A guidebook written by neighbours.

Every recommendation on SpotLocal is signed by a named scout — a real person who walks the streets they're writing about. No anonymous reviews, no algorithmic top-10s, no "sponsored content".

The result is a guide that feels like getting a long voice note from a friend, not a marketing brochure. That's the whole point.

Scouts we'd want as friends.

• You actually live here. Not a digital nomad who's been here three months. Someone who's settled enough to know the chai stall by the petrol pump.
• You notice things. You're the friend who texts about the new dosa joint two days after it opens. You take photos of menus. You remember owners' names.
• You can write. Not professionally — just clearly. If you can describe a place to a friend over a 5-minute conversation, you can write a SpotLocal spot.
• You're not in the hospitality business. Scouts who own restaurants, run hotels, or do brand partnerships in F&B can't be scouts — too many conflicts of interest. Sorry, it's strict on this one.

Write a spot when you have one.

No quotas. No deadlines. When you've been somewhere worth telling people about, you open the app, write 100–300 words about why, add a few phone photos, and submit.

One thoughtful spot a month is plenty. The site rewards quality, not volume.

A byline, a community, a corner of the internet you helped build.

Every spot you write carries your name and photo. Your scout profile gathers all of them in one place, with whatever links you'd like (Instagram, your blog, anything).

Beyond that — the warm fuzzy of having shaped how visitors and new residents actually experience your city. Which, if you've read this far, is probably what you're here for.