Introducing The ‘Coolest Neighborhood in the World’

Colombians must be feeling pretty proud right now—one of their neighborhoods was named the “coolest neighborhood in the world” by Time Out magazine.

A recent survey asked 12,000 ‘city dwellers’ to name their favorite neighborhoods. The 40 coolest ones made it to the list, and Laureles topped it. Laureles is a college-centric neighborhood in the middle of Medellin, Colombia, and it is loved for the tranquility of its parks, coffee shops, and yoga studios, but also the nightlife.

Well done, Laureles. But who else made the top ten? Let’s have a look!

The Best of the Rest

Five of the remaining top ten are in Europe, with Smithfield in Dublin, Ireland, and Carabanchel in Madrid, Spain named second and third respectively. Smithfield is known for its historic pubs, new businesses, and summer celebrations of local and Irish traditions. Carabanchel, on the other hand, is known as a place where modern art collectives meet traditional tapas restaurants. If you visit, you’ll also meet creatives and locals who have lived there for decades.

The top 10 were Havnen in Copenhagen, Denmark; Sheung Wan in Hong Kong; Brunswick East in Melbourne, Australia; Mid-City in New Orleans; Isola in Milan, Italy; West in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Tomigaya in Tokyo, Japan. Is yours there?

What Makes a Neighborhood Stand Out?

If you carefully explore the list, you’ll notice that most of these neighborhoods have kept their local authenticity despite the transformations over recent years. We witness the opening of new cultural, food, and drink places, but the people always stay the same.

And—they’re super fun! It is heartwarming to see a community still gathering together and celebrating their neighborhood. After all, it’s all about having fun and supporting each other as one big family. We look forward to 2024’s update!