The coolest neighbourhoods in the world have been named and in the never-ending battle between Sydney and Melbourne only one has come out on top.
Time Out revealed its list of the world’s 38 coolest neighbourhoods with Chippendale in Sydney’s CBD coming in at seventh — the highest spot for an Australian suburb.
An up-and-coming neighbourhood in Marseille in the south of France took out the top gong.
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The ranking was created using the “insight and expertise of Time Out’s global network of city editors and local experts,” the company’s travel editor Grace Beard explained.
She said the chosen areas are “a distinct reflection of their cities, with each of them offering something special you wouldn’t find anywhere else”.
1. Notre-Dame-du-Mont, Marseille, France
The Notre-Dame-du-Mont neighbourhood in the French city of Marseille was named the “coolest” due to its “rebellious spirit” that attracts crowds from across the city.
“This decidedly unholy area is made up of colourful cul-de-sacs, graffiti-covered alleyways, streets lined with plane trees and twisting staircases,” the judges said.
“For a small area, it’s home to a remarkable concentration of galleries, lively restaurants, chic and community-minded shops and new spots hidden behind pizza trucks.”
2. Mers Sultan, Casablanca, Morocco
The “criss-crossing narrow streets, art decor, art nouveau, and modernist buildings” had turned the area a hub for Casablanca’s young artists, the judges said.
3. Pererenan, Bali, Indonesia
The pristine beaches, cosy cafes and “laidback” vibe are said to remind visitors of what made renowned hotspot and Aussie expat hub Canggu so well-known.
Time Out experts emphasised the village’s “classic Bali charm”.
4. Seongsu-dong, Seoul, South Korea
Time Out listed the area as “Seoul’s answer to Brooklyn” with old factories and shipping containers now turned into cafes, boutiques and galleries.
This year, the neighbourhood solidified its “fashion district status” with the opening of streetwear brand Kith’s first Korean flagship store.
5. Kerns, Portland, USA
Despite being established as a city, Kerns is described as feeling like “a perfectly-formed small town, surrounded by residential streets filled with some of the city’s most charming craftsman homes, Spanish-style apartments, flower-filled gardens and fruiting trees”.
6. Stokes Croft and St Paul’s, Bristol, UK
Time Out judges described the area as “ever-changing and ever-vibrant” with “a long history as the centre of African-Caribbean culture” and “a cradle of social resistance.
7. Chippendale, Sydney, Australia
Australia claimed its first spot at number seven, but the chosen hotspot may surprise a few.
Chippendale, on the edge of Sydney’s CBD is high on the list due to its “buzzing, community-centered neighbourhood”. Alongside great restaurants, there’s a plenty of things to do.
8. Príncipe Real, Lisbon, Portugal
It’s not the first time the area has been high on Time Out’s cool list.
Experts claim it “has that classic Lisbon charm, but recently it’s gained an increasingly contemporary and cosmopolitan feel”.
9. Glória, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Glória was an area known primarily for its monuments and heritage sites. Now experts claim the area is undergoing “a makeover” as young people begin to dominate tourist numbers.
10. Windsor, Melbourne, Australia
Sitting at number 10 is Windsor, but not the Windsor where the royals live.
The Melbourne suburb is apparently “having its moment”.
Time Out says it’s the place to explore “vintage gems, boutique galleries and cool, lively vibes”.
THE COOLEST NEIGHBOURHOODS IN THE WORLD IN 2024
1. Notre Dame du Mont, Marseille, France
2. Mers Sultan, Casablanca, Morocco
3. Pererenan, Bali, Indonesia
4. Seongsu-dong, Seoul, South Korea
5. Kerns, Portland, USA
6. Stokes Croft & St Paul’s, Bristol, UK
7. Chippendale, Sydney, Australia
8. Principe Real, Lisbon, Portugal
9. Glória, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
10. Windsor, Melbourne, Australia
11. Zablocie, Krakow, Poland
12. Little River, Miami, USA
13. Saint-Henri, Montreal, Canada
14. Punavuori, Helsinki, Finland
15. Gakugeidaigaku, Tokyo, Japan
16. Thao Dienm, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
17. Flatbush, New York, USA
18. Friedrichshain, Berlin, Germany
19. East City, Cape Town, South Africa
20. Belleville, Paris, France
21. Northbridge, Perth, Australia
22. Strathbungo, Glasgow, UK
23. Chacarita, Buenos Aires, Argentina
24. Leyton, London, UK
25. Inchicore, Dublin, Ireland
26. East Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA
27. Ekkamai, Bangkok, Thailand
28. San Rafael, Mexico City, Mexico
29. Mount Pleasant, Washington DC, USA
30. Bonfim, Porto, Portugal
31. Palace Quarter, Budapest, Hungary
32. Brewerytown, Philadelphia, USA
33. Kowloon City, Hong Kong
34. Logan Square, Chicago, USA
35. Norwood, Adelaide, Australia
36. Osu, Accra, Ghana
37. Orchard, Singapore
38. Union Square, Boston, USA
— Source: TimeOut