Brisbane may be Australia’s best-kept secret: with our beautiful beaches, stunning nature and unparalleled food scene, there is always something new to try and discover. Now, with the 2032 Olympic Games waiting just over the horizon, Brissy’s star is growing by the day, so it comes as no surprise that one of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods is one of our best known!
A recent survey by Time Out ranked the coolest neighbourhoods in the world, those that really capture the spirit of a city, and three Aussie neighbourhoods made the list, with Brisbane taking the highest spot out of the three!
Thanks to its greenery, amazing food and drink options, culture and overall vibe, New Farm snagged the 29th spot worldwide — above places like bookish Quartier d’Aligre in Paris, leafy Newington Green in London, and the bustling Starstreet Precinct in Hong Kong — and the number one spot in all of Australia, above trendy North Hobart (NoHo), and historic South Melbourne.
New Farm really has it all: from gorgeous New Farm Park to its artsy and cultural soul, it is a feast for all senses. Smaller independent spaces and institutions like the Brisbane Powerhouse share the precinct, which is one of the best places to experience all the best that Brissy’s talented artists have to offer.
And, of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t talk food and bevvies! We couldn’t forget if we tried, because Death Before Decaf, Brisbane’s iconic 24-hour café, calls New Farm home. If you’re looking for local produce and goods, you’re in the right place, especially on a Saturday, as Jan Powers Farmers Market takes over the Powerhouse. And, later in the day, pay one-of-a-kind Vertigo a visit, or grab some drinks at chic Ruma Rooftop.
Coolest neighbourhoods in the world 2026
- Jongno 3-ga, Seoul
- L’Ocean District, Rabat
- Neos Kosmos, Athens
- Chinatown, Los Angeles
- Govanhill, Glasgow
- Kitakagaya, Osaka
- Chapinero Alto, Bogotá
- Koenji, Tokyo
- Downtown, St Catharines
- Esquilino, Rome
- Russafa, Valencia
- Tân Định, Ho Chi Minh
- São Bento, Lisbon
- Talat Noi, Bangkok
- Slakthusområdet, Stockholm
- Humayunpur, Delhi
- Laranjeiras, Rio de Janeiro
- West Town, Chicago
- Rákóczi tér, Budapest
- Jalan Besar, Singapore
- Crooswijk, Rotterdam
- Chacagiales, Buenos Aires
- Bandra West, Mumbai
- Cathedral Quarter, Belfast
- República, São Paulo
- Changning, Shanghai
- Oost, Amsterdam
- Financial District, New York
- New Farm, Brisbane
- Quartier d’Aligre, Paris
- Kalk Bay, Cape Town
- North Hobart, Hobart
- Newington Green, London
- Yulin, Chengdu
- Mount Pleasant, Vancouver
- Centro Histórico, Lima
- Boavista, Porto
- Starstreet Precinct, Hong Kong
- South Melbourne, Melbourne
- Distillery District, Lexington
