Karen Burshtein

Over the past half-decade or so, much has changed in the way we live, work and play in our cities. It wasn’t too long ago that lockdowns rendered the city centre all but obsolete and brought to the fore the vital role of our immediate neighbourhoods and communities.  Now, the balance has been restored. Our local neighbourhood remains fundamental: mini-villages where the barista knows your order, where local restaurants, bars and indie businesses thrive, and where communities continue to band together for all sorts of cool stuff, from art walks and day festivals to creating greener streets and pedestrian-friendly spaces. And six years on from the pandemic, the city centre is seeing a renaissance, with brand-new music venues, galleries, coffee shops and more opening up and welcoming a new generation of hybrid workers and the back-to-the-office crowd (and, of course, city-breakers and tourists).  On this year’s list of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods, you’ll see this mix play out. There are downtown hubs and seaside strips, homely enclaves and warehouse districts, all nominated by our global network of on-the-ground experts. This lucky lot spends their time exploring every corner of their hometowns to discover the best places to eat, drink, shop and hang out right now, so you can trust we know what we’re talking about. To decide the final ranking, a panel of Time Out editors vetted each neighbourhood against a range of criteria, including food and drink, nightlife, unique loc

Toronto is the ultimate multicultural destination, as underlined by its many ethnic enclaves (did you know there are four different Chinatowns and three Little Italys here?), all peppered with a variety of delicious restaurants, coffee shops and bars. Although each neighborhood offers a deep dive into its dominant culture’s retail and culinary offerings, they all somehow also cater to a variety of urban tribes, from the creative to the foodie type. Together, they tell the tale of a city both resolutely heritage-minded and full-throttle dedicated to its burgeoning future. Here is some expert advice: the two most prominent subway lines run east-west and north-south and it is a local unwritten fact that the trendiest neighborhoods run east to west while the more commercial ones can be found along the north and south corridor. Ready to get exploring? Here is the ultimate guide to the best neighborhoods in Toronto.