Which three Australasian suburbs made the list of Coolest Neighbourhoods in the World?

Auckland, New Zealand - December 16, 2022: House decorated for Christmas in Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand
Edited by Travel Weekly


    Laureles in Medellín, Colombia, has been named the coolest neighbourhood in the world right now by Time Out, the global media and hospitality brand which inspires and enables people to experience the best of the city.

    Time Out’s sixth annual list of trending areas of global cities features the most exciting neighbourhoods in the world.

    Laureles: Medellín, Colombia

    Following hot on the heels of Laureles in Medellín, the top five include the home of traditional Irish music in Dublin, a hotspot for art galleries and cutting-edge creative spaces in Madrid, the city’s waterfront living room in Copenhagen and a stretch in Hong Kong where affordable dim sum sits alongside Michelin-starred dining.

    Laureles took the top spot this year for its authentic balance of laid-back vibes alongside some of the best nightlife in the city, while maintaining a traditional Colombian feel. As well as being home to the renowned nightlife strip La 70 and Estadio Atanasio Girardot, Medellín’s main fútbol stadium and concert venue, there is also calm to be found in its parks, tree-lined streets, yoga studios and countless coffee shops.

    Smithfield: Dublin, Ireland

    Each year Time Out asks its international audience to nominate the areas of cities which have the best mix of cutting-edge culture, affordable great food and drink, street life, nightlife and community.

    This year, Time Out asked more than 12,000 people about the coolest neighbourhoods in their city.

    The selection is then narrowed down with the insight and expertise of Time Out’s global network of city editors and local experts who know their hometowns better than anybody else.

    To create and rank the final list, Time Out editors considered factors including community and social ventures, access to open and green space, and thriving street life.

    Carabanchel: Madrid, Spain

    “What stands out with this year’s Time Out Coolest Neighbourhoods is that, while most of them have seen a transformation over recent years, they remain resolutely local-at-heart,” Grace Beard, Travel Editor at Time Out said.

    “Exciting new openings across culture, food and drink are bringing in new crowds, but neighbourhood stalwarts – from old pubs to family greengrocers – keep it real. And they’re fun!

    “These are places where the city comes to play, be it an all-night party, a spot of urban fishing or a nighttime bike ride. After a few tumultuous years, it’s heartening to see communities coming together to hang out, support local businesses and have some fun.”

    The coolest neighbourhoods in the world right now:

    1. Laureles: Medellín, Colombia
    2. Smithfield: Dublin, Ireland
    3. Carabanchel: Madrid, Spain
    4. Havnen – The Harbour: Copenhagen, Denmark
    5. Sheung Wan: Hong Kong
    6. Brunswick East: Melbourne, Australia
    7. Mid-City: New Orleans, USA
    8. Isola: Milan, Italy
    9. West: Amsterdam, Netherlands
    10. Tomigaya: Tokyo, Japan
    11. Baltic Triangle: Liverpool, UK
    12. Cours Julien: Marseille, France
    13. Arts District: Los Angeles, USA
    14. Chinatown: Singapore
    15. Fort Greene: New York, USA
    16. Leith: Edinburgh, UK
    17. Enmore: Sydney, Australia
    18. Costa Caparica, Almada: Lisbon, Portugal
    19. Hyde Park: Chicago, USA
    20. West End: Glasgow, UK
    21. Sea Point: Cape Town, South Africa
    22. Neukölln: Berlin, Germany
    23. Haut-Marais: Paris, France
    24. King’s Cross: London, UK
    25. Hannam-dong: Seoul, South Korea
    26. Coral Gables: Miami, USA
    27. Richmond District: San Francisco, USA
    28. Vinohrady: Prague, Czech Republic
    29. El Clot: Barcelona, Spain
    30. San Miguel Chapultepec: Mexico City, Mexico
    31. Exarcheia: Athens, Greece
    32. Bebek: Istanbul, Turkey
    33. Ponsonby: Auckland, New Zealand
    34. Zhongshan: Taipei, Taiwan
    35. Bonifacio Global City (BGC): Manila, Philippines
    36. Centre-Ville: Montreal, Canada
    37. Dotonbori: Osaka, Japan
    38. The Annex: Toronto, Canada
    39. Song Wat: Bangkok, Thailand
    40. Cantonments: Accra, Ghana

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