Bucket list alert: These are the coolest neighbourhoods in Asia for 2024

With so many spectacular places to visit in Asia, it can be hard to choose where to go. But a great place to start is with Time Out's annual Coolest Neighbourhoods list, which just released the verdict on the 38 coolest neighbourhoods in the world for 2024. And in a fantastic showing, seven hip Asian spots made this year's list. Pererenan, Bali shines as the coolest neighbourhood in all of Asia, followed by places scattered across Seoul, Tokyo, Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Singapore. 

This year, Time Out turned to our team of local writers and experts to get their opinion on the coolest neighbourhood in their city. Our global editors weighed each recommendation against criteria like food, drink, arts, culture, street life, and community to arrive at the final list – 38 vibrant, buzzy, and unique neighbourhoods around the world.

And it comes as no surprise to us that a neighbourhood in Bali came in at No. 3 on the global list, officially becoming the coolest neighbourhood in all of Asia. Pererenan, which neighbours popular Canggu, is an up-and-coming hotspot that will remind you of what made Canggu so famous in the first place. It has all anyone looks for in a tropical escape, from rolling waves on black sand beaches to majestic rice terraces, but is as yet untouched by the traffic and noise you're likely to find next door. What's more, it's enjoying a slew of oh-so-trendy restaurant openings – just look at new joints like sustainable dining venue Bokashi and mischievous drinking den Casa Mezcal. 

Hot on Pererenan's heels is Seongsu-dong in Seoul, South Korea at No. 4. This former industrial zone has remade itself into a mecca of cool, with warehouses, shipping containers, and old factories turned into slick art galleries, cosy cafés, and trendy boutiques. If you're a fashion maven, Time Out contributor Jocelyn Tan recommends checking out streetwear brand Kith's first Korean flagship store or the many vintage and thrift stores in the 'hood. 

The next time you're in Tokyo, Japan, visit famous neighbourhoods like Jiyugaoka and Nakameguro as you please, but make time for the city's new coolest neighbourhood Gakugeidaigaku (No. 15). This place is "the perfect antidote to all that city-centre madness," says Chee Wah, editor-in-chief of Time Out Tokyo. Family-owned businesses, local bathhouses, and independent food and drink venues are dominant here, giving it a cosier and less commercialised vibe. Join the cool kids at spots like Yuyugin for artisanal tableware, Onya for the best udon in Tokyo, and Another 8 Corner for Japanese craft beers.

We're ecstatic to see Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam get its time to shine, with Thao Dien debuting at No. 16 on this year's list. "The neighbourhood has more recently flourished as a hub for young Vietnamese talent putting their own stamp on food, art and culture," says Dan Q Dao, former digital community & commercial editor at Time Out New York. This leafy neighbourhood is now home to youth-run businesses like Michelin-recognised Tre Dining and homegrown multi-label craft shops like OhQUAO, as well as the vibrant Thao Dien Weekend Bazaar. 

Rounding out the list of the coolest neighbourhoods in Asia are Ekkamai, Bangkok (No. 27), an emerging coffee mecca with a thriving vintage shop and bar scene; Kowloon City, Hong Kong (No. 33), now bursting with modern malls, picture-worthy cafés, and with a massive sports park on the way; and Orchard, Singapore (No. 37), home to the city's most famous shopping belt that's been revitalised with an adventure sport complex, plus art workshops and rooftop gardens if you know where to look. 

Here’s the full Time Out list of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world for 2024:

1. Notre-Dame-du-Mont, Marseille
2. Mers Sultan, Casablanca
3. Pererenan, Bali
4. Seongsu-dong, Seoul
5. Kerns, Portland
6. Stokes Croft and St Pauls, Bristol
7. Chippendale, Sydney
8. Príncipe Real, Lisbon
9. Glória, Rio de Janeiro
10. Windsor, Melbourne
11. Zablocie, Krakow
12. Little River, Miami
13. Saint-Henri, Montreal
14. Punavuori, Helsinki
15. Gakugeidaigaku, Tokyo
16. Thao Dien, Ho Chi Minh
17. Flatbush, New York
18. Friedrichshain, Berlin
19. East City, Cape Town
20. Belleville, Paris
21. Northbridge, Perth
22. Strathbungo, Glasgow
23. Chacarita, Buenos Aires
24. Leyton, London
25. Inchicore, Dublin
26. East Hollywood, Los Angeles
27. Ekkamai, Bangkok
28. San Rafael, Mexico City
29. Mount Pleasant, Washington DC
30. Bonfim, Porto
31. Palace District, Budapest
32. Brewerytown, Philadelphia
33. Kowloon City, Hong Kong
34. Logan Square, Chicago
35. Norwood, Adelaide
36. Osu, Accra
37. Orchard, Singapore
38. Union Square, Boston

Here are the coolest neighbourhoods in Asia for 2024:

1. Pererenan, Bali
2. Seongsu-dong, Seoul
3. Gakugeidaigaku, Tokyo
4. Thao Dien, Ho Chi Minh
5. Ekkamai, Bangkok
6. Kowloon City, Hong Kong
7. Orchard, Singapore

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