[imagesource:wikimediacommons]

TimeOut has released its sixth annual list of the world’s 40 coolest neighbourhoods, and one of our own Cape Town gems has landed on the list again.

The magazine polled more than 12,000 people around the world for this year’s top 40 list to unearth “the neighbourhoods in their hometowns where everyone wants to be right now” – and in Cape Town, that just so happens to be Sea Point.

The Atlantic Seaboard gem has once again sauntered in at number 21, which is a leap from where it was last year at number 38.

After polling the people, the selection was further narrowed down “with the insight and expertise of city editors and local experts who know their cities better than anyone else”, with factors like community and social ventures, access to open and green space, and thriving street life, taken into account.

The magazine notes how neighbourhoods across the globe have shifted and grown post-pandemic, becoming increasingly globalised, but despite the “transformation over recent years, they remain resolutely local at heart”.

“Slick new developments and cool cafés might bring in new crowds, but neighbourhood stalwarts – from old pubs to family greengrocers – keep it real.”

Thus, the focus this year is on places with “big personalities”, and Sea Point can certainly be described that way. If you don’t believe me, spy on one of the community Facebook groups for the area.

Sea Point is described as a “200-year-old suburb” and “a beautiful slice of Cape Town… popular for its five-kilometre seaside promenade and public gardens that draw a refreshingly diverse crowd of locals and tourists”.

Image: Flickr

The mag also boasts of the “multiculturalism of this 200-year-old suburb”, acknowledging the Jewish community – and the city’s only eruv, which is an agreed-upon “private domain” for Jewish folk to be allowed to carry things on Shabbat, despite the religious law saying they shouldn’t – as well as the happy mix of young professionals, pan-African migrants and digital nomads.

TimeOut then suggests the perfect day out, which includes all the favourites; Paris Cape Town for the best croissants in town, the Mojo Market for all the flavours, Coco Safar for coffee, kayak adventures from Three Anchor Bay, The Winchester Hotel for sundoweners, and lastly, Three Wise Monkeys for some of the best ramen in the city.

Yep, locally approved. The nice thing is that we all know there are a host more recommendables in Sea Point.

As for the COOLEST neighbourhood in the world, TimeOut reckons its Laureles in Medellín, Colombia, home to “the famed nightlife strip known as La 70″, as well as Estadio Atanasio Girardot, the city’s main football stadium and concert venue:

Image: CasaCol

The second coolest ‘hood is Smithfield in Dublin, Ireland, “where long-standing stalwarts coexist alongside exciting new ventures”:

Image: Dublin Town

And third is Carabanchel in Madrid, Spain, which was once a working-class area only to be “buzzing with trendy art galleries and cutting-edge creative spaces” now:

Housing building ‘Carabanchel 24’, in Carabanchel district by Rafael Canizares Torquemada, 2010. Image: Wikimedia Commons

You can check out all the other cool neighbourhoods on the list over here.

[source:timeslive]