sift Beta Open sift

Find spaces that feel right.

sift shows you how a place feels before you go: how loud it is, how bright, how busy, how it smells. Whether you're after a quiet corner or a packed dance floor, it helps you find somewhere that suits you.

Test the phone apps Open sift in your browser

Anyone can use sift in a web browser. The iPhone and Android apps are in closed testing for now.

What feels right is up to you

Some people want soft light and a quiet table. Some want loud music, bright lights and a full room. Plenty of us want different things on different days. sift doesn't assume quieter is better: you tell it what you're after, and it puts the places that fit first.

When you set up sift, you pick the energy you like:

  • Quiet Corner Low crowd, calm background, easy to think
  • Balanced Buzz Some life in the room, not overwhelming
  • Full Energy Busy, loud, electric: bring it on

You can change it whenever you like.

How sift helps

  • Know before you go

    Places are rated by people who've been there, on noise, music, lighting, crowds, smells, temperature, layout, seating and more.

  • Made around you

    Tell sift the kind of energy you like and anything you're sensitive to, like noise or smells. It uses your answers to put the nearby places that suit you first.

  • Search your way

    Look a place up by name, or describe what you're after, like "booth seating". Set your own limits on noise, lighting, seating and distance, and browse as a list, a grid or a map.

  • Share what you find

    Know a good spot? Add it and rate how it felt, so someone else can find a place they'll be comfortable in too.

Starting in Brisbane

sift's first places are in Brisbane. Many start with sift's own estimate of how they feel, clearly labelled, until people who've been there rate them. A place nobody has rated says so, rather than guessing.

Comfortable to use

Make the text bigger, turn up the contrast, use a colour blind filter, reduce motion, or switch between light and dark. It's all in Settings, and you can set it before you sign up.

Help us test the apps

sift's iPhone and Android apps are in closed testing, and we'd love your help. Leave your email and tell us which phone you have, and we'll invite you as soon as there's a spot.

You don't have to wait to try sift, though. Anyone can use it in a web browser now.

We'll only use your email to invite you to test the apps. See our privacy policy.

Who's behind sift

sift is made by a small team in Brisbane. It started with something we noticed in ourselves: we kept going back to the same few places we already knew felt right. We built sift to help people explore beyond those, and feel comfortable wherever they end up.

Questions, ideas, or a place we should know about? Get in touch or email admin@sift.place.