How we choose

Every place on a Grace list has to earn its spot, and every list is our opinion of where we would send a friend.

What we look for

• A long track record. Places with years of steady, strong public reviews, usually a hundred or more, rather than a single viral week.
• Consistency. The same good coffee, bread or plate on a Tuesday morning as on a Saturday night.
• Value. A fair price for what arrives at the table. Expensive is fine when it is worth it; cheap is fine when it is good.
• Hospitality. Places that welcome regulars and first timers the same way.
• Convenience where it counts. For everyday categories like coffee, bakeries and breakfast, it matters whether a place is easy to reach, easy to order from and open when you need it.

How lists change

We revisit lists through the year. Places move up or down as they change, new openings join, and closures come off. If something on a list looks out of date, please tell the editors and we will check it.

What we do not do

We do not publish star scores or invented reviews, and we do not quote diners we cannot name. When we say a place is known for something, it is because the place itself says so on its menu or website, or because it is widely reported.