How we select venues
Sydney Spots is curated, not exhaustive. We add a venue when there's good evidence it belongs in a guide to the best of Sydney — strong local reputation, a clear identity in its category, and enough reliable information for us to write about it honestly. We draw on public data, on-the-ground knowledge and reader submissions, then make an editorial call. We'd rather leave a venue out than include one we can't stand behind.
What the Spot Score is
The Spot Score is our own independent rating of a venue, from 0 to 100, with a plain-English label (such as “Exceptional” or “Worth a Look”). It blends several signals: the venue's reputation, its popularity, the quality and completeness of information available about it, how well it fits its category, and how fresh that information is.
What the Spot Score is NOT
- It is not for sale. No venue can pay to raise its Spot Score or its ranking. Ever.
- It is not a Google rating. It's distinct from any star rating you'll see elsewhere — it's our methodology, applied consistently.
- It is not a guarantee. It's an informed editorial opinion to help you decide, not a promise about your visit.
No pay-for-ranking
Our rankings and Spot Scores are never influenced by money. Advertising and sponsorship exist to fund the site, but they are kept entirely separate from our editorial judgement. You can't buy a better score, a higher position, or a place on a best-of list.
Independence & sponsored content
Where content is paid for — a sponsored listing, a featured placement or a newsletter sponsorship — it is always clearly labelled as such, so you can tell the difference between our independent recommendations and a commercial placement. See our advertising options for how this works.
Corrections
We get things wrong sometimes, and we want to fix them fast. If a venue has closed, moved, changed, or if we've published an inaccuracy, tell us at corrections@sydneyspots.com and we'll review and update it promptly. Venue owners are welcome to request corrections too.
A note on how we research
We use modern tools, including AI assistance, to research efficiently — but we don't invent facts and a person reviews what we publish. For the full detail, read how we create content.