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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