Two of the 'coolest' streets in the world are right here in Australia
Sometimes it can be one street that makes the difference when visiting a place, and now the 'coolest' strips in the world have been revealed.
Global Time Out editors have selected the streets around the world that "epitomises the very best of their city", and two Aussie spots have made the list.
The travel experts ranked each street against criteria including food, drink, culture, fun and community spirit.
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Montague Street in Brisbane has been named the sixth 'coolest' street in the world. Brisbane City Council
Coming in sixth place overall was Montague Street in Brisbane's West End.
This edgy street was described as "a once-sleepy industrial strip that has reinvented itself as the creative backbone of Brisbane's most eclectic, free-spirited neighbourhood".
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Local editor Melissa Woodley points to the wellness spaces, neighbourhood pubs and excellent coffee roasters on offer among other things.
"On Saturdays, Davies Park comes alive as the West End Markets – serving up fresh produce, street eats and wholesome community vibes," she suggested.
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The West End Markets are on every Saturday. Instagram
As for the coolest street in the whole world? This year that title went to Rua do Senado in Rio de Janeiro.
With its historic townhouses and traditional bars, editors said the South American street has been "undergoing a stylish revival".
"Rua do Senado is known for hosting the lively Samba do Armazém Senado sessions on Saturdays, while offering a wide array of restaurants, shops and bars, and art collective Solar dos Abacaxis, which is located in a former 1912 factory," they wrote.
The coolest street in the world is in Rio de Janeiro. Getty
Senado was followed by Orange Street in Osaka, Rua do Bonjardim in Porto, Fanghua Street in Chengdu and Sherbrooke Street West in Montreal, to round out the top five.
"Whether it's a canal-side stretch or a major thoroughfare, every street on the list is teeming with local life, from independent businesses and excellent food and drink to world-class nightlife and culture," Grace Beard, Travel Editor at Time Out said.
"Far from generic hipster hubs, these streets tell the story of their cities, encapsulating exactly what makes them so unique and worth exploring."
Rua do Senado in Rio is often buzzing with people, food and dancing. Instagram
In 2024, High Street in Melbourne's north was crowned the official coolest street in the world.
While it was knocked from the top spot, Melbourne did have another entry on this year's list. Landing at 29th was one of Richmond's most popular strips: Swan Street
Close to the MCG and Melbourne Park precinct, Swan Street offers excellent drinking and dining spots – think chic wine bars like Clover and Tartine with a side of boutique shops and Pilates studios.
Swan Street in Melbourne also made the list of 31. Visit Victoria
Time Out's 31 coolest streets in the world for 2025:
- Rio de Janeiro: Rua do Senado
- Osaka: Orange Street
- Porto: Rua do Bonjardim
- Chengdu: Fanghua Street
- Montreal: Sherbrooke Street West
- Brisbane: Montague Road
- Berlin: Maybachufer
- Thessaloniki: Olympou Street
- New York City: Orchard Street
- Ho Chi Minh: Vinh Khanh Street (District 4, HCMC)
- Brussels: Rue de Flandre
- Tokyo: Nishihara Shotengai
- Paris: Rue des Gravilliers
- Singapore: Joo Chiat
- Mexico City: Avendia Alvaro Obregon
- Jakarta: Jalan Kemang Raya
- Rome: Via Panisperna
- Manila: Nakpil St, Malate
- Dubai: Alserkal Avenue
- Vancouver: Cambie Street
- Madrid: Calle del Barquillo
- Cape Town: Kloof Street
- London: Blackstock Road
- Buenos Aires: Defensa, San Telmo
- Los Angeles: Pacific Coast Highway, Central Malibu
- Bangkok: Charoen Nakhon Road
- Kuala Lumpur: Jalan Pudu
- Chicago: Roscoe Street
- Melbourne: Swan Street, Richmond
- Tangier: Boulevard Pasteur
- Margate: Northdown Road
