Citi is betting big on experience-based perks, expanding its premium Supper Club Dining Series to five additional cities this year for Citi Strata Elite cardholders. The partnership with The Supper Club brings hosted culinary events to Miami, Los Angeles, the Hamptons, Chicago, and San Francisco throughout 2026.
Key Points:
- Citi is adding five new Supper Club dining experiences for Strata Elite cardholders at top restaurants across the U.S. in 2026.
- Tickets cost $100 per person and sell out quickly, with four events already sold out since the series launched last October.
- The expansion signals credit card issuers are focusing more on experiential benefits beyond traditional perks like lounge access and statement credits.
What Is the Supper Club Dining Series?
The Supper Club partnered with Citi last October to create members-only culinary events exclusively for Citi Strata Elite cardholders. Think of it as a premium dinner party series featuring hand-selected menus from top chefs at acclaimed restaurants around the country.
Each event brings together Strata Elite cardholders for a hosted dining experience that blends fine dining with community. You're not just getting a meal—you're getting access to restaurants and chefs that would typically require months of advance reservations, plus the opportunity to connect with other points enthusiasts.
The series has already sold out four events at Craig's in Los Angeles, The Corner Store and Cafe Carmellini in New York, and Mister Charles in Dallas. That's a strong signal that cardholders value these exclusive experiences.
The 2026 Supper Club Schedule
Here's where you can catch the next Supper Club events if you have the Strata Elite card:
April 8: Fooq's in Miami (sold out)
May 14: Mother Wolf in Los Angeles
July 9: LDV at The Maidstone in the Hamptons, New York
September: Chicago location TBA
November: San Francisco location TBA
Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis at $100 per person through The Supper Club Dining Series website. The events accommodate dietary restrictions including gluten-free and vegan diets, as well as food allergies.
Why This Matters for Points Enthusiasts
This expansion represents a shift in how premium credit cards deliver value. We're seeing issuers move beyond traditional perks toward experiential benefits that can't be easily replicated or compared.
The value proposition is compelling. For $100, you're getting access to top-tier restaurants where a typical dinner would likely cost more, plus the exclusivity of a hosted event with a curated menu from acclaimed chefs. You can't book this experience with points or cash anywhere else.
It's sticky for cardholders. Experience-based benefits like this create emotional connections that basic perks don't. When you attend a memorable dining event, you're more likely to keep the card in your wallet and less likely to cancel when the annual fee posts.
It complements the card's dining rewards. The Strata Elite charges a $595 annual fee but rewards dining spend aggressively: 6 Citi ThankYou points per dollar at restaurants on CitiNights purchases made Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. EDT, and 3 points per dollar on all other dining purchases. The Supper Club events reinforce the card's positioning as the go-to option for serious foodies.
How the Strata Elite Stacks Up
The Citi Strata Elite isn't competing with entry-level cards. At $595 annually, it's playing in premium territory alongside cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card from American Express.
The Supper Club benefit is exclusive to the Strata Elite, giving it a unique selling point. While other premium cards offer dining credits or Priority Pass restaurant access, none are offering this kind of curated culinary experience series.
If you're already maximizing the card's dining categories and you value exclusive access to top restaurants, the Supper Club events add meaningful value beyond the points you're earning. For someone who might attend two or three events per year, that's $200-$300 in experiential value that helps offset the annual fee.
Should You Apply for the Strata Elite?
The Supper Club expansion is appealing, but it shouldn't be your only reason to apply for the Strata Elite. These events are limited availability and sell out fast, so you can't count on attending multiple events each year.
You're a good fit for this card if:
- You spend heavily on dining, especially on weekend evenings
- You value exclusive experiences over cashback
- You already have a plan to maximize Citi ThankYou points through travel transfers
- The $595 annual fee fits your budget and you can justify it with your spending
You might want to pass if:
- You're looking for straightforward cashback rewards
- Your dining spend is modest or doesn't align with CitiNights timing
- You don't travel frequently enough to maximize ThankYou point transfers
- You're still building credit or prefer no annual fee cards
For most readers who are serious about points and dining, the Citi Strata Premier might be a better starting point at a lower annual fee with similar earning rates on dining.
The Bigger Trend: Experiences Over Perks
Citi isn't alone in this shift. We're seeing more issuers experiment with event-based benefits. Hilton Honors recently offered premium NCAA basketball experiences, and American Express has long been known for exclusive concerts and sporting events through Amex Experiences.
The logic is sound from the issuer's perspective: experiences create memories, memories create loyalty, and loyalty reduces churn. A $300 travel credit is nice, but it's forgettable. A dinner at an exclusive restaurant where you met other cardholders and tried an off-menu tasting? That's something you'll remember and talk about.
As someone who tracks this industry closely, I expect we'll see more of these partnerships between credit card issuers and experience providers. The Supper Club expansion is Citi testing whether cardholders will pay for these experiences and whether it drives the kind of engagement that justifies the investment.
Early signs suggest it's working—four sold-out events in less than six months is strong validation.
Bottom Line
The Citi Strata Elite Supper Club expansion to five new cities shows that premium credit cards are evolving beyond traditional perks. For cardholders who value exclusive dining experiences and already maximize the Strata Elite's category bonuses, these events add tangible value that helps justify the $595 annual fee.
Tickets are only $100 per person, which is reasonable for the caliber of restaurants and exclusivity offered. If you're considering the Strata Elite and you live near one of these cities, the Supper Club events could tip the scales in favor of applying.
Just remember: these events sell out quickly, so if you're interested, keep an eye on the schedule and be ready to grab tickets as soon as they're available.
Whether you're already a Strata Elite cardholder or considering applying, this expansion signals that experiential benefits are becoming a bigger part of the premium card value proposition. And honestly? That's an exciting shift for those of us who see credit cards as tools for creating memorable experiences, not just earning points.
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