Marrickville and Yarraville are Among Top 10 Coolest Neighbourhoods

Focused on ‘it’s cool to be kind’ idea and considered factors like art, culture, food, atmosphere, and personality

The world of tourism is changing with time. Now, people want to explore the coolest neighbourhoods that represent a city’s true culture rather than just getting the overall flavour offered by a metropolis. The recent coronavirus crisis has also forced people to become tourists in their hometowns once more. As a result, the focus has shifted to rediscovering certain areas that were earlier unnoticed in the hustle-bustle of everyday life.

Following this theme of rediscovering the coolest neighbourhoods, TimeOut has crafted a list of 40 best, most welcoming and coolest neighbourhoods after taking the votes of about 38,000 city dwellers from all over the world. The global media and leisure site focused on ‘it’s cool to be kind’ idea this year and considered factors like art, culture, food, atmosphere, and personality while preparing the list.

Two Australian neighbourhoods Sydney’s Marrickville and Melbourne’s Yarraville have made it to the top 10 of the coolest neighbourhoods list. Marrickville has been defined as a “true melting pot” while Yarraville is defined as being emblematic of Melbourne’s renowned status of being a hub for “live music, café culture, world-class arts and restaurants.”

Though Yarraville had gone through two lockdowns, the charm of the place is still on. It is the reason it gained the fifth spot on the list of top 10 coolest neighbourhoods. Marrickville gained the tenth spot on the list.

TimeOut took feelgood factors into account while deciding the coolest neighbourhoods. It includes the gesture of Yarraville local Lee Smith-Moir who placed happy signs along laneways and footpaths throughout the suburb to cheer up people in these testing times. It also includes the gesture of Belle Hadiwidjaja who roller-skates throughout the neighbourhood in rotating costumes to cheer people when they enjoy their daily permitted walks.

TimeOut noted Sydney for the city’s “tribal hoods defined by their cultural niches – like China Town in Haymarket, Little Italy in Leichhardt, the backpacker bubble in Bondi and Oxford Street’s gay village.”

Marrickville was appreciated for having ample diversity which includes Artisan bakers, no-frill Vietnamese sandwich shops, stylish sommeliers, and dive bars. It creates an eclectic mix of cultures and nationalities.