It seems like there are countless apps that will help you find the best places to eat, shop or drink, but do they really? I seem to jump between using the CitySearch app, Yelp and good‘ol Google Maps to help me find a unique place to eat.
While each have their strengths and weaknesses, Thrillist for iPhone (99 cents) makes a strong case to be a go-to app if you’re looking for unique adventures in a major city. Thrillist takes a Google Map layout and dots it with all sorts of unique restaurants, bars and shops. Users can turn off any of the three options at a single tap, so if you’re only looking to see bars in your area, deselecting the food and shopping options is simple.
However, if you’re someone who loves Macy’s and eats Wendy’s every day, this app may not be for you. There’s nothing wrong with that lifestyle choice, but most of Thrillist’s options operate outside of the box. This is an app for people who want to explore unique places in their city.
It does a good job persuading, too. With large, colorful photos of the food and shops listed alongside mouthwatering (and often amusing) bios, it’s hard not to get in the mood to see something new using Thrillist.
There is even a weird collection of simple arcade games, should you become bored with merely looking for somewhere to eat. It’s a rather odd choice to throw into an app of this nature, but it becomes almost endearingly sweet when combined with the light-hearted nature of some of the restaurant bios.
Unfortunately, a jocular attitude only gets you so far and Thrillist for iPhone does tend to crash quite frequently. Meanwhile, its “every other screen is an ad” philosophy can be grating, but if you can mange some patience, this is another top-notch app for folks looking to expand their horizons.
