In case you missed it, our beloved city has had a pretty good year so far. Melbourne's accolades kicked off back in January, when it was crowned the fourth best city in the world. In July, it was ranked the sixth best city for nightlife, and just last month the twenty-somethings named it the second best city for Gen Z to live in. Phew! And now, we've got more exciting news to share. Time Out's highly anticipated annual ranking of the world's coolest neighbourhoods is finally here, and – drum roll, please – the inner city 'burb of North Melbourne has landed at 24th on the list.
What defines a cool neighbourhood? And how is the list determined? Essentially, they are places that represent the soul of our cities, while maintaining their own unique local character that draws people in to live, work and play. Time Out's network of editors and writers nominated the hottest 'hoods in their hometown right now, and that shortlist was ranked against criteria including culture, community, liveability, nightlife, food and drink, street life and that hard-to-define sense of ‘nowness’.
Topping the list at number one is the historic uni enclave of Jimbōchō in Tokyo, followed by Borgerhout in Antwerp, Barra Funda in São Paulo, Camberwell in London and Avondale in Chicago. North Melbourne wasn't the only Aussie representative, with Burwood in Sydney coming in at 16th on the list. So yes, you could also say Melbourne is home to the second coolest suburb in all of Australia right now.
While North Melbourne didn't quite hit the same top ten rankings as other local neighbourhoods in previous years (Windsor came tenth in 2024, and Brunswick East took sixth in 2023), it's number one in our hearts – and here's why...
Despite being located right on the fringe of the CBD, the charming, village-style vibe of North Melbourne makes it feel a world away from the hustle and bustle of the Hoddle grid. The beating heart of this buzzy ’burb is Errol Street – a wide café- and bar-lined strip boasting historic Victorian-era shopfronts. There's a strong sense of community here (ask anyone on the street and they'll tell you that's what they love most about the area), and half of North Melbourne's residents were born overseas.
This is reflected in the diverse spread of cuisines on offer: Manzé is Melbourne’s very first Mauritian wine bar; you can get North African vegetarian fare at Moroccan Soup Bar; and Le Bajo Milkbar does fluffy ’gram-worthy Japanese baked goods. It’s also home to a thriving cultural scene – check out Gallerysmith, Arts House or the Meat Market to get your fix.
But our favourite thing to do in North Melbourne when the sun is shining is to grab a pastry and coffee from Bread Club (hot tip: order the dark choc toffee and sea salt cookie, you won't regret it) or Auction Rooms and settle in for a spot of people-watching on the grassy nature strip running through the middle of Errol Street. Then go crate digging at Heartland Records, before wandering through the stalls at the Queen Victoria Market. For dinner, head to the Courthouse Hotel for British-inspired pub fare, and finish with a nightcap at Bear’s Wine Bar or Prudence.
Time Out's 39 coolest neighbourhoods in the world for 2025:
1. Jimbōchō, Tokyo
2. Borgerhout, Antwerp
3. Barra Funda, São Paulo
4. Camberwell, London
5. Avondale, Chicago
6. Mullae-dong, Seoul
7. Ménilmontant, Paris
8. Nakatsu, Osaka
9. Vallila, Helsinki
10. Labone, Accra
11. Nguyen Thai Binh, Ho Chi Minh
12. Anjos, Lisbon
13. Digbeth, Birmingham
14. Red Hook, New York
15. Perpetuo Socorro, Medellín
16. Burwood, Sydney
17. Linden, Johannesburg
18. Former French Concession, Shanghai
19. Quartieri Spagnoli, Naples
20. Bencoolen, Singapore
21. Endoume, Marseille
22. Plateau-Mont-Royal, Montréal
23. The Liberties, Dublin
24. North Melbourne, Melbourne
25. Portales, Mexico City
26. Davenport, Toronto
27. Little River, Miami
28. Kemang, Jakarta
29. Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro
30. Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
31. Barranco, Lima
32. Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur
33. Clarksville, Austin
34. Margit-negyed, Budapest
35. Glen Park, San Francisco
36. MiZa, Abu Dhabi
37. Villa Devoto, Buenos Aires
38. Mehrauli, Delhi
39. Poblacion, Metro Manila
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