It’s that time again. Each year, Time Out asks experts across the world for their intel on the coolest neighbourhoods on Earth based on a range of factors like food, arts, culture and community.
From this global rundown, which spans offbeat districts to up-and-coming food spots, we’ve pulled out the top ten coolest neighbourhoods in Europe. So if you’re plotting a big move or planning your next Interrail trip, consider this your shortlist.
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Top of the list for Europe is Borgerhout in Antwerp, which came second globally, just behind Jimbōchō in Tokyo. While most flock to the Belgian city’s historic centre, those in the know skip the crowds for Borgerhout. It’s Antwerp’s multicultural creative heart, where you’ll meander along streets lined with galleries from Base-Alpha to Lichtekooi, vegan coffee bars, inviting terraces and Turkish and Moroccan grocers.
Next up is Camberwell, number four in the world and number two in Europe. This southeast London enclave, long the haunt of art students, thrives on its independent spirit and tight-knit community. You can dig for records at Dash the Henge, drink pints at excellent pubs like The Camberwell Arms, and eat at any number of next-level restaurants. On Camberwell Church Street, options are as varied as Xinjiang restaurant Silk Road and Kurdish cuisine at Nandine.
Elsewhere, cheap beers in Paris might seem like an oxymoron, but not if you swap Montmartre for Ménilmontant. Ranked number three in Europe (and seventh in the world), it combines cobblestone Parisian charm with eclectic nightlife and activist bookshops. In the evening, sip draft negronis at Ave Pizza Bar before dancing the night away at cultural hub La Bellevilloise.
Other European gems on this year’s list include Quartieri Spagnoli in Naples, where family-run trattorias meet art spaces; Endoume in Marseille, a laidback coastal district, and one of Dublin’s oldest quarters, The Liberties. Read the full top ten list below.
Time Out’s top ten coolest neighbourhoods in Europe
1. Borgerhout, Antwerp
2. Camberwell, London
3. Ménilmontant, Paris
4. Vallila, Helsinki
5. Anjos, Lisbon
6. Digbeth, Birmingham
7. Quartieri Spagnoli, Naples
8. Endoume, Marseille
9. The Liberties, Dublin
10. Margit-negyed, Budapest