Editorial standards

How we select places

Every venue in a BayFinds guide is selected by an editor — not by submissions, SEO signals, or review aggregations. Each page says how its details were checked: when an editor has visited, the page shows the visit; otherwise it lists the sources the listing is based on and says plainly that it has not been verified in person.

We are selective by default. A shorter list we trust is worth more than a longer list we don't.

What we don't do

• We do not accept payment for placement in editorial rankings or guide lists.
• We do not accept free products or services in exchange for coverage.
• We do not claim a visit that didn't happen.
• We do not aggregate review scores from other platforms as a proxy for our own assessment.

Paid partnerships

BayFinds does offer paid partnerships to businesses — these appear as clearly marked "Partner" placements with a dashed border, separate from editorial rankings. A partner listing is never confused with an Editor's Pick. If a business is both an editorial pick and a partner, the editorial pick stands on its own merits and the partnership is disclosed separately.

Updates and corrections

Venues change. We aim to update content quarterly at minimum. If a place has closed, changed significantly, or information is incorrect, contact us at editorial@bayfinds.com and we'll review it promptly.

The Editor's Pick signal

The "★ Editor's Pick" badge is our strongest editorial signal. It means an editor has visited the place, would send a friend there without hesitation, and stands behind the recommendation. It is not awarded automatically and cannot be purchased.