It’s one of the best parts of a vacation – that time when you experience the side of town that’s clearly more popular with locals than tourists.
Maybe it’s the off the beaten track cafe with the best coffee you’ve ever tasted, the underground bar that isn’t signposted on the street above, or the restaurant that serves mouth-watering local delicacies you wouldn’t expect. have never heard of.
And now three of those Australian destinations are on the annual list of Free timeThe 51 coolest neighborhoods in the world – although none of them made it into the top 10.
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Fitzroy in Melbourne was Australia’s first entry at 27, with the ‘busy thoroughfare’ of Gertrude Street ‘earning the accolade of the second coolest street in the world’ thanks to its retail stores, galleries, bars, pubs, restaurants and cafes.
Marrickville in Sydney follows closely at No 33 for its “good dose of creative colour”.
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And Fortitude Valley in Brisbane just made the list at No. 47 thanks to “lively James Street: a green, shady oasis in a city that bakes in summer, with trees lining the pavement and vines climbing over the shop walls. .
Topping the 2022 skyline is the bustling Colonia Americana, located in the city of Guadalajara in western Mexico.
The publication says Colonia Americana’s eclectic mix of historic art deco mansions and warehouse concert halls sealed the deal.
“Guadalajara is becoming a must visit – and Colonia Americana is the place to be right now,” said Free time travel editor James Manning in a statement.
“It’s home to a creative community that pushes boundaries, a growing number of amazing places to eat, and some of the best nightlife in the Western Hemisphere. And the street life can’t be beat.”
The list is the result of an in-depth survey in which thousands of people from all over the world were asked about their favorite places in their city.
Free time the editors have also contributed their local expertise to create the ultimate guide, highlighting 51 of the world’s coolest neighborhoods.
The top 20 are “simply, amazing places to be right now,” they say.
Eclectic neighborhoods
Hot on the heels of Colonia Americana is Lisbon’s Cais do Sodré riverside, which took second place on the list. Long famous for its vibrant nightlife, the Portuguese quarter is now making a name for itself as a foodie hotspot.
“This is the neighborhood where Lisbon’s most promising young chefs are opening new restaurants,” says Free timenaming Quiosque de São Paul and Tricky’s as the best places to eat and drink.
Third on the 2022 roundup is the village of Wat Bo, in Siem Reap, Cambodia. According Free time, the area surrounding the spectacular Wat Bo pagoda saw a “serious shine” last year. Boutique hotels Viroth’s and Treeline Urban Resort are listed as highlights, alongside Tevy’s Place restaurant, which serves delicious organic meals and also operates as a social enterprise empowering local women.
The highest rated US neighborhood ranked fourth – Ridgewood in New York. Free time says the balance of new bars and restaurants coming to this area of Queens, alongside institutions like Rudy’s Bakery – which opened in 1934 – earning it a spot on the 2022 list.
Meanwhile, Mile End in Montreal, Canada rounds out the top five, described as a “walkable nook” home to “some of the city’s best restaurants, independent bookstores, florists, butchers, bakers and candlestick makers”.
Dave Calhoun, Free time‘s Chief Content Officer North America and UK, said the aim of the annual list was to highlight areas that are not “homogenized corporate destinations”, but which “rather have an independent and welcoming vibe “.
“You might be able to cross them in half an hour or less, but they’re packed with enough experiences to spend days exploring,” he said.
Time Out’s 10 Coolest Neighborhoods
1. Colonia Americana – Guadalajara, Mexico
2. Cais do Sodré – Lisbon, Portugal
3. Wat Bo Village – Siem Reap, Cambodia
4. Ridgewood – New York, 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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