Apple Maps Gets Smarter
Apple is doubling down on making Maps a serious alternative to Google Maps and other discovery platforms. With its latest update, Apple Maps now integrates expert insights from trusted names like the MICHELIN Guide, The Infatuation, and Golf Digest, marking a significant shift in how Apple users can explore restaurants, hotels, and golf courses.
For Apple Maps users, this means more than just finding a nearby location — it means discovering recommended spots that come with an expert seal of approval. Users in the U.S. can now search and view MICHELIN-starred restaurants, Bib Gourmand picks, and MICHELIN Key-rated hotels directly in the app. Over time, it promises to expand this to other countries.
A new discovery experience within Apple Maps
With this enhancement, place cards now display more than just basic contact details or photos. Distinctions, descriptions, and editorial images from expert sources will now appear, helping users make informed decisions with ease. Whether someone is planning a local dinner or booking a stay in another city, this level of detail could be a game-changer.
Apple is also leaning into bookability. In select cases, users can book hotels straight from the Maps app, while restaurant reservations and tee-time bookings are set to arrive soon via MICHELIN and Supreme Golf. This positions Apple Maps as not just a discovery tool, but a transactional one.
The significance of expert partnerships
David Dorn, the company’s senior director of Internet Software and Services Product, called MICHELIN Guide, The Infatuation, and Golf Digest “leading industry experts that consumers rely on for finding the best restaurants, hotels, and golf courses.” He added, “These new integrations make Maps an even more useful and seamless resource for users to discover great new places whether in their hometown or traveling somewhere new.”
From MICHELIN’s globally respected star ratings to The Infatuation’s hyper-local food reviews, these partnerships suggest Apple is choosing quality over quantity. By surfacing curated experiences over crowdsourced ratings, Apple may be trying to reframe how users think about discovery in Maps.
What it means in the long run?
Apple Maps has long played catch-up with Google Maps in terms of features and user perception. However, this update shows a strategic pivot — toward a premium, curated, and experience-focused ecosystem. By integrating authoritative content and enabling bookings, Apple is inching closer to becoming a full-fledged travel assistant.
These changes also sync with its broader ecosystem goals. As services like Apple Wallet, Apple Pay, and Apple’s hotel or travel integrations evolve, Maps becomes more than navigation — it becomes a central node in Apple’s user journey.
Coming soon: More regions and more experts
While the current rollout is U.S.-only, Apple has confirmed that additional regions will be supported in the future. Insights from The Infatuation and Golf Digest are expected to go live soon, with more expert sources to follow. Users can access these features through new search filters and curated guides, offering a seamless blend of editorial depth and user convenience.
