This is why Sydney was nowhere to be found on the ‘world’s coolest suburbs’ list

Opinion: Every single year without fail I find myself planning an international trip to use up my annual leave because the thought of staying in Sydney for a holiday feels like an immense waste of time and money.

I believe that’s precisely why our harbourside city didn’t make the latest Time Out’s latest “world’s coolest cities” list. I mean, let’s be honest: there’s not much to do in Sydney if you’re not at the beach or eating.

Aside from the fact that it’s impossible to find a coffee after 2pm and dinner after 8pm, there are several factors stopping Sydney from reaching its full potential as a “cool city.”

Firstly, everything is expensive. My friends and I have a running joke that you loose $100 in Sydney every time you take a breath.

If you live outside the metropolitan area, like many of us do, a weekend Uber to and from the city is easily over $200. If you choose to drive instead, the toll road and parking will cost you close to $100.

Of course, the way around that would be a robust 24-hour public transport system. However, unlike other global cities, our train and metro system does not run around the clock on weekends.

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With inflation and the rising cost of living, young people, who are the lifeblood of every “cool” city, simply don’t have the funds to step outside the house any more.

Then we’ve got the compounding issue of nightlife. It’s nearly impossible to eat dinner after 8pm anywhere in the CBD and if you’ve ever been clubbing in Europe, you’d know Sydney’s nightlife is dead in the water.

If you’re looking to hit the clubbing scene – good luck finding it.

Its no secret that the lock out laws flatlined Sydney’s after-dark culture. Even after they were abolished, they’ve left a lingering stench on the harbourside city.

Without a dedicated strip of clubs akin to the heydays of King’s Cross, I fear Sydney’s nightlife will never truly recover.

While Chris Minns’ state government is trying to revive it, it sometimes feels like we’re beating a dead horse. It’s already gone, just let it die.

The city is obviously not the only place to go out in Sydney – and there are definitely still “cool” pockets out in the suburbs.

Inner-city and inner-west suburbs like Marrickville, Newtown, Paddington, and Burwood are, technically, the “coolest” parts of Sydney.

Burwood rightfully managed to make the list last year, but no Sydney suburb was featured this year – I suspect it’s due to less hustle and bustle in and around the CBD as Sydneysiders are being forced to stretch their budgets.

Instead, it was Melbourne, Brisbane and even Hobart localities that received applause in 2026. Hobart!

I must confess, as a lifelong Sydneysider, my personal favourite “cool” areas are also far, far away from the CBD.

Suburbs like Parramatta, Canley Vale, Cabramatta, and Bankstown offer some incredible options, including rooftop bars, funky restaurants and clubs.

Sadly, because they’re “out west,” they’re often overlooked and underappreciated by tourists and residents alike.

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One big thing going for Sydney is that I think it has the best food scene in the world. It’s difficult to find a place anywhere else with such a diverse and exceptional food culture.

That is Sydney’s saving grace when it comes to “coolness”.

Plus, there are a handful of fun things to do in Sydney if you look hard enough and are willing to go outside your comfort zone.

You could hit some balls at your local driving range, play a game of pickle ball, take a cooking class or join a local walking group.

If it’s too late for dinner, you can always count on a killer dessert in Sydney’s western suburbs.