Top 10 Coolest Neighbourhoods In The World, As Per A Recent Ranking

Nowadays, global cities are not known solely by their most famous landmarks or tourist hotspots. Instead, wanderers increasingly seek the hidden veins of urban life: neighbourhoods pulsing with creativity, community, grit, and aspiration. Time Out's latest list of the "coolest neighbourhoods in the world" captures that impulse, offering a curated guide to the places where culture, everyday life and youthful energy collide. You live in their moods for a few hours, letting their local cafes, murals, underground bars or second-hand shops seep under your skin. They're not always polished; often, they're still in flux. It's precisely for that reason they feel electric.

How The List Was Compiled

The list of the 39 "Coolest Neighbourhoods in the World in 2025" was curated by insiders. The methodology is rooted in the network of Time Out writers and editors across dozens of cities, each nominating the "vibiest district" in their home town. These nominations were then judged across several criteria: culture, community, liveability, nightlife, food & drink, street life, and a sense of "nowness". In other words, a neighbourhood scores well not because it's already on every tourist map, but because it has momentum: independent shops thriving, locals creating new spaces, artists or musicians pushing boundaries, and a street-level life that feels more alive than polished.

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The Top 10 Coolest Neighbourhoods In The World For 2025, As Per TimeOut

1. Jimbocho, Tokyo

Jimbocho, Tokyo. Photo Credit: Unsplash

Jimbocho, once known as Tokyo's book district, remains a bibliophile's dream with around 130 second-hand bookstores. But it's also evolving: tucked between its quiet low-rise streets are new music venues, indie cafés, and curry houses that layer in youthful energy.

2. Borgerhout, Antwerp

Borgerhout, Antwerp

Often overlooked by tourists in favour of Antwerp's historic core, Borgerhout is beloved by locals for its multicultural mix and DIY spirit. Turkish and Moroccan shops mingle with artist-run galleries, community labs turning parking spots into mini-parks, and a long communal table event that annually bridges religious celebrations.

3. Barra Funda, Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo

Barra Funda is a striking example of urban transformation: old warehouses and industrial facades are being repurposed as art studios, galleries, cafes and nightlife venues. It's where Sao Paulo's subterranean creative scene pulses, bridging raw urban texture with refined new culture.

4. Camberwell, London

Camberwell, London

Camberwell perfectly encapsulates southeast London's creative spirit in a compact form. It combines community life, green pockets, and a booming food scene: Camberwell Church Street alone hosts Kurdish, Lebanese, gastropub, and Xinjiang offerings. Add in indie art venues and record shops, and you have a microcosm of London's evolving edges.

5. Avondale, Chicago

Avondale, Chicago

As Logan Square gentrified, Chicago's arts and locals uprooted to places like Avondale. The neighbourhood retains its red-brick industrial bones and a working-class grit, enriched now by wine bars, specialty markets, retro bowling alleys and music venues. It's a district in flux, a mix of old and new.

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6. Mullae-dong, Seoul

Mullae-dong, Seoul

Mullae-dong retains echoes of its heavy-industry past, such as steel workshops and factories. Now, those same structures host design studios, cafés, galleries and nightbars. The contrast between raw industrial architecture and contemporary creative use makes it one of Seoul's most atmospheric enclaves.

7. Menilmontant, Paris

Menilmontant, Paris

Menilmontant retains a bohemian spirit that resists Paris's usual glamour. It's built from cobbled streets, working-class history, street art, budget bars, activist bookstores, and a quietly thriving gastronomic side. You won't find grand museums here. But you'll feel Paris's heartbeat in its smaller, restless corners.

8. Nakatsu, Osaka

Nakatsu, Osaka

Nakatsu feels like a time capsule: narrow alleys, mom-and-pop shops, wooden houses and ancient shrines, all nestled close to Osaka's modern towers. Yet it's also a site of renewal. For instance, you can find boutiques, experimental restaurants under train tracks, fusion cafes and vibrant diversity.

9. Vallila, Helsinki

Vallila, Helsinki

Vallila was once a district for tram drivers and factory workers; now it's reinvented itself with bars, underground music scenes, pastel wood houses and charming alleyways. Compared to its noisier neighbour, Kallio, Vallila feels quietly intense, romantic, gritty and full of surprises.

10. Labone, Accra

Accra

Once a quiet residential pocket, Labone has transformed into Accra's creative magnet for expats, artists and local professionals. Galleries, wine bars, new restaurants, dance clubs and cultural institutions like Limbo have turned this mango-tree suburb into a buzzing micro-scene.

For travellers, these neighbourhoods offer the perfect chance to step off the main tourist track and experience a city's real rhythm. If you're planning a trip this year, consider swapping the postcard skyline for these street-level adventures!