- Search nearby — We search for “coffee” on Google Places within your selected radius.
- Fetch details — The top 15 results (by rating) are checked for hours, reviews, and photos.
- Deduplicate — Duplicate listings for the same location are merged, keeping the one with the most reviews.
- Filter by status — Only places currently open are shown. If none are open, we suggest the next to open.
- Independents first — We prioritize non-chain spots with 4+ star ratings, sorted by rating, review count, then distance. Award-winning places get a small boost.
- Chains as backup — If fewer than 3 independent options exist, chains with 4+ stars fill the remaining spots.
- Rating relaxed last — If still fewer than 3, we include lower-rated options so you always get a suggestion.
- Feature tags — Review text and place types are scanned for category-specific keywords to highlight standout qualities. Accolades (awards, media features) are detected automatically.
- Hidden Gems — Independent spots with high ratings but fewer reviews are flagged as local favorites. If no gems are found nearby, you’ll see a notice explaining the fallback.
- Vibe filter — Places are classified as Street, Casual, or Upscale based on price level, place types, and review keywords. Results are filtered to match your selected vibe.
- Intent filters — Some categories offer extra filter chips (e.g., “Work Friendly” for coffee) that boost matching places to the top.
- Result mode — “The One” shows only the single best match. “Top 3” shows up to three ranked options.
Travel times come from Google Distance Matrix for accuracy. The search keyword updates automatically based on your selected category. Directions open in Apple Maps on iOS or Google Maps on other devices. Results are powered by Google Places.