Have you been to the world's coolest neighbourhoods?
People enjoy a drink in a cafe terrace in Paris. Picture: AP Photo/Lewis Joly, File
WE'VE never been closer to home over these past six months and many of us have found ourselves falling back in love with our local neighbourhoods.  Â
People are sharing backyard views, ringing neighbours, supporting local shops and trying out the new takeaway options from family-owned restaurants.
While cities battle the pandemic, smaller neighbourhoods across the world are on the rise, and in a recent survey, an Irish neighbourhood featured among the 40 'coolest' in the world.Â
Was it Westport or Killarney? Belfast or Kilkenny? Adare or Dingle?
Non-Dubs may be shocked to discover that apparently, the coolest neighbourhood in the country is in fact... Phibsborough.
For anyone who isnât an avid James Kavanagh follower, Phibsborough is a small Dublin 7 area located north of the city centre. Beyond Kavanghâs candelabras, itâs well known around the city for its trendy cafĂ©s, beloved pubs, and abundance of food offerings.
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According to , Phibsboroughâs community spirit was the reason for its place on the list, ranking higher than London's Soho, as this year focused especially on neighbourly kindness.
"For 2020âs cool-to-be-kind list, we felt Phibsborough had the edge: not only is the area full of great coffee shops, restaurants and pubs, but its community spirit shines through, and residents have been fiercely supporting its local institutions through these tough times," said James Manning, International Editor of .Â
The area was also given the same spot, 27th on the list, in 2018 with nearby Stoneybatter coming in at 42nd last year.
For those of you jeering at Phibsboroughâs KungFu Buffet plaza on Google images, there may be an explanation for your favourite seaside spot in Ireland not being included.
The survey for the top-40 list is only handed out to city slickers, who are asked to pick their favourite part of their city to hang around in.
This is why you may not recognise a lot of the areas mentioned on the list, like New Yorkâs Bed-Stuy at number four or Bonfim in Porto, which lands at number 14.
It explains why your favourite picturesque spot on the Wild Atlantic Way probably wasnât considered, even if the local pub has the best community spirit the country ever did see.
While Corkonians stew over the fact their real capital wasnât considered, even some Dubliners are baffled by the decision, citing that they find more charm in areas such as Ranelagh or Rathmines.
What do you make of the decision to name Phibsborough as Irelandâs coolest neighbourhood? Will you be joining the rebel protest bus with a âVote Westportâ picket? Or will you be making an extra Luas stop on the way home to check out the local offerings?Â
While there isnât too much we can do right now with Level 3 restrictions currently in place, we can make plans for when we might eventually get visit all of the neighbourhoods that did make the list.
For now, take your mind off the restrictions and count how many of the worldâs coolest neighbourhoods youâve managed to visit.
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Topping the list is this residential part of Barcelona, known for its mix of luxurious shopping, LGBTQ+ business supports and interesting architecture. highlights the way in which locals took to the neighbourhoodâs many balconies to support each other during their lockdown measures.
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A little more recognisable, this was probably a stop on your college J1 tour. says that Downtown LA came to the fore of the survey not only because of its artistic and foodie offerings but also because it became a gathering place for a city in pain following the death of Kobe Bryant, horrendous wildfires, and the recent Black Lives Matter protests.
This historic Hong Kong district has been reinvigorated by young creatives, according to , and is a must-stop visit for those looking for a mix of local and designer shopping and street food.
You may have ventured to Brooklyn if you visited the Big Apple, but while this neighbourhood isnât as well known as the likes of Williamsburg, itâs community spirit shines from the locals gathered on brownstone doorsteps, and itâs become a central hub for Black Lives Matter protests.
According to , community spirit has never been stronger in Melbourne and this suburb embodies the best it has to offer, with its live music offerings, café culture, and world-class arts and restaurants.
Berlin often ranks well in these types of lists and this forward-thinking neighbourhood, north-west of the city centre, is ranked for its âmulticultural, multigenerational community [that] stays loyal to local businesses, from independent grocers to upstart street food spots.â
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According to , this district of Shanghai is one to watch and is a buzzing destination for new cafés, restaurants, and bars.
It must have taken a lot to beat out Edinburgh for this spot, but this East End neighbourhood in Glasgow was recognised for its charm, sustainable initiatives and artistic flare.
Itâs no shock that Paris made the top 10, and this neighbourhood ranked above the rest for its departure from tourism and focus on style and culture.
This area of Sydney is a diverse âmelting-potâ of all the city has to offer, according to , and its rich influx of migrants have apparently made it the place to live in the city.
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This neighbourhood somehow managed to use the pandemic to its advantage, pedestrianising the streets, lining them with local musicians and bringing in a flux of Canadians trying to escape a summer heatwave we could only but wish for here in the Emerald Isle.
Apparently, Estonia has a reputation for its tech-first economy, and this town is home to many geniuses who honed their technology skills to help the neighbourhood deal with the pandemic. A lesson, please?
K-pop is on the rise, as is this neighbourhood, home to a few of its rising stars as well as a flux of artists who have transferred the area into a luxurious, yet cosy, must-stop neighbourhood.
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The neighbourhood is the epitome of, what calls, Portoâs âgenuine identity,â which means, of course, amazing food, art, architecture and music. Same as here really.
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Quite opposite in name, this neighbourhood finally introduces San Francisco Bay to the list with history, wholesome food, and an eclectic mix of punks and techies all calling the place home.
Locals and students mesh together in this active and lively university town.
This neighbourhood is apparently home to many of Lisbonâs long-time locals, who have moved away from tourist areas, and is a buzzing centre of culture and community spirit.
This part of Amsterdam is located in the opposite direction to where most tourists flock, but by taking a free ferry off the beaten track, you can see a buzzing borough where âshipyards have become cultural playgrounds and wide-open spaces beckon young families, artists, brewers and entrepreneurs.â Sounds good right?
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Like most of the coolest places around, this part of South Americaâs biggest city was once a beaten-down neighbourhood but has transformed into the place to be for locals.
No surprises that Czechâs official âart districtâ rounded out the top 20.
This neighbourhood once topped the list and is still adored by Madrileños who have banded together in solidarity this year.
Apparently, everything about this neighbourhood, located in Nigeria, makes it âa friendly, inexpensive and surprisingly tranquil side of this buzzing megacityâ.
This neighbourhood was recognised not just as a food mecca, but also a place where people band together against the worse, such as a devastating 2017 hurricane and the current crippling pandemic.
âThe weathered façades of 1920s theatres and the neon sign of a jazz club once frequented by Al Capone. Nearby, on Clifton Avenue, a Black Lives Matter mural created by 18 local artists covers the pavement. That pretty much sums up the chronological juxtaposition that this neighbourhood embodies.âÂ
describes this vibrant community as an âartsy neighbourhood where creatives and free spirits live next to eccentric tattoo parlours and lively dive bars.âÂ
 When the tourists disappeared, this community banded together to keep their area alive, and made it even cooler place than it was during Superbowl LIV.
And here she is. Our apparent shining light in the culture of cool. âWhile the pandemic has hollowed out parts of Dublin city centre,â Amy Oâ Connor writes for âThis northside area has valiantly weathered these truly bizarre times.âÂ
âCombining old-school charm and contemporary buzz, Phibsboro feels at once lived-in and lively. Locals are spoilt for choice with an abundance of coffee shops, restaurants and pubs right on their doorstep.â
 âIf youâre looking for signs that Dublinâs heart is still beating, look no further than this brilliantly unhurried, unvarnished part of town.âÂ
Apparently, this is where locals from the city actually come to eat, which says a lot for a city known for its culinary offerings.
âBefore Singapore was a modern metropolis with high-rise flats, people would live in small villages known as kampungs. Theyâd come together to share food, crowd around a single television and keep an eye on each otherâs children. There were no locked doors, just a tight-knit community living together, trying to make ends meet. While these villages are no longer a common sight in the city, the âkampung spiritâ lives on in Bugis.âÂ
Seems weâd get on with the people of Bugis quite well then.
Another student area makes the list, this time in Taiwan, who have controlled the pandemic quite well from the start. This neighbourhood apparently wins out based on its outdoor offerings.
This legendary part of London has been known for its aura of cool long before the hipsters showed up and skyrocketed its prices.
You mightnât be getting a lot of points for this one, as says this âimmersive, local and yet conveniently centralâ area is home to an electric atmosphere, friendly locals, and few tourists.
âMelville is a joyous, everyone-knows-everyone kind of place. Just north of the city centre, this largely residential neighbourhoodâs tree-fringed main road brims with coffee shops, restaurants and bars that spill on to the pavement.â Nothing sounds new there, but apparently, this is the place to be for antiques and ornate shopping.
Once known as the Wall Street of Tokyo, this neighbourhood is being injected with new life, mixing modernity and tradition in an utterly cool way.
Milan had a tough time at the start of the pandemic, but nothing has changed except a new emphasis on al fresco dining. The neighbourhood is a welcome escape from the main cityâs bustle and offers up amazing vintage shopping opportunities as well as a fun dining atmosphere.
âWhile more affluent areas of Kuala Lumpur try hard to impress with their high-rise buildings and hyper-stylised spots, the cooler side of KL is found in Taman Paramount: a quaint little neighbourhood where locals go to let off steam.âÂ
Only the second East Coast mention for the US, itâs no shock that Boston managed to cling to a spot in the list, and this is the area where locals can see the world from home. âWhile the neighbourhood has always hummed with youthful energy thanks to a heavy student and post-grad population, recent waves of out-of-towners have infused the area with a new spirit, as evidenced by the immigrant-owned eateries that continue to pop up year after year.âÂ
This neighbourhood is known for its elegant 17th-century architecture and uber-chic restaurants and was recognised this year for the ways locals found ways to create a new normal, with chefs turning their homes into makeshift kitchens and beer-lovers to turned to make their own craft.
This waterfront village lies away from the hectic inner city and is well known for its fighting, community spirit. Plenty of new businesses have popped up during the pandemic, as locals support themselves in keeping their neighbourhood alive.
Bali relies on tourists, but after they stopped visiting this year, locals in this neighbourhood banded together, donating food and soap to those in need and hiring locals in resorts. âBanjar Nagi is still Baliâs serene, secret escape â but more importantly, it remains a safe oasis for those who live there,â says.
If Phibsborough was your only point, itâs time to get out that map and plan your next post-Covid escape. Maybe you visited a lot of these cities but failed to make it past their main tourist traps. If so, you still deserve a pat on the back, but try to venture off the beaten track next time.
You look to ask locals what they recommend when travelling abroad, and a good thing too, as youâve managed to see some pretty cool places. Keep it up next decade when you can finally travel again.
Thereâs no map to be found in your trusty backpack. We applaud you and your travelling skills, as figuring out to visit this many international neighbourhoods is a great feat.
If you have this many stamps in your passport, youâre probably too hip to be reading this. Weâd like a portion of your bank account along with that steaming cup of non-dairy cool.
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