VisitLEX was featured by TimeOut as #40 in The 40 Coolest Neighborhoods in the World in 2026. For the full article, click here.
Our on-the-ground experts have weighed in to name the coolest pockets of the world’s best cities. Did your neighbourhood make the list?
Over the past half-decade or so, much has changed in the way we live, work and play in our cities. It wasn’t too long ago that lockdowns rendered the city centre all but obsolete and brought to the fore the vital role of our immediate neighbourhoods and communities.
Now, the balance has been restored. Our local neighbourhood remains fundamental: mini-villages where the barista knows your order, where local restaurants, bars and indie businesses thrive, and where communities continue to band together for all sorts of cool stuff, from art walks and day festivals to creating greener streets and pedestrian-friendly spaces. And six years on from the pandemic, the city centre is seeing a renaissance, with brand-new music venues, galleries, coffee shops and more opening up and welcoming a new generation of hybrid workers and the back-to-the-office crowd (and, of course, city-breakers and tourists).
On this year’s list of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods, you’ll see this mix play out. There are downtown hubs and seaside strips, homely enclaves and warehouse districts, all nominated by our global network of on-the-ground experts. This lucky lot spends their time exploring every corner of their hometowns to discover the best places to eat, drink, shop and hang out right now, so you can trust we know what we’re talking about. To decide the final ranking, a panel of Time Out editors vetted each neighbourhood against a range of criteria, including food and drink, nightlife, unique local businesses, liveability and community.
So, did your neighbourhood make the list this year? Read on to find out: whether for a burgeoning food scene, new creative spaces or day-to-night fun, these are the planet’s coolest places to be right now.
40. Distillery District, Lexington
Photograph: Brevedé Coffee
Horses, bourbon, greenery, bluegrass and good eats all collide in Lexington, Kentucky, making for a seriously charming small town with big personality. This brilliant mix is at its best in the Distillery District, which was abandoned and left untouched for decades before local entrepreneurs came together to revitalise the neighbourhood in 2008. Today, the area is brimming with colourful street art, distilleries (of course), inviting storefronts housing adorable local shops and plenty of friendly people, all housed in a stretch of striking brick buildings strung with lights. Visitors come from far and wide to experience the horse capital of the world, which marked its 250th anniversary last year, and stay for everything else this town has to offer – this charming district included.
The perfect day: Wake up at The Manchester, a picture-perfect boutique hotel in the heart of the Distillery District. Enjoy brunch downstairs at Granddam, then stroll over to Brevede to grab a handcrafted coffee and a freshly baked pastry. Next, head to Barrel House Distillery for a tour and a taste of their high-quality Kentucky bourbon. For a deeper dive into the neighbourhood, book the Bites of the Bluegrass Tour, then cap off the day with sunset drinks at Lost Palm, The Manchester's rooftop bar. Not ready to call it quits? Check out The Burl, a restored train depot and live music venue, to see what shows they have on deck for the evening.
Plan your trip: October is the ideal time to experience Lexington’s horse culture, thanks to crisp fall weather and the arrival of some of the best horses and jockeys in the world for the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland. The iconic horse racing venue is just five miles from the Distillery District, so you can head back and enjoy a cold one after the races.