Time Out has released its list of the 31 coolest streets in the world for 2025, a ranking compiled by gathering nominations from our global network of city editors and expert contributors. These nominees are then ranked based on criteria emphasizing culture, food, community, and an indefinable sense of ‘nowness’ or current urban relevance.
This year, Bangkok’s own Charoen Nakhon Road has secured an impressive spot, ranking number 26 among the world's 31 coolest streets. The list features destinations considered must-visit locations across the planet. While Rua do Senado in Rio de Janeiro justly claimed the number one position, Charoen Nakhon shines brightly as Thailand's elegant riverside representative.
Charoen Nakhon Road traces the western bank of the Chao Phraya River through Bangkok’s historic Thonburi district – once a sleepy community of merchants, warehouses and temples. One of the capital’s oldest roads, it’s now among its most magnetic. The street weaves between shophouses, shrines and gleaming new developments, where long-time residents live alongside a wave of cafes, boutique hotels and riverside hangouts. This once-quiet riverside stretch has become a creative hub that expertly captures the best of old and new Bangkok.
For those exploring the local character, the food scene offers everything from high-end dining to classic street eats. Start your day at Auntie Yao’s Marinated Pork Tom Yum Noodles – a no-frills street stall where steaming bowls of spicy-sour noodles cost just B20. For a slower pace and beautiful scenery, a beautifully restored wooden house called Siam Charoennakhon Cafe offers specialty brews and calm river breezes, making it a perfect late-afternoon stop.
The street effortlessly balances this local charm with luxury and culture. At its heart stands Iconsiam, the glass-and-steel landmark where visitors can engage with world-class designer showcases. Within the development, Iconcraft is a must-see, offering a curated showcase of Thai basketry, textiles and ceramics – a national craft gallery under one sleek riverside roof. As the sun sets, The River Bar at The Peninsula Bangkok provides an elegant, open-air spot for golden-hour cocktails as the Chao Phraya river traffic glides past, capping off a perfect day on the city's coolest street.
Here is Time Out’s full list of the world's coolest streets for 2025:
- Rio de Janeiro – Rua do Senado
- Osaka – Orange Street
- Porto – Rua do Bonjardim
- Chengdu – Fanghua Street
- Montreal – Sherbrooke Street West
- Brisbane – Montague Road
- Berlin – Maybachufer
- Thessaloniki – Olympou Street
- New York City – Orchard Street
- Ho Chi Minh – Vinh Khanh Street (District 4, HCMC)
- Brussels – Rue de Flandre
- Tokyo – Nishihara Shotengai
- Paris – Rue des Gravilliers
- Singapore – Joo Chiat
- Mexico City – Avendia Alvaro Obregon
- Jakarta – Jalan Kemang Raya
- Rome – Via Panisperna
- Manila – Nakpil St, Malate
- Dubai – Alserkal Avenue
- Vancouver – Cambie Street
- Madrid – Calle del Barquillo
- Cape Town – Kloof Street
- London – Blackstock Road
- Buenos Aires – Defensa, San Telmo
- Los Angeles – Pacific Coast Highway, Central Malibu
- Bangkok – Charoen Nakhon Road
- Kuala Lumpur – Jalan Pudu
- Chicago – Roscoe Street
- Melbourne – Swan Street, Richmond
- Tangier – Boulevard Pasteur
- Margate – Northdown Road