Long-time readers of Time Out will know all about our annual ranking of the Coolest Neighbourhoods in the World. Well, it’s that time of the year again – and for the first time ever, four Australian suburbs have cracked the list. Sydney’s small yet spunky inner-city suburb of Chippendale punched above its weight, ranking seventh in the entire world. Joining the top ten is Melbourne’s effortlessly cool Windsor, with trendy suburbs in Perth and Adelaide also scoring shout-outs.

So, how exactly does Time Out come up with its annual list of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods? To create our 2024 ranking, we went straight to our global team of on-the-ground writers and editors – and asked them what the coolest neighbourhood in their city is right now, and why. These selections were then narrowed down and ranked against criteria including street life, community, culture, arts, food and drink, and one-of-a-kind local flavour.  

Drumroll, please… The title of Australia’s coolest neighbourhood for 2024 goes to Chippendale, which ranked seventh worldwide, beating trendy ’hoods in Tokyo, New York, Paris and London. Sitting on the fringes of Sydney’s CBD, “Chippo” hasn’t always been a magnet for cool kids – but it has organically evolved into a buzzing, community-rich neighbourhood. 

Time Out Sydney Editor Alice Ellis said: “It not only serves up great restaurants like Ester, but there’s a huge diversity of things to do: from Phoenix, a space that holds concerts accessible to the public via a free ballot, to cool and quirky art galleries; from a gamers’ paradise called Fortress to an always-open Asian food market and some of the city’s coolest pubs championing live music and comedy.”

Next up is Melbourne’s gorgeously grungy suburb of Windsor, which ranked as Australia’s second coolest suburb and the tenth coolest worldwide. Time Out Melbourne Editor Leah Glynn said: “Head down to the Wild West end of Chapel Street (between the Princes Highway and High Street) to rummage through epic vintage stores (hello, Shag and Stupid Vintage), admire art in boutique galleries and soak up the oh-so-cool vibes that lure in an eclectic crowd keen for a good time. But it’s when night falls that Windsor really lights up. A recent slew of hot new restaurant and bar openings have transformed the neighbourhood into a go-to for curious foodies, with venues championing everything from regional Nepali fare to sushi and saké with a twist.”

We’re thrilled to see Perth make its debut on Time Out’s world’s coolest neighbourhoods list, with the vibrant cultural and nightlife hub of Northbridge ranking 21st. At its core is The Piazza, where the neighbourhood comes to hang out beneath Perth’s first permanent LED screen. Home to Perth’s Chinatown, Northbridge is also one of the city’s most multicultural food destinations, with cuisines ranging from Korean and Japanese to Middle Eastern, Indian and Italian. A mix of hidden cocktail bars (the rooftop Mechanics Institute Bar is a must-visit), LGBTQ+ nightclubs like Connections, and live music pubs like the legendary Rosemount Hotel make Northbridge the place to go for a great night out. Plus, it’s where you’ll find Perth’s top cultural venues, including the Art Gallery of WA, WA Museum Boola Bardip and the State Theatre of WA.

The fourth and final Australian suburb to make the list is Norwood, landing at number 35. Just a hop, skip and a ten-minute jump from Adelaide’s CBD, Norwood is where heritage meets hip. You could easily spend a whole day strolling down its leafy main drag, The Parade. Start your morning with the locals at Norwood institution Argo, where a cup of Joe pairs handsomely with zeppole – those twisty, sugary Italian doughnuts. Pop into the suburb’s many op shops for designer steals and add an artistic flair to your itinerary by visiting Art Images Gallery. Cap off your day with dinner at Arkhé, Adelaide’s first open-flame restaurant. And if you fancy a tipple, Norwood has its very own Wine and Ale Trail, where you can sip your way through the neighbourhood’s top boutique cellar doors, gin distilleries and micro-breweries.

Here’s the full Time Out list of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world for 2024:

1. Notre-Dame-du-Mont, Marseille
2. Mers Sultan, Casablanca
3. Pererenan, Bali
4. Seongsu-dong, Seoul
5. Kerns, Portland
6. Stokes Croft and St Pauls, Bristol
7. Chippendale, Sydney
8. Príncipe Real, Lisbon
9. Glória, Rio de Janeiro
10. Windsor, Melbourne
11. Zablocie, Krakow
12. Little River, Miami
13. Saint-Henri, Montreal
14. Punavuori, Helsinki
15. Gakugeidaigaku, Tokyo
16. Thao Dien, Ho Chi Minh
17. Flatbush, New York
18. Friedrichshain, Berlin
19. East City, Cape Town
20. Belleville, Paris
21. Northbridge, Perth
22. Strathbungo, Glasgow
23. Chacarita, Buenos Aires
24. Leyton, London
25. Inchicore, Dublin
26. East Hollywood, Los Angeles
27. Ekkamai, Bangkok
28. San Rafael, Mexico City
29. Mount Pleasant, Washington DC
30. Bonfim, Porto
31. Palace District, Budapest
32. Brewerytown, Philadelphia
33. Kowloon City, Hong Kong
34. Logan Square, Chicago
35. Norwood, Adelaide
36. Osu, Accra
37. Orchard, Singapore
38. Union Square, Boston

Here are the coolest neighbourhoods in Australia for 2024:

1. Chippendale, Sydney
2. Windsor, Melbourne
3. Northbridge, Perth
4. Norwood, Adelaide

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