diff --git a/app/components/app-header.gjs b/app/components/app-header.gjs
index 7c38228..4cfcfb1 100644
--- a/app/components/app-header.gjs
+++ b/app/components/app-header.gjs
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@ import { on } from '@ember/modifier';
 import Icon from '#components/icon';
 import UserMenu from '#components/user-menu';
 import SearchBox from '#components/search-box';
+import CategoryChips from '#components/category-chips';
 
 export default class AppHeaderComponent extends Component {
   @service storage;
   @tracked isUserMenuOpen = false;
+  @tracked hasQuery = false;
 
   @action
   toggleUserMenu() {
@@ -21,10 +23,31 @@ export default class AppHeaderComponent extends Component {
     this.isUserMenuOpen = false;
   }
 
+  @action
+  handleQueryChange(query) {
+    this.hasQuery = !!query;
+  }
+
+  @action
+  handleChipSelect() {
+    // When a chip is selected, we might want to ensure the search box is cleared visually,
+    // although the route transition will happen.
+    // The SearchBox component manages its own state, so we rely on the route transition.
+    // However, if we want to clear the search box input from here, we'd need to control it.
+    // For now, let's just let the route change happen.
+  }
+
   <template>
     <header class="app-header">
       <div class="header-left">
-        <SearchBox @onToggleMenu={{@onToggleMenu}} />
+        <SearchBox
+          @onToggleMenu={{@onToggleMenu}}
+          @onQueryChange={{this.handleQueryChange}}
+        />
+      </div>
+
+      <div class="header-center {{if this.hasQuery 'searching'}}">
+        <CategoryChips @onSelect={{this.handleChipSelect}} />
       </div>
 
       <div class="header-right">
diff --git a/app/components/category-chips.gjs b/app/components/category-chips.gjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5b66bee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/components/category-chips.gjs
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+import Component from '@glimmer/component';
+import { service } from '@ember/service';
+import { action } from '@ember/object';
+import { on } from '@ember/modifier';
+import { fn } from '@ember/helper';
+import Icon from '#components/icon';
+import { POI_CATEGORIES } from '../utils/poi-categories';
+
+export default class CategoryChipsComponent extends Component {
+  @service router;
+  @service mapUi;
+
+  get categories() {
+    return POI_CATEGORIES;
+  }
+
+  @action
+  searchCategory(category) {
+    // If passed an onSelect action, call it (e.g. to clear search box)
+    if (this.args.onSelect) {
+      this.args.onSelect(category);
+    }
+
+    let queryParams = { category: category.id, q: null };
+
+    if (this.mapUi.currentCenter) {
+      const { lat, lon } = this.mapUi.currentCenter;
+      queryParams.lat = parseFloat(lat).toFixed(4);
+      queryParams.lon = parseFloat(lon).toFixed(4);
+    }
+
+    this.router.transitionTo('search', { queryParams });
+  }
+
+  <template>
+    <div class="category-chips-scroll">
+      <div class="category-chips-container">
+        {{#each this.categories as |category|}}
+          <button
+            type="button"
+            class="category-chip"
+            {{on "click" (fn this.searchCategory category)}}
+            aria-label={{category.label}}
+          >
+            <Icon @name={{category.icon}} @size={{16}} />
+            <span>{{category.label}}</span>
+          </button>
+        {{/each}}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  </template>
+}
diff --git a/app/components/map.gjs b/app/components/map.gjs
index c766f64..ace5138 100644
--- a/app/components/map.gjs
+++ b/app/components/map.gjs
@@ -914,6 +914,7 @@ export default class MapComponent extends Component {
     const [maxLon, maxLat] = toLonLat([extent[2], extent[3]]);
 
     const bbox = { minLat, minLon, maxLat, maxLon };
+    this.mapUi.updateBounds(bbox);
     await this.storage.loadPlacesInBounds(bbox);
     this.loadBookmarks(this.storage.placesInView);
 
diff --git a/app/components/search-box.gjs b/app/components/search-box.gjs
index 6713997..b4898f6 100644
--- a/app/components/search-box.gjs
+++ b/app/components/search-box.gjs
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ export default class SearchBoxComponent extends Component {
   @action
   handleInput(event) {
     this.query = event.target.value;
+    if (this.args.onQueryChange) {
+      this.args.onQueryChange(this.query);
+    }
+
     if (this.query.length < 2) {
       this.results = [];
       return;
@@ -35,6 +39,7 @@ export default class SearchBoxComponent extends Component {
     this.searchTask.perform();
   }
 
+
   searchTask = task({ restartable: true }, async () => {
     await timeout(300);
 
@@ -121,8 +126,10 @@ export default class SearchBoxComponent extends Component {
   clear() {
     this.query = '';
     this.results = [];
-    this.router.transitionTo('index'); // Or stay on current page?
-    // Usually clear just clears the input.
+    if (this.args.onQueryChange) {
+      this.args.onQueryChange('');
+    }
+    this.router.transitionTo('index');
   }
 
   <template>
diff --git a/app/controllers/search.js b/app/controllers/search.js
index a61e116..b5849aa 100644
--- a/app/controllers/search.js
+++ b/app/controllers/search.js
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 import Controller from '@ember/controller';
 
 export default class SearchController extends Controller {
-  queryParams = ['lat', 'lon', 'q', 'selected'];
+  queryParams = ['lat', 'lon', 'q', 'selected', 'category'];
 
   lat = null;
   lon = null;
   q = null;
   selected = null;
+  category = null;
 }
diff --git a/app/routes/search.js b/app/routes/search.js
index 4b33af0..b11d3a9 100644
--- a/app/routes/search.js
+++ b/app/routes/search.js
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export default class SearchRoute extends Route {
     lon: { refreshModel: true },
     q: { refreshModel: true },
     selected: { refreshModel: true },
+    category: { refreshModel: true },
   };
 
   async model(params) {
@@ -22,8 +23,37 @@ export default class SearchRoute extends Route {
     const lon = params.lon ? parseFloat(params.lon) : null;
     let pois = [];
 
+    // Case 0: Category Search (category parameter present)
+    if (params.category && lat && lon) {
+      // We need bounds. If we have active map state, use it.
+      let bounds = this.mapUi.currentBounds;
+
+      // If we don't have bounds (direct URL visit), estimate them from lat/lon/zoom(16)
+      // or just use a fixed box around the center.
+      if (!bounds) {
+        // Approximate 0.01 degrees ~ 1km at equator. A viewport is roughly 0.02x0.01 at zoom 16?
+        // Let's take a safe box of ~1km radius.
+        const delta = 0.01;
+        bounds = {
+          minLat: lat - delta,
+          maxLat: lat + delta,
+          minLon: lon - delta,
+          maxLon: lon + delta,
+        };
+      }
+
+      pois = await this.osm.getCategoryPois(bounds, params.category);
+
+      // Sort by distance from center
+      pois = pois
+        .map((p) => ({
+          ...p,
+          _distance: getDistance(lat, lon, p.lat, p.lon),
+        }))
+        .sort((a, b) => a._distance - b._distance);
+    }
     // Case 1: Text Search (q parameter present)
-    if (params.q) {
+    else if (params.q) {
       // Search with Photon (using lat/lon for bias if available)
       pois = await this.photon.search(params.q, lat, lon);
 
diff --git a/app/services/map-ui.js b/app/services/map-ui.js
index b0a99d3..3f38696 100644
--- a/app/services/map-ui.js
+++ b/app/services/map-ui.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ export default class MapUiService extends Service {
   @tracked creationCoordinates = null;
   @tracked returnToSearch = false;
   @tracked currentCenter = null;
+  @tracked currentBounds = null;
   @tracked searchBoxHasFocus = false;
   @tracked selectionOptions = {};
   @tracked preventNextZoom = false;
@@ -54,4 +55,8 @@ export default class MapUiService extends Service {
   updateCenter(lat, lon) {
     this.currentCenter = { lat, lon };
   }
+
+  updateBounds(bounds) {
+    this.currentBounds = bounds;
+  }
 }
diff --git a/app/services/osm.js b/app/services/osm.js
index 03f01d0..48209da 100644
--- a/app/services/osm.js
+++ b/app/services/osm.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import Service, { service } from '@ember/service';
 import { getLocalizedName, getPlaceType } from '../utils/osm';
+import { getCategoryById } from '../utils/poi-categories';
 
 export default class OsmService extends Service {
   @service settings;
@@ -76,6 +77,48 @@ out center;
     }
   }
 
+  async getCategoryPois(bounds, categoryId) {
+    const category = getCategoryById(categoryId);
+    if (!category || !bounds) return [];
+
+    const { minLat, minLon, maxLat, maxLon } = bounds;
+
+    // Build the query parts for each filter string and type
+    const queryParts = [];
+
+    // Default types if not specified (legacy fallback)
+    const types = category.types || ['node', 'way', 'relation'];
+
+    category.filter.forEach((filterString) => {
+      types.forEach((type) => {
+        // We ensure we only fetch named POIs to reduce noise
+        queryParts.push(`${type}${filterString}[~"^name"~"."];`);
+      });
+    });
+
+    const query = `
+[out:json][timeout:25][bbox:${minLat},${minLon},${maxLat},${maxLon}];
+(
+  ${queryParts.join('\n  ')}
+);
+out center;
+    `.trim();
+
+    // No caching for now as bounds change frequently
+    const url = `${this.settings.overpassApi}?data=${encodeURIComponent(query)}`;
+
+    try {
+      const res = await this.fetchWithRetry(url);
+      if (!res.ok) throw new Error('Overpass request failed');
+      const data = await res.json();
+      const results = data.elements.map(this.normalizePoi);
+      return results;
+    } catch (e) {
+      console.error('Category search failed', e);
+      return [];
+    }
+  }
+
   normalizePoi(poi) {
     const tags = poi.tags || {};
     const type = getPlaceType(tags) || 'Point of Interest';
diff --git a/app/styles/app.css b/app/styles/app.css
index c3fd279..47dc5d5 100644
--- a/app/styles/app.css
+++ b/app/styles/app.css
@@ -70,27 +70,94 @@ body {
   right: 0;
   height: 60px;
   padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
-  display: flex;
-  justify-content: space-between;
-  align-items: center;
   z-index: 3000; /* Above sidebar (2000) and map */
   pointer-events: none; /* Let clicks pass through to map where transparent */
+
+  /* Layout */
+  display: grid;
+  /* Desktop: 1fr auto 1fr ensures the center element is absolutely centered */
+  grid-template-columns: 1fr auto 1fr;
+  grid-template-areas: 'search chips user';
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 1rem;
 }
 
 @media (width <= 768px) {
   .app-header {
-    padding: 0 0.5rem;
+    padding: 0.5rem 0.5rem 0;
+    height: auto;
+    grid-template-columns: 1fr auto;
+    grid-template-areas:
+      'search user'
+      'chips chips';
+    row-gap: 8px; /* Increased spacing */
   }
 }
 
 .header-left,
-.header-right {
-  pointer-events: auto; /* Re-enable clicks for buttons */
+.header-right,
+.header-center {
+  pointer-events: auto; /* Re-enable clicks */
 }
 
 .header-left {
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
+  grid-area: search;
+  /* Ensure it sits at the start of its grid area */
+  justify-self: start;
+  width: 100%;
+}
+
+@media (width > 768px) {
+  .header-left {
+    min-width: 300px;
+    max-width: 400px;
+  }
+}
+
+@media (width > 768px) {
+  .header-left {
+    /* Desktop: Ensure minimum width for search box so it's not squeezed */
+    min-width: 300px;
+    max-width: 350px;
+  }
+}
+
+.header-right {
+  grid-area: user;
+  justify-self: end;
+}
+
+.header-center {
+  grid-area: chips;
+
+  /* Desktop: Center the chips block in the available space */
+  display: flex;
+  justify-content: center;
+  min-width: 0; /* Allow shrinking */
+}
+
+/* Adjust scroll container for desktop centering */
+@media (width > 768px) {
+  .header-center .category-chips-scroll {
+    width: auto;
+    max-width: 100%;
+  }
+}
+
+@media (width <= 768px) {
+  /* No need to reset min-width/max-width since they are only set in media query above */
+  .header-center {
+    width: 100%;
+    overflow: hidden;
+    justify-content: start;
+  }
+
+  /* Hide chips on mobile when searching to save space */
+  .header-center.searching {
+    display: none;
+  }
 }
 
 .btn-press {
@@ -1190,3 +1257,53 @@ button.create-place {
   background: #eee;
   margin: 0.5rem 0;
 }
+
+/* Category Chips */
+.category-chips-scroll {
+  width: 100%;
+  overflow-x: auto;
+  /* Add padding for shadows */
+  padding: 4px 0;
+  -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;
+  /* Hide scrollbar but keep functionality */
+  scrollbar-width: none; /* Firefox */
+  -ms-overflow-style: none; /* IE/Edge */
+  /* Remove top margin as spacing is handled by grid/layout */
+  margin-top: 0;
+}
+
+.category-chips-scroll::-webkit-scrollbar {
+  display: none;
+}
+
+.category-chips-container {
+  display: flex;
+  gap: 8px;
+  /* Padding on sides so first/last chip isn't flush with screen edge */
+  padding: 0 4px;
+  width: max-content; /* Ensure it scrolls */
+}
+
+.category-chip {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 6px;
+  padding: 6px 12px;
+  background: white;
+  border: 1px solid #ddd;
+  border-radius: 16px; /* Pill shape */
+  font-size: 0.9rem;
+  color: #333;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+  box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
+  transition: background-color 0.2s;
+}
+
+.category-chip:hover {
+  background: var(--hover-bg);
+}
+
+.category-chip:active {
+  background: #eee;
+}
diff --git a/app/utils/poi-categories.js b/app/utils/poi-categories.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fe2843d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/utils/poi-categories.js
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+// This configuration defines the "Quick Search" categories available in the UI.
+//
+// Structure:
+// - id: The URL slug used for routing (e.g. ?category=restaurants)
+// - label: The human-readable name displayed in the UI
+// - icon: The icon name (must be registered in app/utils/icons.js)
+// - filter: An array of Overpass QL query parts.
+//   - Each string in the array is an independent query condition.
+//   - Multiple strings act as an OR condition (union of results).
+
+export const POI_CATEGORIES = [
+  {
+    id: 'restaurants',
+    label: 'Restaurants',
+    icon: 'search', // Placeholder
+    filter: ['["amenity"~"^(restaurant|fast_food|food_court|pub|cafe)$"]'],
+    types: ['node', 'way'],
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'coffee',
+    label: 'Coffee',
+    icon: 'search', // Placeholder
+    filter: [
+      '["amenity"~"^(cafe|ice_cream)$"]',
+      '["shop"~"^(coffee|tea)$"]',
+      '["cuisine"~"coffee_shop"]',
+    ],
+    types: ['node', 'way'],
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'groceries',
+    label: 'Groceries',
+    icon: 'search', // Placeholder
+    filter: [
+      '["shop"~"^(supermarket|convenience|grocery|greengrocer|bakery|butcher|deli|farm|seafood)$"]',
+    ],
+    types: ['node', 'way'],
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'attractions',
+    label: 'Attractions',
+    icon: 'search', // Placeholder
+    filter: [
+      '["tourism"~"^(museum|gallery|attraction|viewpoint|zoo|theme_park)$"]',
+      '["historic"]',
+    ],
+    types: ['node', 'way', 'relation'],
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'accommodation',
+    label: 'Hotels',
+    icon: 'search', // Placeholder
+    filter: ['["tourism"~"^(hotel|hostel|guest_house|apartment|motel)$"]'],
+    types: ['node', 'way', 'relation'],
+  },
+];
+
+export function getCategoryById(id) {
+  return POI_CATEGORIES.find((c) => c.id === id);
+}