World’s coolest neighbourhoods ranked
Travelling to a new destination gives us plenty to explore - from the tourist hotspots to the hidden gems found off the beaten track - and it’s these latter spots that have been ranked, with Time Out releasing its 51 Coolest Neighbourhoods in the World for 2022.
The fifth annual listing, created after surveying 20,000 city-dwellers and relying on expert input, is made up of “incredible places to be right now”, according to Time Out editors.
While we might not have cracked the top ten, there was still plenty of representation from Australia and New Zealand.
Fitzroy, Melbourne, took out the highest spot in 27th place, earning the “distinction of the second coolest street in the world” thanks to the retail stores, galleries, pubs, bars and cafes lining Gertrude Street.
Sydney’s Marrickville came in close behind at No. 33, garnering praise for its “healthy dose of creative colour”.
Kingsland, Auckland, came in 43rd, followed by Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, which scraped in at No. 47.
The top of the list featured spots in Portugal, Cambodia, the US, Japan and Canada, with Colonia Americana, in the western Mexico city of Guadalajara, being crowned the coolest of them all.
Time Out travel editor James Manning said Guandalajara is an emerging “must-visit” spot, with Colonia Americana being “the place to be right now”.
“It's home to a boundary-pushing creative community, a growing number of amazing places to eat, and some of the best nightlife in the western hemisphere. And the street life is unbeatable,” he said in a statement.
Following in second place is Lisbon’s riverside Cais do Sodré, a long-time hub for nightlife that is becoming a foodie hotspot.
Third place was claimed by Wat Bo Village in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Following a “serious glow-up” in the surrounding area over the past year, highlights include boutique hotels and the restaurant Tevy’s Place, which slings organic meals and works to empower local women.
The first US entry, New York City’s suburb of Ridgewood, took fourth place, followed by Mile End in Montreal, Canada, at No. 5.
Dave Calhoun, Time Out’s chief content officer for North America and the UK, said the goal of the annual list was to spotlight areas that aren’t “homogenised, corporate destinations” and have “an independent and welcoming vibe” instead.
"You may be able to walk across them in half an hour or less but they are packed with enough experiences to spend days exploring," he said.
The top ten list of Time Out’s coolest suburbs in the world are:
1. Colonia Americana - Guadalajara, Mexico
2. Cais do Sodré - Lisbon, Portugal
3. Wat Bo Village - Siem Reap, Cambodia
4. Ridgewood - New York City, USA
5. Mile End - Montreal, Canada
6. Barrio Logan - San Diego, USA
7. Shimokitazawa - Tokyo, Japan
8. Cliftonville - Margate, UK
9. Barrio Yungay - Santiago, Chile
10. Cours Julien - Marseille, France
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