Every year, Time Out surveys thousands of city-dwellers about the places they live, getting the scoop on nightlife, dining, arts and culture and what makes their cities tick. The annual Time Out Index results give us incredible insight into where people are going out, how often they’re hitting the town, what places are actually cool and the general livability in the world’s top areas. It’s also where we draw from to come up with our annual list of the 40 coolest neighborhoods in the world, which is out today.
Nine North American cities made the cut this year, including two in Canada and several of the U.S.’s most-populated urban areas. The neighborhoods featured are incredible places to be right now. It’s where you’ll find excellent restaurants and top-notch nightlife, world-class museums and award-winning bars.
The top neighborhood in North America is none other than Mid-City in New Orleans. An area not far from the famous French Quarter, Mid-City comes alive during the annual Jazz and Heritage Festival and is home to the city’s most well-known beignets at Cafe du Monde—a must-stop during any visit to New Orleans.
Los Angeles’ impossibly cool Downtown Arts District also made the list with its booming food and drink scene—this is the place to go if you want excellent, top-rated meals in L.A. Speaking of dining, Miami’s Coral Gables neighborhood is brimming with restaurants by award-winning chefs, including Bouchon’s Thomas Keller, Beauty and the Butcher’s Jeremy Ford and Niven Patel, who’s manning three hot spots—Erba, Mamey and Orno. San Francisco’s Richmond District is the place to burn off all that good eatin’—it’s home to Golden Gate Park and the sprawling park Presidio borders it.
Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood made the list for its prestigious and beloved cultural landmarks, such as the Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Center for Fiction and the Pratt Sculpture Park. While the arts and culture scene in Chicago’s Hyde Park is equally thriving, think the wondrous Museum of Science and Industry to the Hyde Park Art Center, plus world-renowned architecture designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Montreal’s Centre-Ville, Mexico City’s San Miguel Chapultepec and The Annex and Toronto rounded out the rest of the entries for North America. For the complete list of Time Out’s coolest neighborhoods in the world—and a rush of wanderlust—click here.