Notre Dame du Mont in Marseille, France, has been named the coolest neighbourhood in the world to visit in 2024 by Time Out.
The Provencal district tops the guide’s annual World’s Coolest Neighbourhoods ranking – which this year contains 38 spots – thanks to housing ‘a remarkable concentration of galleries, lively restaurants, chic and community-minded shops and new spots hidden behind pizza trucks’.
The ranking, created using the ‘insight and expertise of Time Out’s global network of city editors and local experts’, is a ‘celebration of the most unique and exciting pockets of our cities’, says the guide’s travel editor, Grace Beard, who adds: ‘The neighbourhoods on this year’s list have a lot in common: great places to eat and drink, cutting-edge culture, street life and a thriving community.
‘But they’re also a distinct reflection of their cities, with each of them offering something special you wouldn’t find anywhere else.’
Scroll down for details on the top 10 – which contains entries from the UK, USA and Australia – and for the full list.
10 – WINDSOR, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
Windsor (10th) in Melbourne is ‘having its moment’, says Time Out
Windsor, says Time Out, used to be ‘overshadowed by Prahran and South Yarr’, but is now ‘having its moment’.
The guide continues: ‘The Wild West end of Chapel Street (between Princes Highway and High Street) is the place to explore vintage gems like Shag and Stupid Vintage, boutique galleries, and cool, lively vibes. By night, Windsor comes alive, with new restaurants and bars offering everything from Nepali cuisine to creative sushi and saké.’
The perfect day there? Time Out’s Melbourne Editor, Leah Glynn, says that would include ‘a coffee and smorrebrod [buttered rye bread] from Scandi-inspired Oppen… a culture fix [at] Mars Gallery or the Astor Theatre’ and ‘a boogie at Lucky Coq’.
9 – GLÓRIA, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
Gloria (ninth, above) features ‘parks, a modern art museum and a famous church with stunning views’
Glória is ‘buzzing with change’, says Time Out, thanks to ‘new development projects attracting a younger crowd’.
It continues: ‘The iconic Hotel Glória is being transformed into a residential space, adding to the excitement. Residents now enjoy a newly revamped Praia do Flamengo, plus parks, a modern art museum, a famous church with stunning views, and nearby restaurants.
‘For budget-friendly drinks, head to Santo Amaro’s lively bars, and don’t miss Bar do Zé, known for its epic cachaça selection and its famously grumpy owner.’
8 – PRINCIPE REAL, LISBON, PORTUGAL
Principe Real (eighth) ‘exudes classic Lisbon charm but now has a modern, cosmopolitan edge’
Principe Real won the overall best neighbourhood crown six years ago and it’s still ranking highly – ‘a testament to its ability to evolve while staying true to its roots’.
Time Out continues: ‘This area still exudes classic Lisbon charm but now has a modern, cosmopolitan edge. Praça das Flores, the new heart of the neighbourhood, comes alive in the afternoon as terraces fill up with locals and visitors. New energy comes with exciting spots like Giola, Cantina Flores, Cotovia, and Bar Alimentar, recently earning high praise from food critics.’
A perfect day there? Time Out’s Cláudia Lima Carvalho says it would begin with a coffee from Quiosque do Oliveira – ‘a kiosk that also moonlights as a great spot for an afternoon beer’ – before lunch at Pica-Pau. Then it’s a pre-dinner drink at ‘the eccentric Pavilhao Chines bar’ before a meal at BouBou’s. To round off the evening, says Claudia, enjoy a glass or two of wine ‘from small, independent producers at Black Sheep in Praça das Flores’.
7 – CHIPPENDALE, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Chippendale (seventh) has transformed into ‘a buzzing, community-driven neighbourhood’
Chippendale is on the edge of Sydney’s CBD, notes Time Out, but it ‘wasn’t always a hotspot’.
The guide explains: ‘While many were enjoying negronis in Surry Hills, “Chippo” quietly transformed into a buzzing, community-driven neighbourhood.
‘Alongside top foodie spots like Ester, there’s plenty to explore: Phoenix hosts public concerts via free ballot, quirky art galleries abound, Fortress is a gamers’ haven, and Asian food markets stay open around the clock.
‘Cool pubs with live music, little parks, and a weekly farmers’ market create a village feel, attracting residents and students from the nearby universities.’
6 – STOKES CROFT & ST PAUL’S, BRISTOL, UK
Brunch at The Crafty Egg (above) is an essential experience in the Stokes Croft and St Paul’s area (sixth) of Bristol
‘When you picture Bristol’s youthful, art-filled spirit, you’re imagining Stokes Croft and St Paul’s,’ declares Time Out.
‘Vibrant and ever-evolving, this area is rooted in African-Caribbean culture and community spirit, key to the city’s identity.
‘Just five minutes from the city centre, its independent boutiques replace chain stores, and you might even spot a rogue firepit at Turbo Island. With new eateries and venues popping up along its colourful streets, the neighbourhood is now a must-visit – less touristy than Clifton but more lively than Easton, it is Bristol at its most authentic.’
What’s on the perfect day itinerary? Time Out’s Annie McNamee says it should include a stay at the sky-pod Airbnb for skyline views, a brunch at The Crafty Egg, trinket-hunting on Gloucester Road, a Jamaican meal at St Mary’s Kitchen and listening to homegrown DJs at Crofters Rights.
5 – KERNS, PORTLAND, USA
In Kerns (fifth), visitors can enjoy restaurants, bars, and shops that sell picnic treats
Portland is a major city, but Kerns ‘feels like a small, well-crafted town’ within it, says Time Out.
The guide adds: ‘The neighbourhood is surrounded by charming residential streets, featuring craftsman homes, Spanish-style apartments, and lush gardens. At its core is northeast 28th Avenue – a walkable street lined with low-rise brick buildings housing restaurants, bars, and shops – while nearby Laurelhurst Park offers music, comedy, and outdoor movies, and locals stock up on treats like Olympia Provisions salami and Cowbell Creamery cheese from Providore Fine Foods for picnics by the park’s duck pond.’
4 – SEONGSU-DONG, SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
Seongsu-dong (fourth) is ‘one of Seoul’s most creative neighbourhoods’
Time Out notes that Seongsu-dong was once an industrial hub for leather, printing, and shoemaking. Now? It’s ‘one of Seoul’s most creative neighbourhoods’.
The guide continues: ‘Often called Seoul’s Brooklyn, it is filled with red-brick warehouses, old factories and shipping containers now home to trendy cafés, boutiques and galleries. This year, Seongsu-dong solidified its fashion district status with the opening of streetwear brand Kith’s first Korean flagship store and a curated shopping space for top K-fashion platform Musinsa called Store Seongsu@Daerim Warehouse.’
3 – PERERENAN, BALI, INDONESIA
Kilo Kitchen (above) is part of a ‘growing food scene’ in Bali’s Pererenan (third)
Pererenan’s black-sand beach
Here, says Time Out, you’ll find ‘pristine beaches, cosy cafés, unique shops, and a relaxed vibe, free from noise and traffic’.
Pererenan, adds the guide, ‘offers classic Bali charm’, with surfers enjoying its black-sand beach and ‘those seeking peace’ enjoying its small cafes near the rice terraces to the north.
There’s also a ‘growing food scene’, says Time Out, with ‘new spots like Kilo Kitchen and Bokashi’.
2 – MERS SULTAN, CASABLANCA, MOROCCO
In Mers Sultan (second) in Casablanca you’ll find ‘young filmmakers, graffiti artists, and dance music artists speaking a psychedelic mix of Moroccan Arabic, French and English’
An aerial view of Casablanca
Come to this ‘concrete jungle of narrow streets where Art Deco, Art Nouveau and Modernist buildings meet’ for ‘hole-in-the-wall restaurants and snack bars, street markets, local butchers and a retro cinema’.
Time Out adds: ‘[It’s] where older residents can be found alongside up-and-coming young filmmakers, graffiti artists, and dance music artists speaking a psychedelic mix of Moroccan Arabic, French and English.’
1 – NOTRE DAME DU MONT, MARSEILLE, FRANCE
Notre Dame du Mont (first) in Marseille ‘packs in a remarkable concentration of galleries, lively restaurants, chic and community-minded shops and new spots hidden behind pizza trucks’
A real Eiffel: An aerial view of Marseille and its harbour
The 2024 coolest neighbourhood winner has been named as Notre Dame Du Mont in Marseille.
Why? ‘It’s a small, laidback enclave that packs in a remarkable concentration of galleries, lively restaurants, chic and community-minded shops and new spots hidden behind pizza trucks,’ says Time Out.
The perfect day there? Over to Time Out’s Alicia Dorey, who writes: ‘After filling up on brioche at Pain Pan, an iconic neighbourhood bakery with its lemon-hued facade, take a stroll through the market adjacent to the metro. Head up to Galerie Charivari on Rue Fontange, home to a collection of paintings, sculptures and ceramics from curator Muriel Feugère.
‘Halfway down the alley… knock back a strong dose of caffeine at Razzia – or you could tuck into an incredible octopus kebab at Caterine. Catch a film at bistro-turned-cinema La Baleine, followed by a drink on the terrace at the must-visit Café la Muse. When the heat starts to subside, head to dinner at Livingston, before calling it a night at Mama Shelter.’
For more visit www.timeout.com/travel/coolest-neighbourhoods-in-the-world.
