The 38 coolest neighbourhoods in the world right now, according to Time Out

Marseille’s Notre Dame du Mont took top spot for its colourful cul-de-sacs  (Massimo Municchi)
Marseille’s Notre Dame du Mont took top spot for its colourful cul-de-sacs (Massimo Municchi)

Time Out has announced the all the rage areas to visit right now with a Marseille neighbourhood named the coolest in the world for 2024.

The 38 hip and happening slices of cities were chosen by on-the-ground experts and local city editors against criteria such as food, drink, arts and culture.

Other factors assessed included walkability, street life, community and “one-of-a-kind local flavour” to curate the shortlist of trending towns.

With a “rebellious spirit”, “colourful cul-de-sacs” and “graffiti-covered alleyways” Marseille’s Notre Dame du Mont took the top spot in Time Out’s seventh annual rankings.

Casablanca’s concrete jungle of Mers Sultan followed in second – lauded for its delicious food and futuristic architecture – with Pererenan in Bali stylish in third for pristine beaches and cool cafe culture.

Buzzing nightlife and dynamic street life in Seoul, South Korea, and Portland, USA, rounded off the top five.

Three UK neighbourhoods made the list of cultural hotspots; the parks and jazz bars of Strathbungo in Glasgow, the friendly faces and football club of Leyton in London and the vibrant eateries of Stokes Croft and St Paul in Bristol.

Stokes Croft and St Paul ranked sixth in the list for its history as “the centre of African-Caribbean culture” and string of colourful family-owned boutiques.

Grace Beard, travel editor at Time Out, said: “Time Out’s annual ranking of the World’s Coolest Neighbourhoods celebrates the most unique and exciting pockets of our cities. The neighbourhoods on this year’s list have a lot in common: great places to eat and drink, cutting-edge culture, street life and a thriving community.

“But they’re also a distinct reflection of their cities, with each of them offering something special you wouldn’t find anywhere else. Some have only just reached their moment; others have been ‘cool’ for some time and are finding a new groove – all of them should be on your radar to visit in these cities.”

Time Out’s 38 coolest neighbourhoods 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. Zabłocie, 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, Hong Kong

  34. Logan Square, Chicago, USA

  35. Norwood, Adelaide, Australia

  36. Osu, Accra, Ghana

  37. Orchard, Singapore, Singapore

  38. Union Square, Boston, USA

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