Rachel Mills

If you really want to experience local life at its most authentic when exploring a new city, the best thing you can do is take to the streets. And no, not that one major thoroughfare with the samey high street megastores and generic coffee shops. We’re talking about the neighbourhood backstreets and lively avenues that locals love; the places packed with independent shops and creative people, where a brand-new hi-fi listening bar will share the space with an old-school grocer or a centuries-old pub.  This year, to create our annual ranking of the world’s coolest streets, we asked our global network of local editors and experts to nominate the street that epitomises the very best of their city. Time Out’s global travel team then narrowed down the list and ranked each street against criteria including food, drink, culture, fun and community spirit.  From Saturday samba sessions in Rio de Janeiro to a shapeshifting shopping street in Osaka, every avenue, alleyway and side street on this year’s ranking is unique to its hometown. Walking their length is like taking a stroll through the city in miniature, getting a taste of what makes life there brilliant – from food and culture to shopping and nightlife.  Did your favourite street make the list? Read on to find out. RECOMMENDED: 🏘️ The world’s coolest neighbourhoods in 2025🌆 The world’s best cities in 2025

Margate’s food scene is on fire. So many new cafés, restaurants and wine bars have exploded into being in the last few years that keeping to a list of just 11 is a hard ask, which is pretty mind-blowing when a decade ago there was only really Dalby Café and Peter’s Fish Factory to shout about (happily, both are still going strong).  Often labelled Hackney-on-Sea, this fabulous seaside town is home to a slew of specialty cafés, pubs, cocktail bars and the likes, but for this list, we’re talking about where to eat. You might want to book ahead for a few of these, but they’re well worth it. Here are the best restaurants in Margate, right now.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Margate🏡 The best Airbnbs in Margate Rachel Mills is a travel writer based in Margate. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.