Though the old Smithfieldian haunts (thankfully) remain, the once-empty spaces that sat beside them are today filled with independent bars, vegan-friendly restaurants, artisanal cafés and sourdough pizza shops – deeming the area a must-visit for anyone swayed by no-frills, post-industrial charm. This social enterprise café serves homemade sausage rolls with bacon jam, all-the-while making the neighbourhood a better place to live. You’ll not only find The Cobblestone, a historic pub known as the home of traditional Irish music in Dublin (which saw thousands of musicians march in protest when it was threatened with being knocked down in 2021) but new businesses like Third Space. This Dublin 7 neighbourhood is a space where tradition and activism meet, where long-standing stalwarts co-exist alongside exciting new ventures.

Smithfield represents the Dublin that refuses to disappear. 🍽️ Tuck into the best restaurants in Colombia Restrepo Park every Wednesday for a lively nighttime bike ride that draws 400 to 500 people on average. Plan your trip Colectivo SiCLas meets at Carlos E. Enjoy a healthy lunch at Saludpan and an authentic Mexican dinner at Chilaquiles before ending your night dancing salsa in the basement of the no-frills Tíbiri Bar. The perfect day Rise and shine in the new Living by Armóniko, then grab your morning coffee from Rituales Café, which proudly serves coffee cultivated in La Sierra – a reborn Medellin neighbourhood that overcame a violent past. Fruit vendors push their carts through the circular streets like they have for decades – only now they might know a little more English than they used to. Laureles still has a traditional Colombian neighbourhood feel, despite its growing popularity. But don’t expect this area to be overrun by expats and tourists like Poblado.

And with the area’s vastly improved restaurant scene and central location, it’s easy to see why digital nomad-friendly highrises such as Indie Universe and Los Patios Cool Living are springing up there. The area outside of La 70 offers tranquillity in the form of parks, tree-lined streets, yoga studios and countless coffee shops. And while you might think all of this would make Laureles a bit noisy and hectic, the neighbourhood actually has a pretty laidback reputation. The neighbourhood is home to the famed nightlife strip known as La 70 – where every bar and restaurant floor can turn into a dance floor with the right song – and Estadio Atanasio Girardot, Medellin’s main fútbol stadium and concert venue. See you out there.Ĭolombian singer Karol G hasn’t released any hit songs about Laureles like she has about nearby El Poblado, but it feels like it’s only a matter of time. So, ready to explore? These 40 spots are the world’s coolest neighbourhoods to be in right now. Be it at an all-nighter or on a nighttime bike ride, these neighbourhoods are where the city comes to play. Community is key: locals have banded together to rebuild their neighbourhood after disaster, to protest the demolition of much-loved cultural venues or simply to create spaces where people can come together and have some fun. Each area’s diversity is reflected in its food, culture and festivals. The world’s coolest neighbourhoods this year are, therefore, places with big personalities. Slick new developments and cool cafés might bring in new crowds, but neighbourhood stalwarts – from old pubs to family greengrocers – keep it real. But while most of these neighbourhoods have experienced a transformation over recent years, they remain resolutely local at heart. The rise and rise in post-pandemic digital nomadism has led to an explosion of brand-new community spaces, multi-purpose culture centres and more cafés than we can count on two hands. In 2023, our neighbourhoods are more global than ever before. To create and rank the final list, we considered factors including community and social ventures, access to open and green space, and thriving street life. Then, we narrowed down the selection with the insight and expertise of city editors and local experts who know their cities better than anyone else. Over 12,000 people had their say in this year’s shortlist, naming the neighbourhoods in their hometowns where everyone wants to be right now.

What are the places locals love and visitors flock to? Where are the exciting new openings across food, drink and culture? Where are people going out, hanging out and having fun?įor the sixth year running, the results are in. Every year, we ask thousands of city-dwellers to tell us the coolest spots in their cities.

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