We at Time Out like to think we know where’s cool. The little backstreets where all the new bars are opening; the buzzy squares home to our favourite weekend markets. These streets are where our global team of local experts are eating, drinking and hanging out. And every year, we compile them all in our annual ranking of the world’s coolest streets.
The third iteration of our hotlist was released this week. It’s stacked with vibey places for a stroll, from a historic road in London’s Chinatown to a palm-lined avenue in Miami – but it was Melbourne’s High Street, which ‘weaves through the ultra-trendy suburbs of Northcote, Thornbury and Preston’, that came first on the list.
‘Melburnians are spoiled for choice when it comes to well-trodden thoroughfares that deliver on food, culture and fun (hello Chapel Street, Sydney Road and Smith Street, to name a few),’ says Leah Glynn, editor of Time Out Melbourne. ‘But in 2024, we’re shining the spotlight on High Street. It’s cool in all the ways you’d expect – epic restaurants, hidden bars, live music venues and boutique shops – but there’s also a warm sense of community spirit that means everyone feels welcome.’
Planning a trip to the world’s coolest street? Leah recommends eating the signature lasagne at 1800 Lasagne, drinking at Gigi Rooftop and catching a gig at Northcote Social Club and the Croxton Band Room, or smaller spots like High Note.
Each street on our list is well worth a wander, chock-full of independent businesses and great places to go out. Some have become culinary hotspots and others green hubs for cycling and strolling. One thing unites them all: they made the cut because they’re places where locals want to spend their time right now. What’s cooler than that?
🏘️ Read the full list of the world’s coolest streets here.
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