WASHINGTON — The bar where everybody knows your name can be a good thing. But if you’d like to inject a little mystery into your nightlife, try a new cocktail and meet new people, a new web app called Bar Roulette may be for you.
Sign into this free app with your Uber account, tell it how far you’re willing to travel, and Bar Roulette uses Yelp to find a highly rated bar nearby to whisk you off to.
Initially, the bar’s name remains a secret.
“It doesn’t tell you the name, so that’s the best part,” Bar Roulette creator Tyler Swartz tells WTOP. “It just gives you the estimated Uber fare to get there.”
Once the app gives you an estimated fare and you approve it, an Uber is sent to your location.
“You jump in the car and have the fun of trying to guess where you’re headed,” Swartz says. “And then once the ride ends and you’ve reached the location, the app refreshes and it tells you the bar name.”
“I originally had just wanted to build something that was free and anybody could use it to find a little bit more adventure in their life, and probably the most rewarding part is just hearing the positive feedback from all over the world.”
He’s heard from users in the United States, London, Paris and Amsterdam.
Asked if any additions to the app are planned, Swartz says, “I think maybe suggesting what drinks are popular at that bar. Pulling that out of Yelp and showing people, just so they have a thing to do as soon as they arrive. That’s probably next on the list.”
He’s also working on building an app just for iPhones.
