The HDFC Regalia Credit Card is getting a targeted rewards upgrade on restaurant spending: the earn rate rises from 4 reward points to 6 reward points per ₹150 spent at restaurants, effective May 1, 2026. Because each reward point is worth ₹0.50, the effective return on dining moves from about 1.33% to 2%. Existing cardholders are auto-enrolled, which means the higher rate will apply automatically without any manual opt-in, coupon code, or separate request.
The rest of the card’s economics stay the same. The annual fee remains ₹2,500, and the fee waiver threshold remains ₹3 lakh annual spend. That matters because the upgrade improves category value without increasing the fixed cost of ownership. The change is also easy to quantify: a ₹15,000 restaurant bill would have earned 400 points earlier, but will now earn 600 points, adding 200 points or ₹100 in value. For regular diners, that is a meaningful uplift over a year.
In the broader market, this makes Regalia more competitive against cards like SBI Elite and Axis Atlas for dining-heavy users, even though it is not a pure travel card. It also narrows the gap with premium products that have stronger lifestyle earnings but much higher fees. The improvement is especially useful for existing users who already keep the card for its fee-waiver structure and now want better day-to-day value from restaurant spend. The change is positive overall, but it is narrowly targeted: users who rarely dine out will not feel much benefit.
No action is needed to receive the new earn rate, since HDFC Bank says existing Regalia cardholders are auto-enrolled from May 1, 2026. Cardholders should keep an eye on statement posting dates, because restaurant transactions posted before the effective date will still earn at the old 4-points-per-₹150 rate. New applicants should confirm they are being issued the HDFC Regalia Credit Card variant covered by the update, and should compare it with other premium cards if their spending is not restaurant-heavy. The key fine print remains the ₹3 lakh annual spend requirement for the fee waiver, which should be considered alongside the improved dining return.