DestinationsFrom Singapore’s Chinatown to Hong Kong’s Sheung Wan, these are the neighbourhoods capturing visitors' hearts.

Which Asian cities have the coolest neighbourhoods?

By Travel Weekly Asia

Oct 30, 2023

Singapore’s Chinatown was commended for “chic nightlife haunts and gay bars – along with some of the best new cafés and restaurants in town”. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/ronniechua

Travellers keen to seek out the coolest neighbourhoods during their travels – avoiding the often over-crowded tourism icons – have been given some useful tips by Time Out, which sought the views of locals to discover the most interesting, under-the-radar ‘hoods’ noted for their local culture, food and “big personalities”.

Once some 12,000 people had nominated their local neighbourhoods, Time Out narrowed down the selection with the insight of city editors and local experts “who know their cities better than anyone else”.

To create and rank the final list, Time Out considered factors including community and social ventures, access to open and green space, and thriving street life.

“In 2023, our neighbourhoods are more global than ever before,” Time Out said. “The rise and rise in post-pandemic digital nomadism has led to an explosion of brand-new community spaces, multi-purpose culture centres and more cafés than we can count on two hands.

“But while most of these neighbourhoods have experienced a transformation over recent years, they remain resolutely local at heart. Slick new developments and cool cafés might bring in new crowds, but neighbourhood stalwarts – from old pubs to family greengrocers – keep it real,” Time Out noted.

The top 20 cool neighbourhoods

Top spot went to Laureles Medellín, Colombia, which Time Out says, “still has a traditional Colombian neighbourhood feel, despite its growing popularity”.

“Fruit vendors push their carts through the circular streets like they have for decades – only now they might know a little more English than they used to.”

In second place, Smithfield Dublin “represents the Dublin that refuses to disappear”.

“You’ll not only find The Cobblestone, a historic pub known as the home of traditional Irish music in Dublin, but new businesses like Third Space. This social enterprise café serves homemade sausage rolls with bacon jam, all-the-while making the neighbourhood a better place to live.”

Time Out suggests travellers plan a trip to The Smithfield Fleadh (pronounced ‘flah,’), held on the last weekend of August, for two days of live Irish music, local art “and hazy, summer evening pints”.

In third place, the former working-class district of Carabanchel, in Madrid, has turned into the city’s latest version of SoHo, “buzzing with trendy art galleries and cutting-edge creative spaces”.

“You've got locals who've lived here for donkey's years nipping to the traditional food markets crossing paths with artists who've moved to escape the city centre hustle.”

The ‘hoods” in Asia you shouldn’t miss

Among destinations in Asia, Hong Kong’s Sheung Wan, in 5th place, was a neighbourhood known for its coffin shops and funeral-related services but is now one of Hong Kong's liveliest districts.

“This is the only place in Hong Kong where you can find a mix of historic temples, antique stores, and dried seafood stalls alongside contemporary art galleries, Melbourne-style cafes, stylish boutiques, and contemporary restaurants.

“You’ll find hipsters and their pets in chic cafes, while older generations explore bustling wet markets and seafood stalls that stretch all the way to Sai Ying Pun.”

Tomigaya in Tokyo was No 10 in the list, chosen for its relaxed living despite being only 15 minutes’ walk from the multi-storey buildings and crisscrossing train lines of central Shibuya.

Time Out says, “All this give way to low-rises and quiet residential streets…and one of Tokyo’s largest green spaces, Yoyogi Park, which hosts everything from food festivals to cultural celebrations.”

Singapore Chinatown, in 14th place, was endorsed for “encapsulating the multifacetedness of Singapore”.

“On the one hand, this culture-rich precinct is home to multiple temples, traditional pastry shops, calming tea houses, and hawker hotspots like Amoy Street Food Centre and Hong Lim Food Centre. But at the same time, it’s teeming with chic nightlife haunts and gay bars – along with some of the best new cafés and restaurants in town.”