It’s official—Chicago is home to one of the coolest streets in the world.
18th Street is No. 21 on Time Out’s annual rankings of the Coolest Streets in the World. The Pilsen thoroughfare is filled with many of the city’s best restaurants and bars, as well as an assortment of local businesses and art galleries. And despite struggles with gentrification in recent years, the corridor is still a main hub for the city’s Mexican American community.
From tacos and conchas to gorgeous murals and concerts at a historic venue, 18th Street offers a wealth of exciting options. It’s all part of what makes Pilsen one of the most popular neighborhoods in the city, and why Chicago is among the Best Cities in the World.
What makes a street cool, exactly? Well, for one, there’s much more to do than just walking. You could spend entire days exploring the avenues on the list, which boast bold, creative new ventures in the food and beverage scene, plus tons of nightlife and culture. Topping this year's rankings is High Street in Melbourne, Australia, followed by Hollywood Road in Hong Kong and East Eleventh in Austin, Texas.
Here’s the full list of Time Out’s 30 Coolest Streets in the World:
- High Street, Melbourne
- Hollywood Road, Hong Kong
- East Eleventh, Austin
- Guatemala Street, Buenos Aires
- Commercial Drive, Vancouver
- Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur
- Rua da Boavista, Lisbon
- Arnaldo Quintela, Rio de Janeiro
- Chazawa-dori, Tokyo
- Consell de Cent, Barcelona
- Bree Street, Cape Town
- Oranienstraße, Berlin
- Fifth Avenue, Park Slope, New York City
- Ban Tad Thong, Bangkok
- East 3rd Street, Los Angeles
- Rua Sá de Noronha, Porto
- Gerrard Street, London
- Conde Duque Street, Madrid
- Bucareli, Mexico City
- Rue de Belleville, Paris
- 18th Street, Chicago
- Camden Street, Dublin
- Foster Street, Sydney
- Songridan-gil, Seoul
- Quang An Street, Tay Ho, Hanoi
- Miracle Mile, Miami
- Saint-Hubert Plaza, Montreal
- Troon Street, Athens
- Cecil Street, Singapore
- L.P Leviste Street, Manila