When you’re deciding where to spend your vacation, you might think about famous attractions or gorgeous natural wonders.
But if you really want to get to know a city like a local, your best bet is to look for the neighborhoods where they hang out, where the most interesting new restaurants, art galleries and coffee shops emerge.
The staff of Time Out, which has publications in cities all over the world, have put together an A (Accra) B (Beirut) C (Copenhagen) list of the world’s 50 coolest neighborhoods, based on their own local intel.
Here are the top 10.
10. Pilsen, Chicago
Named for the Czech town where beer-brewing has its roots, Pilsen has become known for its approachable cool.
As CNN Travel noted in 2017, Pilsen has become a major art hub in the city, with a thriving street art community as well as an up-and-coming gallery scene.
The local Mexican-American community presence also means you’ll eat well, with tasty huaraches and tortas on seemingly every corner.
9. Embajadores, Madrid
“Embajadores” is Spanish for “Ambassadors,” and that’s fitting as many Madrid’s ambassadors of cool have settled in this neighborhood.
Time Out’s editors note that “No other neighborhood in Madrid is as lively and diverse as Embajadores, which spans the multicultural barriada [low-income neighborhood] of Lavapiés and the site of El Rastro, the city’s historic flea market.”
8. Astoria, New York
New York’s borough of Queens is one of the most diverse places in the world. Historically a haven to Greek and Italian communities, waterfront Astoria has gone from being a local secret to an international hot spot.
Several buzzy boutique hotels – like The Paper Factory and The Boro – have opened in the area in the last few years, providing high-end design and amenities at a lower price than Brooklyn and Manhattan hotels.
7. Strasbourg-Saint-Denis, Paris
Paris, as Audrey Hepburn famously said, is always a good idea. But when it comes to choosing a neighborhood in Paris, it’s hard to go wrong with Strasbourg-Saint-Denis.
This fashionable quarter is close enough to Le Marais to enjoy all the iconic attractions without as much of the tourist foot traffic, but at night you won’t need to venture beyond your street to find a chic bar or restaurant.
Not sure where to start? Time Out’s editors recommend Le Syndicat, a cocktail bar who snagged a spot on the World’s 50 Best list and focuses only on French alcohols.
6. The Waterfront, Hobart
