Google Tests AI-organized Carousels in Local Search Results for Restaurants & Bars

Recent test search results for local businesses on Google, particularly restaurants and bars, have been dominated by AI-organized carousels. Searches like “best cocktail bar” now return multiple carousels sequentially down the page, with categories such as rooftop bars, artisanal cocktail bars, and budget-friendly options. These results feature large visuals, ratings, and addresses, allowing users to scroll through various options to view and choose from local listings. Interestingly, the number of carousels varies depending on the location—New York City displayed more than 12, while smaller cities like Rochester and Buffalo showed fewer or none at all, with traditional results like Yelp or Reddit appearing so far down in the search results below the carousels​ that they are largely invisible. The Near Memo is a weekly conversation about Search, Social, and Commerce: What happened, why it matters, and the implications for local businesses and national brands. EP 178 Near Memo 01