Time Out Names the 10 Coolest Neighborhoods in the World for 2026
In September 2026, Time Out released its annual list of the coolest neighborhoods for 2026, featuring 40 neighborhoods from six continents. The top ten neighborhoods are: Jongno 3-ga in Seoul, L'Ocean in Rabat, Neos Kosmos in Athens, Chinatown in Los Angeles, Govanhill in Glasgow, Kitakagaya in Osaka, Chapinero Alto in Bogotá, Koenji in Tokyo, Downtown St. Catharines in Ontario, and Esquilino in Rome. This ranking, created by Time Out's worldwide network, evaluated neighborhoods based on factors like food, drink, nightlife, and community engagement, emphasizing those that value community over tourism.
Key facts
- Time Out published its 40 coolest neighborhoods in the world for 2026 in September 2026, with the top 10 spanning four continents and eight countries.
- The ranking was selected by Time Out's global network of on-the-ground editors and city experts and assessed by a panel of Time Out editors on food, drink, nightlife, independent businesses, liveability, and community.
- Jongno 3-ga in Seoul topped the list, noted for pocha stalls on Donhwamun-ro 11-gil and independent craft workshops on Seosulla-gil.
- L'Ocean in Rabat includes the National Museum of Photography, housed in a historic fort, and the newly pedestrianized Rue Bruxelles.
- Neos Kosmos in Athens is anchored by the Onassis Stegi, which hosts the neighborhood's annual block party in early October.
- Koenji in Tokyo residents opposed a Starbucks opening, delaying it until 2025, and the neighborhood hosts the Koenji Awa Odori each August.
- Downtown St. Catharines in Ontario includes Michelin-recognized restaurant Fat Rabbit and Montebello Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.
- Esquilino in Rome centers on Piazza Vittorio, the Nuovo Mercato Esquilino, and Palazzo Merulana, and hosts the Esquilino Jazz Festival in summer.
Entities
Artists
- James Pere
- Txema Marín
- Felipe Restrepo Acosta
- Alex Knight
- Frederick Law Olmsted
- Harriet Tubman
- Kevin Parker
Institutions
- Time Out
- Onassis Stegi
- National Museum of Photography
- Museum of Photography
- Phoenix Bakery
- Philippe the Original
- LA State Historic Park
- Pacific Electric
- Mumford and Sons
- Glasgow Zine Library
- Category is Books
- Adrian's Bar
- MASK
- Creative Center Osaka
- Chidori Bunka
- Mmaison Galeria
- Palazzo Merulana
- Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Roma
- Nuovo Mercato Esquilino
- Four Seasons
- Starbucks
- Destination Ontario
- Greater Govanhill
- Greece Is
- Osaka-Info
- Turismo Roma
- Korea.net
- Unsplash
- Wikimedia Commons
- Quartz
- Amphibian
- El Chato
- Category Is Books
- Govanhill International Festival and Carnival
- Los Angeles State Historic Park
- Golden Dragon Parade
- Emancipation Day STC
- Montebello Park
- Esquilino Jazz Festival
- Hang Zhou
- Krishna 13
- Fassi
- Acquario Romano
- Horti Magici
- Chiosco Vittorio
- Forno Conti
- Salotto Caronte
- Trattoria da Danilo
- Mumford & Sons
- Mood Ring
- Firstborn
- Tondo
- Archives of Us
- Frank 'n' Frank's
- Far East Plaza
- East West Shop
- Now Serving
- Howlin' Ray's
- Amboy
- Endorffeine
- Yang Chow
- Jade Wok
- Lasita
- Evangeline Swamp Room
- Baby Bistro
- Boho Café
- AghaSpace
- Himmi
- Ocean 17
- Yamal Acham
- Dar Naji
- Vlachos
- Mountrichas
- Lostre Kuzina
- Mortis
- Phita
- Naif
- Lalos
- Chronokapsoula
- Bar Amore
- Teras
- Epta Martyres
- Incanto Boutique Suites
- Neos Kosmos Block $SQ Party
- Mil Toast
- Solsot
- Seoul Coffee
- Cafe SaSa
- Aiso
- Seoul Gypsy
- Moxy Seoul Insadong
- Burning House Books
- Jeju Baked Goods
- Fulton's
- Higan
- Cotogoto
- Shigekuniya 55 Bakery
- Walnuts
- Kisho Jinja
- Substore
- 20000V
- Metal Meshi
- Koenji Awa Odori
- Koenji Junjo Hotel
- Grape House Koenji
- Tensuke
- Kosugi-yu
- Beechwood Doughnuts
- Sugar + Butter Baking Co.
- Mindbomb Records
- Auds N Ends Boutique
- Fat Rabbit
- Super! Burger & Fries
- Merchant Ale House
- STC Farmers Market
- Performing Arts Centre
- Futaba Chaya
- J Ramen
- Tonchinkan
- Oku
- Club Daphnia
- Diosa Café
- Híbrido
- Mesa Franca
- Franc
- Atlas
- Atiko
- Metkalu
- La Salle University
Locations
- Seoul
- South Korea
- Jongno 3-ga
- Ikseon-dong
- Donhwamun-ro 11-gil
- Seosulla-gil
- Jongmyo Shrine
- Moxy Seoul Insadong
- Rabat
- Morocco
- L'Ocean
- Rue Bruxelles
- Rue Abidjan
- Rue Zanzibar
- Athens
- Greece
- Neos Kosmos
- Acropolis
- Athenian Riviera
- Koukaki
- Pangrati
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Chinatown
- Chinatown Central Plaza
- Far East Plaza
- Glasgow
- Scotland
- United Kingdom
- Govanhill
- Shawlands
- Victoria Road
- Osaka
- Japan
- Kitakagaya
- Kizu River
- Dotonbori
- Namba
- Bogotá
- Colombia
- Chapinero Alto
- Tokyo
- Koenji
- Shinjuku
- Chuo line
- St. Catharines
- Ontario
- Canada
- Niagara region
- Niagara-on-the-Lake
- St. Paul Street
- Montebello Park
- Rome
- Italy
- Esquilino
- Termini
- Piazza Vittorio
- Colosseum
- Roman Forum
- Medina
- Rue Abidijan
- Bab el Had
- Baknana Street
- Victor Heights
- Queen's Park
- Toronto
- Hamilton