The 40 coolest neighbourhoods in the world in 2026

Ikseon-dong has long been a social media darling, with century-old hanoks housing thematic cafes and international restaurants. But in recent months, an after-dark revival driven by pochas (a type of late-night food stall) is bringing a new buzz to this maze of narrow alleys in Jongno 3-ga. Once a quick meal stop for office workers and labourers, the tented street stalls are now attracting crowds of young locals drawn by the affordable prices and unpretentious setting; you’ll see them start to gather at Donhwamun-ro 11-gil every day from 5pm. Then there’s Seosulla-gil, which shows off the calmer side of the neighbourhood’s renaissance. Once a quiet lane beside Jongmyo Shrine, it is now populated by independent craft workshops, jewellery studios and sophisticated bars. Equal parts laid-back and low-key, Jongno 3-ga maintains its charm by constantly reinventing itself for a new generation.

The perfect day: Start with fluffy steamed bread at Mil Toast. When the stores stir awake at 11am, wander the maze of shops selling perfume, clothes and eyewear. Lunch spots are many: try Solsot’s popular pot rice, or if you don’t mind a detour, Aiso serves incredible grilled hanwoo (Korean beef) patties. For an afternoon pick-me-up, Seoul Coffee serves some of the best cups of coffee in the neighbourhood, but Cafe SaSa is our go-to for pastries and tranquility. After picking out handmade jewellery at Seosulla-gil, stop for a craft beer at Seoul Gypsy before ending with dinner at the pochas serving tteokbokki (rice cakes) and ramyeon. Don’t worry if you have one glass too many – trendy Moxy Seoul Insadong is right next door, ready for you to stumble into bed.

Plan your trip: Parts of Jongno 3-ga are lined with ginkgo trees, making autumn the prettiest time to visit. Plus, the cool, crisp air is perfect for eating al fresco at the pochas.

📍 Check out the best things to do in Seoul

L’Ocean encapsulates Rabat’s Atlantic-meets-city vibe. Its palm-tree-lined promenade, with beaches and sports pitches, is a meeting place for locals. This beachfront strip (currently undergoing a major urban facelift) runs the length of L’Ocean’s border, from the Medina to a former eighteenth-century palace, now a Four Seasons. The neighbourhood is predominantly locals (families and young professionals) in low-rise apartment blocks, walls canvases for expressive street art. Away from the beach, a maze of residential streets, from Rue Abidijan to Rue Zanzibar, is ripe for discovery, with independent businesses lighting up quiet corners. Known for its creative and friendly community, places such as Rue Bruxelles – a new pedestrianised precinct with independent cafés and cultural centres – are set to bring people together even more. 

The perfect day: Fuel up with brunch at surf-inspired Boho Café before a lesson in Arabic calligraphy at AghaSpace. Visit the National Museum of Photography, an historic fort displaying young Moroccan photographers’ work. Zigzag narrow streets, stop for traditional harira soup or millefeuille at Himmi. Pop into Ocean 17, a concept store for books and gifts, before watching the sunset by the lighthouse. End the day with dinner at Yamal Acham (near Bab el Had, one of the city’s grand gates), a Syrian restaurant packed with character. Then hit the hay in this artist’s Airbnb.

Plan your trip: Visiting on a Friday? Head for a traditional couscous lunch (after the midday prayers) at Dar Naji.

📍 Read our local’s guide to the best things to do in Rabat

Wedged between the Acropolis and the Athenian Riviera, Neos Kosmos has quietly become one of Athens' most exciting neighbourhoods without losing its local touch. Long overshadowed by nearby Koukaki and Pangrati, it now attracts young creatives and independent businesses, while families, immigrants, students, artists, and long-time Athenians share the same streets. Onassis Stegi continues to shape the area and showcases contemporary Greek creativity internationally through exhibitions, performances and public events. At the same time, streets are lined with traditional tavernas and exciting new restaurants, plus enough cafes, bars and neighbourhood bakeries to fill several days of eating, drinking and hanging out.

The perfect day: Book a suite at Incanto Boutique Suites or this Airbnb overlooking the neighbourhood. Start at Naif for a tasty breakfast, browse vintage toys at Chronokapsoula, then grab coffee and a snack at Lalos. Walk Baknana Street, passing old-school bakeries Vlachos and Mountrichas. Lunch at Lostre Kuzina, the Armenian grill Mortis, or Phita. Explore Onassis Stegi and take the elevator to the roof for fine dining at Amphibian or head to nearby Groovy Mango for Thai flavours. Finish with drinks at Epta Martyres, Bar Amore or Teras – where you can even buy the furniture!

Plan your trip: Autumn and spring are usually the best times to visit the area, as many events take place outdoors without the summer heat. The annual Neos Kosmos Block Party is usually held in early October, bringing the neighbourhood together.

📍 Read up on the best things to do in Athens

With its pagoda-style roofs, hanging lanterns and pedestrian plazas, LA’s Chinatown strikes a balance between honouring its history and consistently reinventing itself with splashy new restaurants and nightlife spots. Just in the past year or so, the Downtown neighbourhood has welcomed Chinese American standout Firstborn, day-to-night destination Café Tondo (where Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker stopped by for a surprise DJ set) and design-forward Archives of Us (home to some of the city’s best matcha). Focaccia sandwich shop Frank ’n’ Frank’s just set up shop in the iconic Chinatown Central Plaza, where astrology-inspired Brooklyn cocktail bar Mood Ring is opening a second location soon. On the far industrial side of the neighbourhood, there’s a new music venue, Pacific Electric, from one of the members of Mumford & Sons; on the opposite residential side, crossing into Victor Heights, a courtyard of historic homes houses some of the city’s buzziest restaurants, like Baby Bistro. Meanwhile, Chinatown’s legacy restaurants and institutions like Phoenix Bakery and Philippe the Original are still draws. There’s even some green space: the 32-acre LA State Historic Park hosts music fests, movie screenings and a farmers’ market. 

The perfect day: Kick things off at James Beard Award finalist Endorffeine, a coffee bar that takes its beans very seriously, or go for something sweeter at the tiny Thank You Coffee, steps away from Flouring LA and its exquisite cake slices. That should fuel you up for some shopping at the neighbourhood’s antique shops, art galleries and boutiques – some of my favourites are in Far East Plaza, where East West Shop sells curated vintage styles and Now Serving boasts an unparalleled selection of cookbooks. While you’re there, join the line at Howlin’ Ray’s for Nashville hot chicken or get a thick, juicy burger at Amboy. Once the sun goes down and the neon lights switch on, it’s time for dinner. If you’re craving Chinese food, Yang Chow or Jade Wok are classics; for something different, try Filipino rotisserie and natural wine bar Lasita or the New Orleans–inspired Evangeline Swamp Room.

Plan your trip: To experience Chinatown at its most festive, time your visit during Lunar New Year, when the streets fill with spectators for the 127-year-old Golden Dragon Parade and the Firecracker Run, which kicks off with the lighting of 100,000 firecrackers. Alternatively, visit in fall during the Mid-Autumn Festival, when Chinese bakeries are serving seasonal mooncakes. (Note that many of the neighbourhood’s restaurants are closed Mondays and Tuesdays, so keep that in mind when making plans).

📍 Discover the best things to do in Chinatown

Not long ago Govanhill was known, if anything, for being Shawlands’ rougher little sibling. But in the past couple of years, low costs allowed artists and writers to find a home – even opening up a library for zines – and Adrian’s Bar has joined long-standing bookshop Category is Books to create spaces for a thriving queer community. Gen Z are migrating from West End bars and brunch spots to trendy new spots in Govanhill, injecting this once-overlooked sandstone suburb with quirkiness and energy. Thankfully the area, which has been Glasgow’s most diverse for a century, hasn’t lost its background amongst all the hype. On Victoria Road alone, you’ll still find Irish pubs, Pakistani and Indian restaurants, and even a Transylvanian shop. This welcoming ethos is Glasgow at its best. 

The perfect day: Wake up in this classic southside tenement on Govanhill’s busiest street. A proper Scottish fry-up – haggis and tattie scone included – awaits in the unassuming greasy spoon Fulton’s, which you can walk off by heading up to the Queen’s Park flagpole for panoramic views of Glasgow. Grab a coffee and a pastry from Jeju Baked Goods on your way to find an unlikely favourite in Burning House Books, previously named among the best independent stores in the world. Local stalwart Errol’s Hot Pizza has dinner covered before you end your night at the Bell Jar or the Rose Reilly – or any of Govanhill’s abundant indie pubs. 

Plan your trip: Visit during the Govanhill International Festival and Carnival, a two-week-long event every August celebrating the local community. Expect talks, art exhibitions, a book festival, film screenings, and even a parade.

📍 Check out the best things to do in Glasgow

Located in the western part of the city, on the mouth of the Kizu River, Kitakagaya was a bustling shipbuilding hub from the early twentieth century until the 1970s. In recent years, thanks to fruitful cooperation between residents and the administrators of the neighbourhood’s industrial legacy, many of Kitakagaya’s former factories, warehouses and vacant buildings have been given a new lease of life as art spaces and artists’ studios. With mural-covered walls, striking sculptures, hidden stencil graffiti and illustrated manhole covers adding to the colourful scenery, the area is being reborn as Osaka’s creative haven. In addition to art hubs large and small, streets are lined with inviting indie shops, restaurants and bars, making Kitakagaya an inspiring, tasty and very fun day trip.

The perfect day: Start with a classic coffeeshop breakfast at Futaba Chaya, then spend an hour or three browsing antiques, T-shirts, tenugui hand towels and old magazines at multitasking creative complex Chidori Bunka. Discover Osaka’s next art superstars at MASK or Creative Center Osaka before treating yourself to J Ramen’s ultra-creamy tonkotsu tsukemen. After nightfall, drink like it’s 1977 at ‘people’s pub’ Oku and go for iron-plate gyoza at Tonchinkan to power up for an all-nighter at techno temple Club Daphnia.

Plan your trip: Kitakagaya plays host to an abundance of high-profile exhibitions, markets and art fairs throughout autumn, Japan’s premier season for art appreciation.

📍 Our full guide to the best things to do in Kitakagaya

Set against the omnipresent backdrop of forested mountains and spread over some 16 hilly blocks, Chapinero Alto is a residential neighbourhood with a laidback village feel offering a vibrant culinary and creative scene. Home to Bogotá’s largest gay community and a young crowd of arty locals, expats, digital nomads, and students, Chapinero Alto is as progressive and dynamic as it gets. Perched above the capital’s gridlocked thoroughfares, the walkable district is home to ever-evolving restaurants, cafés, and terrace wine bars. Tucked-away designer boutiques, bookstores, and antique furniture shops sit in an eclectic mix of buildings: Tudor-style brick mansions, unpolished low-rise 1970s dwellings, and modern loft-style apartments.

The perfect day: Start your day with a Colombian coffee or chai at Diosa Café. Pop into Mmaison Galeria to admire emerging Latin American artists, shop at Atiko for vintage clothes, and try locally crafted chocolate at Metkalu. Stroll the steep streets around La Salle University before heading for a brioche brunch at Híbrido or Mesa Franca for lunch. To catch the last rays of Andean sun that sets at around 6pm daily, savour a cocktail at Franc, a garage-turned-bar opposite a leafy park, or linger at Atlas, a cosy no-reservation wine spot. For award-winning farm-to-table Colombian cuisine, dine at El Chato.

Plan your trip: Sitting at 8,660 feet, Bogotá is a high-altitude city that is warm during the day and chilly at night. There are no seasons, but best to avoid rainy April.

In a city where substantial dissent is, well, frowned upon, artsy, eccentric, charmingly shabby Koenji deserves the title of Tokyo’s most rebellious neighbourhood. As the rest of the city’s outskirts are gentrified at an alarming pace, the former punk scene epicentre, just a few stations west of Shinjuku, flies the flag for resistance: local residents have long been vocal about their opposition to redevelopment, homogenisation and even the opening of a Starbucks in the area. While not all their initiatives have been successful – a certain global coffee chain finally set up shop in 2025 – this is still a district that cherishes its identity while letting all flowers bloom. Spend a day exploring its labyrinthine shopping streets, lined with an eclectic, constantly changing mix of used clothing shops, record stores, tiny bars and bakeries, and you’ll find yourself cheering for Koenji’s commitment to keeping it real.

The perfect day: Koenji isn’t known for its early-morning scene, so sleep in at the locally operated Koenji Junjo Hotel or Grape House Koenji. For the ultimate breakfast one-two, grab some award-winning bread from Shigekuniya 55 Bakery and lovingly crafted coffee from Walnuts. Then pray for sunshine at Kisho Jinja, Japan’s only Shinto shrine dedicated to the weather deities, hop down a fashion rabbit hole at vintage store Higan and overspend on artisanal Japanese homeware at Cotogoto. Grab a tempura lunch at Tensuke and soak the afternoon away at communal bathhouse Kosugi-yu, then gear up for a long night at multitasking music café Substore, punk and hardcore haven 20000V or ‘heavy metal dining bar’ Metal Meshi.

Plan your trip: Every season brings a different reason to visit Koenji, where community events are held throughout the year. But we’d practically be committing a misdemeanour by not highlighting August’s Koenji Awa Odori, a two-day dancing-in-the-streets extravaganza that attracts over a million revellers every year.

📍 Discover the best things to do in Koenji

Thanks to its waterfront charm, local art scene, thriving vintage shops and record stores, and proximity to some of Niagara’s best farms and wineries, Downtown St. Catharines is one of Canada’s coolest city escapes – shifting Niagara-on-the-Lake as the region’s epicentre. The historic heart of the city centres on Brooklyn-esque St. Paul Street, one of Ontario’s few curved main streets, where more than 100 heritage buildings – some dating to the early nineteenth century – house a handful of the country’s most exciting new restaurants. Located between Toronto and Hamilton (of Heated Rivalry fame), Downtown St. Catharines is home to Montebello Park, one of the few places in Canada designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (the visionary behind New York City’s Central Park). And the neighbourhood is shaped by its rich history, particularly its ties to the Underground Railroad. This year’s Emancipation Day STC celebrations included a special downtown community event marking the 175th anniversary of Harriet Tubman’s arrival in St. Catharines, where she lived for nearly a decade. 

The perfect day: Start your morning with a warm cinnamon bun from Sugar + Butter Baking Co. or a Peach Cobbler doughnut from Beechwood Doughnuts, before perusing indie-exclusive vinyl at Mindbomb Records and vintage finds at Auds N Ends Boutique and Nac Studio Shop. Hungry? You could have a casual park picnic with a cherry cola and Luau Pig & Pineapple pie from Di’s Pizza Pies and a box of pastries from Happy Snack (you’ll make room). Or, you could choose from Michelin-minted Fat Rabbit (and younger sibling Bar Les Incompetents), or Oddbird’s refined yet playful fare, or grab-and-go It’s About Thyme’s epic chicken shawarma, or crisp smashburgers from Super! Burger & Fries. Then wash it all down with something deliciously local from the wine list at Twenty Kitchen and Bar, and end the night with frosty pints at Merchant Ale House or Trust Beer Bar.

Plan your trip: September to October is ideal for viewing stunning autumn foliage alongside harvest season at nearby farms and wineries. Downtown’s STC Farmers Market, open year-round, hosts special vendors (hello, lip-smacking barbecue) and live music and programming at the Performing Arts Centre is in full swing.

Set on one of Rome’s legendary seven hills, Esquilino is a grand, gritty and unexpected neighbourhood that encompasses Termini train station. Its beating heart is Piazza Vittorio, a nineteenth-century piazza surrounded by elegant palazzi with arched porticoes. At its centre lies a once-neglected garden, now reclaimed as a community hub with a hip bistro, live music, summer cinema and food events. One of the capital’s most multicultural districts, Esquilino is known for its daily market, which is packed with hard-to-find herbs and spices, and its global dining scene. Its appeal lies precisely in that mix: ancient ruins sit beside a Vietnamese pho shop, Rome’s oldest gelateria, contemporary galleries and cool wine bars.

The perfect day: Wake up at Hotel Mecenate Palace and enjoy specialty coffee and Scandi-inspired bakes at Forno Conti. Browse twentieth-century Italian art at Palazzo Merulana then pass the ornate Acquario Romano before stocking up on spices at Nuovo Mercato Esquilino. Have lunch at Hang Zhou or Krishna 13, two of Rome’s best international restaurants, but save room for gelato at Fassi. Meander around Piazza Vittorio’s gardens and see what activities are going on at Horti Magici before stopping for an aperitivo at Salotto Caronte and Roman classics at Trattoria da Danilo.

Plan your visit: This area is great to visit year round, but come in summer to hear live music during the Esquilino Jazz Festival at Horti Magici, catch open-air cinema in the garden and spend evenings sipping natural wine at Chiosco Vittorio.

📍 Find out the best things do in Rome right now

Valencia's handsome old town usually gets the glory, but it's offbeat Russafa that shouldn't be missed. Just beyond the medieval walls, this buzzy barrio is a playground of cool cocktail bars, art studios and terraces that stay lively long after dark. But for all its forward-thinking energy, Russafa is still true to its roots. Natural wine bars and craft coffee shops sit alongside old-school bodegas and unfussy local markets where abuelas fill their trolleys with fat tomatoes and melt-in-the-mouth jamón. It's all laid out in neat grids of nineteenth-century buildings: tall townhouses painted in ice cream shades – pistachio, vanilla, strawberry – with shuttered wrought-iron balconies that give the neighbourhood its unmistakable Mediterranean swagger.

The perfect day: Wake up with a splash in the plunge pool of Yours Boutique Hotel, then skip two minutes down the road for the silkiest flat white at Fran Café. Swap brunch for almuerzo – a locally loved late breakfast of beer, peanuts, olives and overstuffed baguettes – at La Cantina de Ruzafa. Stroll through the lavender-scented Parque Central, then shop for Levi's 501s at Reborn Vintage, sustainable Spanish brands at La Contra, and raw honey straight from the beekeepers at Miel J Regal. Grab lunch with the barrio's young creatives at Nostra Bar – oysters on ice and chilled ceviche – then chat to artists working at their easels at Sporting Club Russafa or throw your own vase at chic pottery studio Cuit. Sip the best local garnacha at The Wine Gallery before dinner under the stars at La Salita. Then wind down with a whiskey sour and a Balearic house set in the vinyl-only listening bar Mat 32.

Plan your trip: For maximum chaos, align your visit with Fallas. This firework-fuelled party takes place in mid-March; enormous, colourful sculptures are burned in the squares, and the city goes giddy and gunpowder-scented. 

📍 Explore the best things to do in Valencia

Nearly every visitor to Ho Chi Minh City photographs Tân Định’s Disney-pink church, then retreats downtown. But behind the church lies the ward proper, and something central Saigon has almost run out of: peace. While District 1’s towers and rooftop bars crowd ever closer, this corner of it stayed low-rise, low-volume and full of good food.

What could be cooler than total nonchalance about what’s going on around it? Fame took its shot and missed – Brangelina ate at farmhouse kitchen Cục Gạch Quán in 2011, the Obamas in 2019, but no backpacker strip ever sprouted. Instead, it’s Vietnam’s young hospo crowd who gravitate to Tân Định. PK Maltroom, the country's first whisky bar, is the spot for post-shift drinks, and two of Hanoi’s tasting-menu pioneers picked these streets for their southern debuts, first Hoàng Tùng’s Viet-Nordic Å by T.U.N.G (freshly reborn as Ö), then Quang Dũng’s zero-waste, plant-based Tales by Chapter. This June, Michelin dropped first-time honours on three separate restaurants in the ward, including the city’s only Green Star, for Tales.

The perfect day: Breakfast on steamed rice rolls at Bánh Cuốn Tây Hồ 127, a street hawker turned Michelin newcomer, then browse the silk stalls of Tân Định Market. Have lunch of charcoal-fired crêpes at Bánh Xèo 46A, sizzling since the 1940s and, defying the usual fate of the Bourdain-anointed, actually getting better with time. Follow it with a sweet iced coffee at Cà Phê Đỗ Phủ, where a wardrobe conceals a Tet Offensive bunker. Flip through Vietnamese vinyl rarities at Hãng Đĩa Thời Đại (snapping up anything by Thanh Lan or Saigon Supersound as you go), then walk the canal at golden hour. For dinner, be one of the first to try Ö by Hoang Tung, and finish with a dram at PK Maltroom.

Plan your trip: The market’s grand French hall turns 100 in July 2027 – time a weekend-morning visit for its centenary year, when the silk stalls and food carts are in full swing.

📍 Check out our guide to Ho Chi Minh City’s best restaurants

Gone are the days when a parliament building and a cluster of antique shops defined São Bento. Wedged between some of the capital’s most iconic hubs – Estrela, Príncipe Real, Santos, and Cais do Sodré – São Bento has blossomed into a buzzing neighborhood with even bigger things on the horizon. We’re talking a killer mix of eateries, from international, cosmopolitan joints to soul-soothing comfort food, not to mention its rise as a prime shopping destination (especially for vintage fashion and second-hand steals). Scattered across the area, art and design rub shoulders in indie galleries, pottery studios, and creative spaces. Best of all, with the new metro stations set to open in early 2027, all of this will be right on your doorstep.

The perfect day: The ultimate breakfast is served at Marquise da Mobler, which perfumes the entire street with the scent of freshly baked bread and pastries. Sweat off those calories at Prescription, the city's first Reformer Pilates studio, before claiming your well-earned reward: a picture-perfect sweet treat from Juliana Penteado. Dedicate your afternoon to shopping, hitting up second-hand havens like Arquívos (Travis Scott-approved) and The Trading Post, alongside local gems like Kintu Studio, Portuguese brand Gandaia, and Companhia Portugueza do Chá, the finest tea shop in town. Feeling hands-on? Channel your inner potter at Pyaar. For dinner, book a table at the ultra-buzzy Bar Alimentar or at the classic and charming Café de São Bento, then keep the night going with an out-of-the-box cocktail at Fúria.

Plan your trip: There’s no better time to visit Lisbon than June. As the city slips into party mode for the Santos Populares, you’ll find São Bento decked out in festive decor, hosting its own indie street parties, and buzzing with that infectious excitement of outdoor summer living – from dawn till dusk.

📍 Read up on the best things to do in Lisbon

Talat Noi's first life was Bangkok’s port, its second its engine-parts district – and neither has quite clocked off yet. But while a mechanic works elbow-deep in engine oil on Trok San Chao Rong Kueak, spaces like Mother Roaster pour flat whites just one floor up. In this neighbourhood, 965bkk pulls rank as a 200-year-old shophouse joined by cafes, bars and creative spaces, which have moved in without pushing the old guard out. The Warehouse is home to Clutch Bar, where dancing and talking build community, plus markets trading good finds. Holy Rosary Church, standing since 1787, still shares the block with Rong Kueak Shrine. Old Bangkok made some younger friends – and five minutes north, Talat Noi’s famous sibling Song Wat tells the same story in its own way.

The perfect day: Wake at the riverside Loy La Long Hotel, then order coffee from Mother Roaster, a one-person operation inside the very same auto shop mentioned above. Follow Rong Kuak Shrine alley past the murals to So Heng Tai Mansion and its swimming pool in the courtyard. Take afternoon tea beside the water at Hong Sieng Kong, then watch the boats pass over cocktails and Thai plates at Baan Rim Naam.

Plan your trip: Come during Bangkok Design Week 2027, which runs from February 18-28, when the shophouses, rice warehouses and backstreets fill with art installations, talks and temporary galleries.

📍 Check out the best things to do in Bangkok

While Södermalm, the longtime poster child for Stockholm’s alternative scene, still has its undeniable cool, everybody in the know will tell you that, come nightfall, you need to head even further south to find the city’s true creative frontier. Cross Skanstullsbron and you’ll hit Slakthusområdet (or Slaktis, as the locals call it), Stockholm’s gritty Meatpacking District. Beneath its historic brick warehouses, culture is boiling, and the transformation has been rapid – packed with new housing being built and acclaimed eateries, microbreweries, and big events and festivals like Stockholm Pride moving in. While daytime remains relatively calm and sleepy, the area has already locked in its spot as the city’s undisputed nightlife capital, anchored by heavy-hitting techno and underground clubs like Slakthuset and Hus 7.

The perfect day: Start at Stockholm Roast, a café and wine bar that roasts its own beans. For lunch, choose refined Matateljen for Nordic flavours, or Sin Ramen if you’d prefer some mouth-numbing noodles. Then head to Sacred Sauna and take part in their guided sauna ritual that takes you through breathing exercises, cold plunges and waves of heat. Dinnertime marks the moment Slaktis begins to glow. Options are selective yet superb, featuring high-calibre spots like Solen and Bar Montan. After that? Simply let the night pull you into the district's high-energy club scene.

Plan your trip: Festivals and events take place year-round, but Stockholm is particularly pleasant during late spring and summer. Be sure to check the event calendars at cultural hubs like Slakthusen and Distrikt5 (featuring event venue Fållan), which regularly host concerts, food festivals, art exhibitions, performances, and fun happenings like a wine run through the city.

📍 Our expert guide to the best things to in Slakthusområdet

It could be thundering down with rain in Delhi and you’d still find folks trudging up this wire-strung slope, chasing an excellent meal or a fun side quest, all walkable from each other. Freshly sold-off farmland in the 1960s, Humayunpur filled with workers and students from Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and beyond over the next forty years. Today, it just so happens that one of Delhi’s strongest regional communities is behind its hippest place to shop and eat. Fifty-odd kitchens serve North India’s best Naga thalis, Korean ramen, seafood boils and Tibetan momos, sharing space with skincare counters, sick streetwear racks, karaoke spots, tattoo parlours and photo booths – plus grocery stores stocked with choice Asian ingredients and the city’s best Northeastern alcohol.

The perfect day: Start with a sweet treat and boba for breakfast at Habitat. Browse skincare and BT21 stationery at KOJA before a smoky Naga or Manipuri thali brunch at Rude Chef. Tipsy off rice wine, it’s time for more shopping – hit up Kathy’s Kawaii Store and dig through the thrift rack opposite Yo Tibet, then head inside to slurp thukpa and laphing. Walk around aimlessly; cool stuff will practically throw itself at you, from streetside photobooths to tucked-away izakayas, perfect for a pre-dinner drink. Grab kimbap at Teyy's, then bibimbap and soju at Kori's, where you can finish off with a private karaoke sesh. You might even spot a community-led exhibition right outside.

Plan your trip: October to March is the sweet spot for Delhi’s weather, and it’s best to reach Humayunpur before 3-4pm, just before the lanes fill up. Stick to a weekday if you’re a crowd-hater.

📍  Discover Delhi’s best bookstores

Laranjeiras has seen many phases: it began as a vast orange grove (hence the name) flanking the Rio Carioca, later becoming an aristocratic refuge (which explains the grand mansions and beautiful Parque Guinle), then a textile industrial hub. Now, it stands as one of the city’s most charming and cultural neighbourhoods. You can stroll from one end of Rua das Laranjeiras to the other in under an hour, but there are so many delightful spots along the way that truly getting to know the area requires much more time. The neighbourhood boasts various traditional bars (like Cardosão and Tasca do Edgar), tree-lined streets with lovely residential buildings, and the lively Saturday market on Rua General Glicério, featuring live choro music and delicious snacks. In the past couple of years, Laranjeiras has welcomed several new spots: the Cine Carioca José Wilker reopened after a 16-year hiatus; Mercadinho São José was revitalised; a new bookstore opened and fantastic restaurants like Nizza Rotisseria, Pressa Cozinha, and Esperança.Eco have popped up. At night, you can enjoy a samba circle at Mirante do Pedrão, which offers stunning views of the city.

The perfect day: If you’re here on a Saturday, kick off at the General Glicério market, indulging in oysters, pastries, or tapiocas while picking up flowers and sipping coconut water and sugarcane juice (or a glass of wine, if that’s how you like to start your day). From there, browse the shelves at Janela Livraria and swing by Maya Café for some chocolate cake. For lunch, savour Mediterranean dishes at Nizza Rotisseria (the roasted chicken is a must-try). You could then catch a movie at Cine Carioca José Wilker, or lay out a blanket in the gardens of Parque Guinle and watch the sunset. As the day winds down, stop by the recently revitalised food and culture hub Mercado São José, and then head to Praça São Salvador or back to Mirante do Pedrão for some samba vibes.

Plan your trip: During Carnival, Laranjeiras hosts various street blocks for kids and adults alike, transforming the neighborhood into a vibrant celebration. It's also worth noting that Laranjeiras is conveniently close to the train station for visiting the iconic Christ the Redeemer, a must-see for first-time visitors.

📍  Read our guide to the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro 

If you’ve heard about a cool new spot in Chicago recently, there’s a good chance that it’s in West Town. This West Side enclave, shaped by German, Polish, Ukrainian and Russian immigrants, is home to some of Chicago’s most exciting culinary, art and cultural scenes. The official boundaries vary depending on who you ask –  it generally spans from the Chicago River to Kedzie Street, and between Division and Hubbard Streets. It’s home to several distinct communities, including Ukrainian Village, Noble Square and East Village. And one thing is certain: Chicago Avenue is its beating heart. Joining long-standing institutions, a slew of recent openings have contributed to making West Town Chicago’s coolest neighbourhood right now: our favourites are Bar Bambi, Katie Renshaw’s whimsical new cocktail destination, and Pizz’amici, one of the city’s best restaurant debuts in years.

The perfect day: A dream day in West Town begins with a visit to Center of Order and Experimentation (which is definitely not a cult!) to shop high-end oddities and grab a craveworthy latte, courtesy of Monday Coffee Co. Stroll down to Publican Quality Bread for whatever’s on deck that day, then spend hours shopping along Chicago Avenue. Cap the night with a fanciful cocktail under Bar Bambi’s neon lights before dinner at one of the neighbourhood’s two Michelin-starred restaurants, Feld and Kasama. 

Plan your trip: Visit in the summer for Third Thursdays on Grand, a sip-and-shop event featuring open houses, art walks, and food and drink. 

📍 Read up on Chicago’s most iconic attractions

Few Budapest squares have reinvented themselves as often as Rákóczi tér. Once a calf market, then one of Budapest’s greenest squares, later a notorious nightlife spot, today it’s one of the city’s most interesting neighbourhoods in transition. On the Grand Boulevard between Blaha Lujza tér and Harminckettesek tere, its bare-brick market hall is surrounded by historic apartment buildings, café terraces and quiet side streets. The traditional market and budget eats sit alongside old favourites like Csiga, while newcomers such as Matteo's and MOTO keep the dining scene moving. Meanwhile, a creative spirit, multicultural community and people-first street redesigns are reshaping the area. Déri Miksa utca and Bacsó Béla utca now have greener, pedestrian-friendly stretches redesigned with input from local residents – a glimpse of where this formerly rough-around-the-edges neighbourhood is heading.

The perfect day: Wake up at Silver Rooms, then head to VAJ for a freshly baked croissant and speciality coffee. Browse the market hall, open since 1897, before eating your way around the neighbourhood's international kitchens: queue for ramen at Nem Ramen, try family-recipe gimbap at Gim-Tteok or discover Nigerian home cooking at Oliviks Kitchen. Go vintage shopping at Hatsuka Vintage, then cool off with a seasonal scoop from Főfagyi. Finish with inventive plant-based cooking at Szabad Új Hely, grab a drink and a few records at Vatoz, then end the night at nearby Hintaló Iszoda.

Plan your trip: Józsefváros, the wider suburb around Rákóczi tér, celebrates its 250th birthday in 2027, with anniversary events planned across the district. Keep an eye on its official channels for updates. Plus, Time Out Market Budapest is a short stroll away – check out what’s on for your visit.  

📍 Discover Budapest’s best things to do

In a city where everything is planned to a T, Jalan Besar has a distinct organic charm. Stretching all the way from Rochor Canal Road to Lavender Street, this is a sprawling, multi-layered district where an under-the-radar creative scene has grown alongside remnants of its industrial past; where 1950s hardware merchants, auto parts garages, and woodworking shops sit side by side with new design studios and a growing lifestyle scene. Across the district, you’ll find vintage fashion stores (Loop Garms), third-wave coffee pioneers (Chye Seng Huat Hardware, birthplace of Darker than Wax's daytime brew parties), and trendy cafés that double as creative hubs (Average Service). As night falls, its underrated dining scene comes to life, with everything from old-school zi char spots and dim sum supper haunts to 23-tap craft beer bars and cheese restaurants. 

The perfect day: Start the morning at La Levain for pastries, then walk to Chye Seng Huat Hardware or Space 23 for coffee. Spend the early afternoon along Petain Road, where the ornate Peranakan terraces are among Singapore’s most photographed (but also pleasantly uncrowded). Then, dig for edgy Japanese apparel or vintage pop culture threads at Stakeout and Loop Garms. Come evening, pull up a chair at Ming Chung Restaurant for home-style Henghua cuisine, or Habibi-san for bold Japanese-Middle Eastern grills. Close the night at Second Thoughts or back at Druggists for craft beers and a neighbourly vibe – either way, you’ll be there for longer than planned.

Plan your trip: Jalan Besar does its own thing, so there isn’t a particular season to visit. If you’re here for coffee and pastries, weekday mornings are the quietest. For the best vibe, hit Tyrwhitt Road on Friday and Saturday evenings. 

📍 Check out the top things to do in Jalan Besar

Locals like to call Crooswijk ‘the real Rotterdam’. The traditionally blue-collar neighbourhood is a picturesque, 20-minute walk from the city centre, yet worlds away from its provocative modernist architecture. Crooswijk is located on the banks of the Rotte, the river that gave the city its name and was the backbone of the industry that defined the neighbourhood. Notably, it’s the site of the original Heineken Brewery, an art deco gem. Post-industry, the neighbourhood sort of fell through the cracks. Today, the old factories and slaughterhouses have been replaced by housing, and creatives and new restaurants are joining the long-time family-run bars and Surinamese barbeque spots that make up this leafy, gritty and charming melting pot of a neighborhood. 

The perfect day: Wake up to the intoxicating scent of fresh ground coffee beans at Man Met bril Koffie Hotel, a huge space comprising a cafe, roastery and 20 Nordic chic hotel rooms. Join an on-site yoga class, then treat yourself to a French or Italian pastry at stellar La Baguetteria before strolling the beautiful old Crosswijk cemetery. Browse vintage and makers’ shops on and around Rusthoflaan, before lunching at Faya for the best Surinamese barbeque in town. Late afternoon, stop for a beer at the cosy, century-old Cafe Eden along Crooswijksestraat, before paying homage to the original Heineken building. Early evenings, the neighbourhood is at its loveliest: join the  Crooswijk crowd for a glass of wine and a plate of oysters at Bar Dertien, where overflow crowds are sometimes served on the steps of the riverbank, picnic-style. Then meander along the river to Bar Alaska for fish soup with bread, a dish inspired by Crosswijk. This delightful resto-bar also has great cocktails and live music to end the evening with – anything from early ’80s to contemporary Cape Verdean.

Plan your trip: If you can plan your stay in late spring/early summer, you’ll see the neighbourhood at its liveliest and most leafy, with forest walks, sunny terraces and kids playing football in the parks. It’s also the time of year when Rotterdam hosts Rooftop Days, an annual festival that celebrates the city’s fourth spaces. And a caveat: quite a few businesses in Crooswijk are closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Somewhere between Chacarita and Colegiales, a new name has emerged: Chacagiales. City maps draw a boundary, but the streets tell a different story. Once shaped by workshops, warehouses and traditional homes, the area has evolved into one of Buenos Aires’ most vibrant creative hubs. Among leafy streets and green spaces, independent cafés, neighbourhood restaurants, wine bars and cultural venues attract long-time residents, young creatives and curious visitors. Over the past year, a wave of new openings has cemented Chacagiales’ reputation as one of the city’s exciting destinations for food, culture and slow-paced living.

The perfect day: Start the morning with a coffee at Hobby before browsing vintage finds at Mercado de las Pulgas. Take a break in Plaza Mafalda or at Parque Ferroviario Colegiales, then settle in for a leisurely lunch on Kanka’s terrace. Spend the afternoon browsing independent shops and creative spaces, such as the multi-use art and cultural complex C Art Media, the health food store and neighbourhood market Granada Almacén Orgánico, and Mixtos, a genderless footwear and accessories brand. End with dinner and drinks at Bochinche, Smak Bistró or Abreboca. 

Plan your trip: Visit on a weekend to experience Chacagiales at its liveliest, with bustling cafés, wine bars and restaurants. In spring and summer, linger on leafy terraces.

📍 Check out our guide to the best Buenos Aires museums

In a city where neighbourhoods rise and fall with the latest opening, Bandra West somehow keeps finding new ways to surprise. Restored bungalows morph into coffee houses, listening bars and design-forward restaurants, while a steady stream of independent brands continue to choose Bandra for their first Mumbai address. One evening might lead from a pottery workshop to vinyl listening sessions, another from a neighbourhood run club to Soul Fry’s gloriously off-key karaoke. Long queues still gather outside Veronica’s, newcomers like Mary Lodge by Subko and Ammakai continue to draw curious crowds, and Breve’s Basque cheesecake has become the latest excuse for people to cross the city. Through it all, Bandra remains effortlessly social and community-minded: creatives working from cafés, dogs pulling their owners towards Carter Road, sleepy cats stretched across compound walls, and streets that reward aimless strolls as much as they do carefully made plans.

The perfect day: Ease into the morning with coffee at Mary Lodge by Subko, then wander Bandra’s leafy lanes, dipping into design stores like Damian and Freedom Tree, bookstores like Fictionary, and checking out Chapel Road’s ever-changing street art on the way. Stop by Kori Café or Ammakai for lunch, linger over drinks at Bandra Born, and end the evening singing your heart out at Soul Fry or catching a live set at Bonobo.

Plan your trip: Visit in September for the annual Mount Mary Fair, when Bandra’s streets fill with food stalls, music, community celebrations and one of Mumbai’s most beloved neighbourhood festivals.

📍 Read our full guide to the best things to do in Bandra West

Yes, you’re in the thick of it, but that’s Belfast’s charm: a chaotically constructed layer cake of culture and good craic. Plenty of characters, too: be prepared to get sidetracked with locals who love a yap. Cobbled lanes and old warehouses house galleries, gig spaces, restaurants, yoga studios and enduring cultural institutions. Once home to Victorian merchants and traders, Hill Street now delivers excellent coffee, cinnamon buns, and Cashel Blue cheese. This city famously has more ‘quarters’ than arithmetic allows, but Cathedral Quarter is Belfast compressed: irreverent and fiercely local, yet always evolving. Look beyond Commercial Court’s Instagram-famous neon umbrellas for backrooms, side streets, and well-timed lock-ins where the neighbourhood’s real character unfolds.

The perfect day: Start with hot yoga at the sun-drenched Studio 52, then grab a pistachio snoother at Bakari or try the famous Piccolo Split at Neighbourhood (whatever you order, add the chorizo-dusted hash browns). Browse linens at Kindred of Ireland, secondhand books at Keats & Chapman and contemporary art at Golden Thread. Follow the waft of Young Buck Blue to the outskirts at Mike’s Fancy Cheese, and take a cooking class above Waterman, or settle in for its stellar set menu (and if the squid bolognese is on, dive in). Catch local music and comedy at The Black Box, try the rum cocktails at the Spaniard, then rave at Ulster Sports Club.

Plan your trip: Following a record-breaking first year in Belfast, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the world’s biggest celebration of Irish music and culture, will return to the capital once again from August 1 to August 8, 2027. The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival also runs annually.

📍 Discover the best restaurants in Belfast right now

Right in the heart of São Paulo’s historic centre, República is packed with legendary skyscrapers and centuries-old buildings repurposed for today’s cool crowd. Let’s start with the iconic Copan building, a massive residential complex housing several dining options on its ground floor, including Bar da Dona Onça by chef Janaína Torres and Cuia by Bel Coelho, along with bookstores, shops, cafés, and galleries like Pivô. There’s plenty more food where that came from, from the acclaimed restaurant A Casa do Porco to Edifício Itália, which features a rooftop dining area with stunning views of the city. The art scene is thriving too, with must-visit cultural institutions like the recently opened Espaço República, an artistic hub with studios and exhibition spaces, drawing curious visitors. More cultural highlights include Theatro Municipal, Biblioteca Mário de Andrade, and Edifício Louvre, designed by Artacho Jurado, home to the Verve gallery. Then there’s the nightlife – don’t miss Bar dos Arcos, Cordial, Lágrima, Infini, and the lively Tokyo karaoke for a fun night out. 

The perfect day: Start with a cultural tour, visiting the galleries and exhibitions at Espaço República, Pivô, and Verve. Get lunch at Copan, either at Bar da Dona Onça (with a caipirinha) or Cuia (don’t forget to check out the Megafauna bookstore). For something more gourmet, visit Casa do Porco to sample Jefferson Rueda’s famous dishes. Afterward, treat yourself to ice cream at Sorveteria do Centro. Take a leisurely stroll to admire the neighbourhood’s mid-century buildings and spend the afternoon at Biblioteca Mário de Andrade, one of Brazil's largest libraries. As night falls, dive into the bar scene. Pick one or two spots, and if you’re up for it, there’s always a karaoke nearby.

Plan your trip: The Viradão Cultural, which features various stages throughout downtown São Paulo for 24 hours, traditionally takes place in May. It’s a fantastic opportunity to experience the city’s artistic pulse through concerts, theatre performances and dance.

📍 Discover the best things to do in São Paulo

It’s about time visitors stop parking themselves by the Bund. Trust us, choose Changning instead – this leafy district is where academia, art and local life unfold. Long before cafés colonised its plane-tree-lined streets, Changning was Shanghai’s western fringe, where wealthy Chinese and foreign residents partied, parlayed and pontificated in their garden villas and country clubs. Today, such spaces have found a second life: as boutiques, F&B hubs, mini museums, and more. Historic university campuses across Changning mean the district has cheap and cheerful eats aplenty, and green lungs like Zhongshan Park provide ample breathing room.

The perfect day: Newly hot Park Dimanche is where we’d choose to while away an entire day: this cute indie hub is made up of creative studios, restaurants and lifestyle stores. Start at Kainos or Polly for cake and coffee, register for a reformer Pilates workshop with Pilactive, then browse the shelves at Little Forrest Bookstore. Spend the late afternoon learning to tango with Tango Cool, and stop at Den-Q for Taiwanese fare. Carry the evening on at new nightlife destination C-Park: come weekends, you can dip in and out of different spaces and sample diverse music styles, from psytrance and punk rock to Hokkien hardcore and deep house.

Plan your trip: The city’s first No Phones Club just so happens to hang out at Kainos in Changning. Check out their Instagram to find the next low-tech gathering.

Oost’s creative streak isn’t new. In the late 1980s and ’90s, as industry retreated from the city’s eastern fringes, artists and other creative types moved into empty warehouses and industrial spaces, bringing a bohemian edge to what had long been a working part of town. Over the last few years, that legacy has been renewed, and now Oost feels like one of the city’s most complete neighbourhoods: multicultural, green, and creative, full of pretty late-nineteenth-century streets and busy markets, independent cafés and some of Amsterdam’s best places to eat and drink. The vibe is relaxed and distinctly local, with young families, students and creatives sharing terraces and parks, while the neighbourhood’s mix of cultures plays out most obviously in the shops, kitchens, and market stalls of Javastraat and Dappermarkt. And Oost is still evolving. In Cruquius, another former industrial corner, the city is investing €15.2 million in a new cultural and community hub at the Drenthhal – proof that the creative reinvention that began decades ago isn’t finished yet.

The perfect day: Start with a hearty brunch at The Cottage before wandering through Oosterpark – picking up extra caffeine at Coffee Bru – and into the Wereldmuseum. For lunch, explore the neighbourhood’s distinctive flavours at Tigris & Eufraat, Selam Afrika or Nour, then browse Dappermarkt and Javastraat’s independent boutiques. All that exploring is thirsty work, so head to the famous windmill brewery Brouwerij ’t IJ for craft beer or, if the weather’s nice, the pretty terrace at Nieuwe Diep Distillery in Flevopark. For dinner, try contemporary Dutch fare at Wilde Zwijnen or Buurtcafé de Tros, or upmarket farm-to-table at De Kas. Catch a gig at Q-Factory or a film at Studio/K, then finish with a nightcap at Oost institution Bar Bukowski or the gloriously singular boozer Ruk & Pluk.

Plan your visit: Come in late August, when the annual Indische Buurt Festival brings music, food, art and a proper neighbourhood feel to Javastraat. Failing that, early autumn is a sweet spot: the summer crowds have thinned, but it’s still warm enough for Oosterpark and Flevopark, café terraces, and long, aimless walks around the neighbourhood.

📍 Read our full Amsterdam neighbourhood guide

Say it with me: FiDi is cool now. What was once the centre of NYC’s business world has now become its new ‘it’ neighbourhood. The Financial District got a fashionable stamp of approval with the new WSA building and is now home to several genuinely great places to eat, from Michelin-starred spots to two of our favourite rooftop restaurants. The area is also authentically tied to the city’s history in a way few others can boast. Carved out along the eastern edge is the revitalized historic Seaport with Pier 17 concerts, small boutiques, one of the city’s best bookstores and the new Balloon Museum. FiDi’s lower blocks maintain old-world charm with cobblestone streets, Delmonico’s and the legendary Fraunces Tavern. The media industry’s move to the area, paired with the influx of fashion and arts folks, has made for a neighbourhood renaissance that’s only picking up steam. In short: good luck trying to get into Casa Cipriani anytime soon.

The perfect day: Wake up at The Wall Street Hotel and grab an egg sandwich (NYC’s best breakfast) from Eric’s Food Cart. Eat it by the East River, then walk through the Seaport, popping into Café Patoro for coffee and delicious Brazilian cheese bread before getting lost in the books at McNally Jackson. Explore Fulton Stall Market, check out any public art events at WSA, and set aside time for shopping at Printemps. Stop at New York Wine Exchange for happy hour supplies, then enter Battery Park by the SeaGlass Carousel and iconic Staten Island Ferry. Walk the winding paths through Robert F Wagner Jr Park (don’t miss those weeping willow trees), South Cove and up along Battery Park City Esplanade. Once the sun sets behind Lady Liberty, you’ll go to dinner at Crown Shy or Maison Passerelle for something upscale, or somewhere along Stone Street for pub-like fare. End the night – or keep it going ’til morning – with drinks and dancing at Ulysses’. The next morning is for a bagel from Leo’s.

Plan your trip: In spring, summer and fall, food festivals and public art displays are constantly on rotation. However, there’s nothing like Christmas in New York, and FiDi shows out with holiday lights – just beware of the crosswinds in the dead of winter.

📍Check out our mega-list of the best things to do in New York

Perched right on the Brisbane River, and seamlessly linked to the city by walking and cycling paths, New Farm has it all. While the suburb's creative crown jewel is the Brisbane Powerhouse – an avant-garde riverside arts centre hosting 1,250+ performances each year – there are also indie galleries and boutique stores to explore. To stay hydrated (and caffeinated), hit 24/7-café Death Before Decaf or sip sky-high cocktails at the new Ruma Rooftop. When you’re not drinking in the views, explore the bustling weekend Jan Powers Farmers Market, catch a one-off show at the Powerhouse or join the Saturday 5km parkrun. Want to hang around? We don’t blame you. Check into boutique stays like Miss Midgleys or Spicers Balfour.

The perfect day: Catch the ferry from the city and head straight to Idle for a morning pastry and a matcha. Then wander through leafy New Farm Park or stroll along the suspended over-water Riverwalk, before exploring the latest exhibition at Brisbane Powerhouse. Grab post-show drinks at Bar Alto, then cap off the night with dinner at local faves 075 Pinsa Romana or À la Bonne Franquette.

Plan your trip: August is the best time for foodies, when the Powerhouse hosts Night Feast – a massive after-dark food festival featuring Brisbane’s best street eats, alongside immersive art and live music. Meanwhile, October and November are prime time for Melt Festival – the city’s ultimate queer arts and culture celebration. 

📍 Discover the best things to do in Brisbane

For centuries, this corner of Paris was the domain of cabinetmakers and carpenters. While the workshops have long since fallen silent, the village-like atmosphere of artisans and immigrant communities still thrives around Ledru-Rollin metro station. Aligre has pulled off the rare feat of combining a genuine neighbourhood feel for families – with a daily covered market (running since 1779!) and a leafy square – with a lively evening scene, where bars draw a mix of generations, and restaurants range from outstanding sandwiches at Johny Dwich to one of the city's finest dining spots, Passerini. Come for the famous flea market, perfect for picking up unique souvenirs, and stay to discover one of Paris's most characterful districts.

The perfect day: Start the morning browsing the market before stopping at Baron Rouge for oysters and a glass of white wine – a favourite haunt of the local bohemian crowd. Now you’ve lined the stomach, treat yourself to what many consider the best pasta in Paris at Passerini. Admire the street art along Rue de la Main-d'Or before sipping cocktails at Calbar, the perfect warm-up before dancing the night away at the newly opened Cartilage.

Plan your trip: Visit in the warmer months to make the most of the neighbourhood’s buzzing café terraces – just remember that Beauvau Market is closed on Mondays.

📍 Find the best things to do in Paris right now

Kalk Bay is a salty strip of the Mother City that feels timeless. Wedged between the Kalk Bay mountains primed for hiking and the False Bay waves ready for surfing, fishermen still land their catch at the century-old harbour as resident seals patrol the quay for scraps. Its Victorian shopfronts shelter family-run cafés, art galleries, vintage thrift stores and bookshops. Bohemian drinking spots and a thriving performing arts scene keep it wonderfully eclectic, as redeveloped coastal walkways make this neighbourhood unmistakably Capetonian and entirely of the moment.   

The perfect day: Wake up at the delightful Chartfield Guesthouse. A 10-min stroll takes you down to Dalebrook Tidal Pool for an early-morning dip. Pop into Olympia Café for a fresh coffee and artisan breads. Spend the morning browsing contemporary local art at Kalk Bay Modern, and thumb through collectable classics at Kalk Bay Books. Slip off into the lanes lined with cool co-op markets and thrift stores, before you enjoy a classic lunch of freshly-caught fish and chips alongside boats in the harbour at Kalky’s. Catch sunset cocktails and live music at Cape to Cuba's Hemingway Bar or the Brass Bell, before ending off the evening with a show at the Kalk Bay Theatre.  

Plan your trip: Our southern hemisphere spring and summer are peak times to visit Cape Town. For Kalk Bay, visit between September and October, when southern right whales arrive in False Bay to mate, calve and nurse their young.     

📍 Read Time Out Cape Town’s guide to Kalk Bay

Hobart is having a major moment right now, having been named one of the world’s top ten trending destinations for 2026. Much of that buzz is centred on North Hobart (aka NoHo). Located just a ten-minute walk from the CBD, it strikes the perfect balance between a charming Tasmanian village and a bustling inner-city hub. The main Elizabeth Street strip packs in everything from hole-in-the-wall cafés like Wide Awake Specialty Coffee to iconic indie venues like the State Cinema, and buzzy late-night haunts that stay open until 2am daily like Bar Wa Izakaya (voted Tassie’s favourite bar for 2026). Add in a contemporary art gallery, dog-friendly parks and boutique stays like Collected/Places, and you've got Hobart's hippest ’hood. 

The perfect day: Kick off your morning on Elizabeth Street with a hot coffee and octopus scrambled eggs at Born in Brunswick. Next, hunt for pre-loved treasures at Retro Vinnies before getting lost in the shelves at the State Bookstore. For lunch, settle in for an intimate, wine-fuelled meal at Ogee or enjoy upscale Mexican beneath the stained-glass glow at Pancho Villa. Spend a lazy afternoon catching an indie film at the historic rooftop State Cinema, then finish with burgers and craft beers at The Winston (Tasmania’s favourite pub).

Plan your trip: Visit in late December as crowds spill into North Hobart from the Taste of Summer festival or the famous Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Celebrate late into the night in the beer gardens at The Winston, Room for a Pony or Deep South Brewing Co.

📍 Discover the best things to do in Hobart

Yes, Newington Green’s winsome appeal isn’t new. It’s been ‘very nice’ there for a while now. What is inarguable though, is that the area has achieved a kind of critical mass of niceness. This leafy, lengy northeastern enclave contains enough charismatic cafes, decent pubs, independent food shops and critically acclaimed restaurants to make it the best place to eat and drink in the capital right now. 

But there’s much more to this place than prettiness, pasta and pastries. This is a neighbourhood with centuries of history and tons of community spirit. The Newington Green Meeting House, which sits like an austere sentinel at the top of the Green, is one of London’s most important sites for progressive political and social causes. More recently, but still before the Jolene crowd was even born, the area was a focal point for London’s Turkish and Cypriot immigrant population, something still tangible on Green Lanes.

These days it’s brimming with brilliance. From newly forged, hipstery gastropub Golden Tooth and small-herd butcher-cum-nightclub Stella’s to legendary Turkish seafood joint Sariyer Balik and the old Mildmay Club, Newington Green successfully combines both new and old London. It’s hard to imagine a more dyed-in-the-wool boozer than the Army & Navy pub, or a more cutting-edge wine bar than Cadet. The fact it’s all contained within the same few streets is cool by my reckoning. And hey, if that’s not enough, Dalston is a 10-minute walk away.

The perfect day: It would be churlish not to recommend a coffee and a croissant from the meme-spawning Jolene. Then why not take a stroll across the green and admire the, uh, polarising statue of eighteenth-century proto-feminist Mary Wollstonecraft. If possible, grab a bit to eat in London’s coolest new pizzeria, Bar Etna, saving room for a massive Turkish feast at the legendary 01 Adana later. Shop for meaty merch and sink a glass of low-intervention natural wine at Stella’s. Then it’s off to the Mildmay Club for a (relatively) cheap pint and, if you time it right, a 16mm film night.

Plan your visit: All sorts of mini festivals are hosted on the Green throughout the year, and the Mildmay Club has fantastic events every week (although some are restricted to members only). Check their Instas and time your visit accordingly.

📍 Read our full London neighbourhood guide

Immortalised in Zhao Lei’s hit song ‘Chengdu’, Yulin first became a magnet for artists, musicians and young creatives in the ’80s and ’90s, a time that saw the genesis of the city’s indie music scene. That independent streak remains – behind Yulin’s ageing apartment blocks, you’ll find tiny bars, vintage stores, hole-in-the-wall restaurants and achingly cool cafés, while street-food vendors and neighbourhood markets keep things reassuringly local. 

The perfect day: Start at Yulin Market, where you can watch locals playing cards and mahjong before snacking on street food like sticky rice, corn cakes or fried potatoes dusted with Sichuan’s signature mala seasoning. Then make your way down to Fanghua Street to café-hop while browsing the wares of its many independent shops. For local eats, check out Yu Zi Bu Lao Dian, a neighbourhood restaurant that’s been around for 20 years. You’ll also want to stop by Tuibu Jijiu Shufang, a longstanding Yulin literary landmark hidden in an old alley that’s filled with second-hand books and vintage treasures. In the evening, settle in at Afflatus Lab, one of Chengdu's most creative drinking spots, where house-fermented plum wines are infused with ingredients like osmanthus flowers.

Plan your trip: Visit in autumn, when cooler weather brings Yulin outdoors and tiny folding camping chairs spill from cafés and bars onto the streets. 

While the Granville Entertainment District was the main draw when the 2026 FIFA World Cup was in town, locals know that Mount Pleasant is the place to be for the best vibes in Vancouver. It’s beautiful, with colourful murals decorating buildings on practically every corner. And it’s pedestrian-friendly, with minimal car traffic and several popular cycle routes (a great place to take advantage of Vancouver’s bike and scooter share services). The City of Vancouver has been busy creating more community spaces, too, like the new public plaza on Main and 14th – handily in the vicinity of some of the best coffee shops in the neighbourhood. Want a drink? The area’s brewery scene has a 140-year history, with the first opening here in the 1880s; today, the beer crowd heads to Mount Pleasant for award-winning breweries like R&B Brewing. If you’re a music fan, you’ll want to pop in to Neptoon Records, Vancouver’s oldest independent record store, while second-hand shoppers will find some of the best thrift stores in the city, like Thrift World. 

The perfect day: It’s no easy choice to pick from the area’s numerous incredible cafes, but you can’t go wrong at Modus Coffee Roasters. Grab lunch and browse the garms at Mount Pleasant Vintage, then take a ten-minute stroll to Mintage, one of the most popular vintage shops in the city. Blow off some steam with a session at Lykopis Archery, which happens to be right next to Brassneck Brewery for a post-archery beer. Finish off with dinner at Budgies Burritos, an all-vegetarian neighbourhood staple.

Plan your trip: September’s Main Street Car Free Day clears the street of traffic to make way for food vendors, artists and performers. You can also book a Mount Pleasant street art and food tour, which has dates available most of the year. 

📍 Explore the best things to do in Vancouver

Possibly only in Latin America can a country’s most happening neighbourhood be its capital’s very city center. Lima’s Centro Histórico is a prime example: long considered an overcrowded draw for tourists at day and dark and dangerous at night, the district has experienced a welcome buzz over the past months. Basement Art Lab (situated within Martín Yépez gallery) has taken Lima’s contemporary art scene to a new level; Terraza Lima Club’s rooftop offers fantastic views of the Plaza de Armas; and Alanya, one of the city’s finest pastry shops, opened a ‘mini’ version this year inside the eighteenth-century casona that also houses the Bodega y Quadra Museum.

The perfect day: Start at the MALI to dive into Peru’s rich cultural history, then check the Inca Garcilaso Cultural Center for a more contemporary approach. Lunch at one of the many menús surrounding the Plaza de Armas (Manantial is the best vegetarian option), but save some space for an additional dessert at new dulcería La Tapada. As the sun sets, enjoy watching the many groups practicing traditional dances at Avenida Paseo de la República, and finally crash at the (basic but convenient) Sheraton right next to it.

Plan your trip: Catholic or not, the main processions of the Señor de los Milagros, the Lord of Miracles, during the mes morado (the ‘purple month’ of October) deliver all-out drama and gorgeous live music.

Exciting, eclectic Boavista is where futuristic buildings that have had a major cultural impact on the city stand side-by-side with traditional shops that have managed to withstand the passing of time. It stretches mainly along Avenida da Boavista, the city’s longest avenue, measuring around 5.5 kilometres and connecting Rotunda da Boavista – where you can admire the iconic Casa da Música building, considered to be one of the most important concert halls of this century – to Praça de Gonçalves Zarco, also known as Castelo do Queijo, right by the sea. Explore it on a good long walk and you’ll come across many other points of interest, such as the Serralves Foundation (an absolute must) and Parque da Cidade.

The perfect day: Treat yourself to a colourful brunch at Negra Café, then take a stroll around Mercado do Bom Sucesso. Here, check out pop-up food concepts alongside a small fresh-produce market that preserves the market’s original purpose since it opened in the 1950s. For lunch, get yourself an excellent hot dog at The Dog, an unmissable snack in the city. Walk it off with a stroll through Agramonte Cemetery, part of the European Cemeteries Route for its rich funerary architecture and the final resting place of some of the great figures of Portuguese history and culture. Afterwards, listen to vinyl and grab a beer at Radioclube Agramonte, one of the city’s coolest spots. Have dinner at Ezo, one of the best Georgian restaurants in town, and spend a restful night at the boutique Palacete Severo, whose restaurant, Éon, was awarded a Michelin star this year.

Plan your trip: São João, Portugal’s biggest and liveliest street party, is best experienced around June 24, when the celebrations are in full swing here with concerts and entertainment throughout the night. Alternatively, Casa da Música’s programme runs year-round, so pick a concert and plan your visit accordingly.

📍 Read up on the best things to do in Porto

Wan Chai is a bustling part of Hong Kong where white-collar workers rush about their day, followed by scores of nighttime revelers crawling their way through the bar sector come nightfall. But there’s a spot of serenity amongst this urban chaos. Enter the Starstreet Precinct, tucked away slightly uphill, comprising the small stretch of alleys between St Francis Street and Monmouth Path. This is a side of Hong Kong for people who prefer a chill vibe, more slow living than metropolitan hustle. From cosy cafés like Basao and Matchali to artisan Greek food at Artemis & Apollo or down-to-earth local fare at Tak Yu, this area is small but houses enough for a chic day out in an urban oasis. 

The perfect day: Start with a caffeine hit at Apt. Coffee or Basao before wandering around some indie shops – must-visits include the Hong Kong branch of Monocle, chic menswear at Salvo, effortlessly stylish clothing and home goods at Kapok, and the newly reopened Perfumer H. For lunch, opt for local cha chaan teng classics at Tak Yu. Now a spot of afternoon animal therapy at Hug & Home, a co-working space housing cats that are up for adoption. End the day with Greek food at Artemis & Apollo or tapas and sangria at Plaza Mayor before strolling down to see the ancient banyan tree at the end of Monmouth Path.

Plan your trip: The 852 is a social and fitness community that regularly hosts outings and events in Hong Kong, including social mixers at Oolaa Petite on Star Street. Keep an eye on their socials for more opportunities to meet new people in the city. 

📍 Read more about Starstreet Precinct

It may be one of the city’s oldest suburbs, but South Melbourne’s cool cred stands the test of time. It’s home to the legendary South Melbourne Market – this historic site (it opened in 1867!) is a gastronomic delight with 150+ traders. But the neighbourhood’s culinary tendrils extend far beyond its namesake market: there’s charming café Juniper; elegant Greek restaurant Aegli; swanky fine diner Lucia; and all-day Euro eatery Upper Middle. South Melbourne is fast becoming quite the wellness hub, too, with bathing and meditation sanctuary EQ alongside Else Bathhouse (with rooftop pools) and Soak both opening outposts in the area. But for the truest sense of South Melbourne’s spirit, a wander along the main thoroughfares of Clarendon, Coventry and Cecil Streets – each lined with leafy trees, boutique shops and buzzy hospo venues – should do the trick.

The perfect day: Okay, so it’s technically located in the neighbouring suburb, but every good South Melburnian starts their day with a scenic stroll (or jog) around Albert Park Lake. For coffee and a refuel, it's gotta be The Kettle Black (one of the city’s OG ’grammable brunch spots) or Korean-Japanese café Moon Mart. Be sure to check out the Australian Tapestry Workshop (it regularly hosts exhibitions, talks and workshops) and shop secondhand designer pieces at SWOP. Finish the day off with a froff at Brewmanity or the recently refurbished O'Connell's Hotel.

Plan your trip: South Melbourne Market is open every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The famous dim sims should be on every foodie’s bucket list, but leave room for a pastry from Agathé Patisserie, cheesy dishes from UGO Burrata Bar and fresh oysters from Aptus Seafood.

📍 Read our South Melbourne area guide

Horses, bourbon, greenery, bluegrass and good eats all collide in Lexington, Kentucky, making for a seriously charming small town with big personality. This brilliant mix is at its best in the Distillery District, which was abandoned and left untouched for decades before local entrepreneurs came together to revitalise the neighbourhood in 2008. Today, the area is brimming with colourful street art, distilleries (of course), inviting storefronts housing adorable local shops and plenty of friendly people, all housed in a stretch of striking brick buildings strung with lights. Visitors come from far and wide to experience the horse capital of the world, which marked its 250th anniversary last year, and stay for everything else this town has to offer – this charming district included.

The perfect day: Wake up at The Manchester, a picture-perfect boutique hotel in the heart of the Distillery District. Enjoy brunch downstairs at Granddam, then stroll over to Brevede to grab a handcrafted coffee and a freshly baked pastry. Next, head to Barrel House Distillery for a tour and a taste of their high-quality Kentucky bourbon. For a deeper dive into the neighbourhood, book the Bites of the Bluegrass Tour, then cap off the day with sunset drinks at Lost Palm, The Manchester's rooftop bar. Not ready to call it quits? Check out The Burl, a restored train depot and live music venue, to see what shows they have on deck for the evening.

Plan your trip: October is the ideal time to experience Lexington’s horse culture, thanks to crisp fall weather and the arrival of some of the best horses and jockeys in the world for the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland. The iconic horse racing venue is just five miles from the Distillery District, so you can head back and enjoy a cold one after the races.