Jongno 3-ga, which ranked third on the magazine's 2021 list, rose to No. 1 this year. Time Out attributed the rise to the neighborhood's growing late-night dining scene, street food, characteristic shops and its blend of Seoul's historic character with newer cultural trends.
The area's Ikseon-dong district, known for century-old hanoks or traditional wooden houses, has become a major attraction, while its pojangmacha, or late-night street food stalls, draw younger crowds with a variety of dishes, "driving the neighborhood's current renaissance."
Nearby Seosulla-gil offers a quieter contrast, with craft workshops, jewelry studios and wine bars alongside the stone walls of Jongmyo Shrine. The neighborhood is also home to an arcade in Nagwon, a longstanding hub for musical instrument shops that has become part of the area's evolving cultural scene.
Morocco's L'Ocean district in Rabat ranked second, followed by Neos Kosmos, an up-and-coming neighborhood in Athens, Greece.
Los Angeles' Chinatown in the U.S., Glasgow's Govanhill in Scotland and Osaka's Kitakagaya in Japan were among the other neighborhoods included on the list.
Time Out said its rankings were compiled by its global network of local experts and reviewed by editors based on factors including nightlife, independent businesses, livability and community character.
AJP Takeaways
- Seoul's Jongno 3-ga ranked No. 1 on Time Out's list of the world's coolest neighborhoods for 2026.
- Time Out highlighted Jongno 3-ga's late-night dining, street food, unique shops and mix of historic and modern culture.
- Rabat's L'Ocean district ranked second, followed by Neos Kosmos in Athens, Greece.
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