Google Maps now lets you create and share lists of places

Sharing restaurant recommendations just got a whole lot easier.

You can now make customized lists of places on Google Maps, the company announced in a blog post on Monday. The lists are shareable within the Google Maps app, and you can follow lists you're interested in -- to make sure you're always apprised of the best local pizza places, say. The feature was previously available only to Google's "Local Guides," and it's now being rolled out to all users.

To create a list, just open a place on Google Maps. Then, tap on the place name and the save icon, which brings up several pre-set lists like "Want to Go" or "Favorites." You can also create and name a new list. To view your saved lists, you can go to "Your Places" in the side menu. Your lists can be viewed on both the desktop and mobile apps, and you'll even be able to view them offline if you download the relevant area in advance.

Perhaps the most compelling part of the lists feature is being able to share and follow lists. Being able to share and follow lists is a great feature for travel, restaurant recommendations and road trip route planning -- as Yelp and Foursquare users have known for a long time.

Having the feature in Google Maps itself is extremely useful, as it lets you view places on your lists that are nearby directly from the map view.

Google has slowly but surely been evolving Maps beyond simply finding you directions into a powerful tool that helps you plan your day. With features like parking, shortcuts for your surroundings and "popular times", Google Maps is getting closer and closer to being the only app you need to get around.