences app. Under its Dining by Amex feature, you’ll see the periods when the benefit is available. There are six periods a year, and each lasts about a month.
The app also shows the restaurants where you can use the benefit. You must book a table via the link provided in the app, and it’s a good idea to note in the reservation that it’s a Dining by Amex meal. Booking is straightforward, and tables are widely available. Even last-minute bookings work at many restaurants.
When you arrive, take your Amex card and the phone with the Experiences app installed. The server will ask you to scan a QR code with the app to activate the benefit. After scanning, the benefit is activated, and your meal can begin. Without the app, you can’t activate the benefit, so having the Experiences app is essential. Before your first use, you must enable the benefit in the app, which takes a few days. Grant the app camera access so it can read QR codes.
Our Experiences With Dining by Amex
We have used the Dining by Amex benefit many times. Below are brief notes from selected restaurants.
Lucy in the Sky
Lucy in the Sky is a rooftop restaurant in a tower building in Keilaniemi, Espoo. In summer, it offers stunning views over the sea, Espoo, and Helsinki, and in winter, it’s atmospheric and pleasantly warm. The restaurant also has an outdoor terrace. Lucy in the Sky is very popular, so it’s worth booking early.
We used Dining by Amex at Lucy in the Sky three times. The menu changed slightly between visits. The Wiener schnitzel we ate the first time was excellent, and the dishes on our other visits were also tasty. On our most recent visit, the server told us about an unfortunate change to the restaurant’s Dining by Amex policy: it now charges separately for main-course sides such as fries, which we feel goes against Amex’s promise.
The restaurant is international, so service may not be available in Finnish. There’s a reasonably priced parking garage next to the tower, and the metro also serves the area. The vibe is warm but business-like due to its location. This may be the top pick for an Amex cardholder in Espoo.
Lucy in the Sky is a great summer restaurant.
Villa Lilla
We visited Villa Lilla in Leppävaara, Espoo, twice using the Amex benefit. The restaurant sits in a homely wooden house a bit away from traffic yet is easy to reach. Both the area and the restaurant are atmospheric. The staff are especially friendly and skilled. This restaurant may be one of our favourites. It has mostly appeared in Amex’s lineup only during the summer season.
The food quality was flawless. A minor drawback was that service was notably slow during our last lunch, even though the restaurant was almost empty. Luckily, we weren’t in a hurry. We wouldn’t recommend it for a quick lunch; Villa Lilla is more of a premium lunch spot.
The restaurant is easy to reach by car, and there are a few free parking spots in front. Leppävaara also has good public transport connections, but because the restaurant is slightly out of the way, expect a short walk back.
Albina
Albina in Helsinki’s Vallila was a slight disappointment. The space was cosy, and the restaurant had a modern retro feel. However, the service wasn’t on par with other Amex restaurants, the portions were small, and the flavours didn’t suit us. They weren’t shy with salt. It may be that we were just unlucky, so we still recommend giving this restaurant a chance. It seemed very popular, and the Vallila area is atmospheric on summer evenings.
Kirsikka
Kirsikka is a fine Finnish restaurant in the historic Hakaniemi Market Hall in central Helsinki. We visited in winter, the food was excellent, and we were served professionally and pleasantly. The restaurant specialises in locally sourced food.
Because we went on a Friday, the restaurant was full, which unfortunately made it noisy. The tables were also too close together, which hurt the dining experience. Because the food was so tasty and the service was good, we’ll return—but on a weeknight.
Farang
Farang is an Asian restaurant in Kamppi. The interior is stylish but not especially Asian. Based on our visit, the same goes for the food: in name it’s Asian, but it looks and tastes more Western. We’d say Farang is a slightly inauthentic Southeast Asian restaurant.
During our visit, Farang offered Amex customers a limited tasting menu. Portions were small, so many left the restaurant hungry. Extras (more food) were sold actively. Not all staff served in Finnish. Although the service was very friendly, the servers made a surprising number of mistakes. We still recommend giving the restaurant a try because the location is good, the interior is stylish, and the food is tasty. It’s a great fit for those for whom Asian food isn’t the main thing.
Jim Lim
Jim Lim is a Southeast Asian restaurant in Helsinki’s Telakkaranta, just outside the centre. For an Asian restaurant, Jim Lim looks quite Western—but it has one clear advantage: the food was excellent.
During our visit, we weren’t given a separate Amex menu; we could order from the regular menu. Upselling (extras) wasn’t aggressive. Service was friendly and quick, though not everyone spoke Finnish. Our visit was pleasant in every way.
We give this restaurant a strong recommendation.
Salutorget
Salutorget is a popular tourist restaurant on Helsinki’s Esplanade thanks to its central location. It’s easy to reach by public transport, but those arriving by car will struggle to find parking nearby. Salutorget’s strength is its magnificent space in an old bank hall, which creates a grand setting for dining.
We visited Salutorget in the summer using the Amex benefit. The restaurant also allowed visits at lunchtime. We could order from the regular menu, which is always a plus. The dishes were excellent, Finnish-quality food, and the service worked flawlessly. Service was available in Finnish. We recommend visiting Salutorget at least once.
Mat Distrikt
Mat Distrikt is a popular restaurant in Helsinki’s Ullanlinna. It’s close to the centre, so getting there by public transport is easy. There are also street-side parking spots nearby. Mat Distrikt is a quality fine-dining restaurant where all the elements work well together.
We visited Mat Distrikt in the fall on a Friday evening. The dining room was already populated with Amex customers early in the evening. We couldn’t choose food from the regular menu; only a few options were available to us and other Amex customers. The food was tasty and the service smooth. On the downside, the restaurant almost forced card payers to add a tip, which isn’t a welcome practice in Finland.
Bronda
Bronda is on Eteläesplanadi in the heart of Helsinki. The location is ideal for public transport users, but driving is less convenient. Parking alone easily costs 15 euros, and getting a spot isn’t guaranteed. Bronda is an excellent summer restaurant if you’re already spending time in central Helsinki.
We visited Bronda in May 2025. The first impression was stylish, and there were few customers in the afternoon. The welcome was professional, and we were seated at a table we liked.
One shortcoming was that the server didn’t explain the restaurant’s Amex practices, so we had to ask which dishes we could order. There were no special restrictions, and Bronda followed the typical Amex two-course model. Side dishes weren’t included in the meal price at Bronda either, which was a slight disappointment. When side dishes are integral to the main course, we think the Amex benefit should cover them too. Drinks at Bronda were expensive, but that’s typical in downtown Helsinki.
Despite the minor shortcomings, Bronda was an excellent experience. The food was tasty and the service professional. We can therefore recommend Bronda to other Amex customers as well.
Restaurant Gaijin
Restaurant Gaijin is on Bulevardi in central Helsinki. We arrived by car to enjoy a Dining by Amex dinner, but the easiest way to reach the restaurant is by public transport. Its location is central and suits those who enjoy the atmosphere of downtown Helsinki.
The first impression wasn’t good. The space turned out to be surprisingly small, and there was no one at the door to greet guests. After a short wait, a server showed us to a table that wasn’t exceptionally comfortable. The biggest surprise was that other guests were seated only about 10centimetress away, so there was hardly any privacy. The restaurant seemed to be maximising space, which made the atmosphere cramped—even more so than in a workplace cafeteria.
The restaurant was also noisy. Some guests asked to lower the volume, but their request wasn’t granted. According to a server, the music volume has to be high enough to cover the din of conversation.
Service was slow, and by our count, as many as five servers attended to us. While the service was professional, it didn’t feel very personal. The slowness and the disjointed service didn’t leave a good impression.
The food was the best part of the restaurant—one could say it was excellent. Amex customers could choose two courses as usual, but the restaurant had unfortunately set price limits. The recommended aperitifs were expensive even by downtown Helsinki standards.
Is Dining by Amex a Good Benefit?
Dining by Amex is a good perk for those who live in the capital region, Turku, or Tampere. For others, it’s hard to use because the restaurant selection is concentrated in those cities. The benefit helps offset the card’s high monthly fee, and for many, it’s one reason to remain an American Express member. The most important Amex card benefits are geared toward travel, so Dining by Amex is a nice extra—especially for those who don’t travel often.
For us, Dining by Amex is a nice extra, but the travel perks are the main reason to stay members.
Drawbacks of the Dining by Amex Benefit
Dining by Amex isn’t a perfect benefit; it has room for improvement.
The biggest shortcoming affects those living outside Helsinki, Turku, and Tampere: it’s hard for them to use the benefit because the restaurants are concentrated in those cities.
Some restaurants have spotted an opportunity to upsell extras a bit too aggressively. The Dining by Amex menu is deliberately narrowed, and pricey add-ons are marketed to compensate. In those cases, the benefit's value remains modest, as the check can become surprisingly high with extras. Fortunately, many restaurants still let you choose freely from the regular menu.
As the Dining by Amex benefit has grown in popularity, restaurants have become busier. We recommend using the benefit on a weeknight if you’d rather avoid a fully booked restaurant. Weeknight meals are calmer yet still atmospheric.
Getting the Card
Read our review of the American Express Platinum Card to learn more about its benefits. In that article, we also share a tip on where to find a valuable referral code.
Bottom Line
The Dining by Amex benefit on the American Express card is a great addition to the card’s other perks. Other cards don’t offer anything comparable. The benefit nudges you to try new restaurants and, in our experience, you can almost always count on getting tasty food.
You shouldn’t get the card for this benefit alone, but if you like the card’s other perks too, Dining by Amex is a great extra for those living in the capital region, Turku, and Tampere. Using the benefit is easy, and we used it smoothly.