Historic Vancouver neighbourhood crowned one of the coolest in the world

Vancouver has been a hot spot for international travellers this year, and a historic Mount Pleasant just got the bragging rights for being one of the coolest areas in the world.

Hospitality media group Time Out has ranked the coolest neighbourhoods worldwide, and the Vancouver spot cracked the top 40.

According to Time Out, a local neighbourhood remains fundamental to a community’s success.

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“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,” wrote Grace Beard, travel editor for Time Out.

A panel of Time Out editors ranked each neighbourhood based on several vetting criteria, including food and drink, nightlife, unique local businesses, livability, and community.

Mount Pleasant earned the list’s 35th spot for 2026.

The neighbourhood was selected thanks to the unique independent businesses that call it home, its diverse culinary offerings, and its pedestrian-friendly nature.

“The City of Vancouver has been busy creating more community spaces, too,” explained Time Out. “Like the new public plaza on Main and 14th – handily in the vicinity of some of the best coffee shops in the neighbourhood.

“Want a drink? The area’s brewery scene has a 140-year history, with the first opening here in the 1880s”

Several local businesses got a shout-out in the international ranking, including R&B Brewing, Neptoon Records, and Thrift World.

The publication also outlined what the perfect day in Mount Pleasant would look like.

It starts with a trip to Modus Coffee Roasters. Then grab lunch and browse the garments at Mount Pleasant Vintage and Mintage.

Then visit Lykopis Archery for a session and drop by Brassneck Brewery for a post-archery beer. Finally, enjoy dinner at the all-vegetarian Budgies Burritos.

“While the Granville Entertainment District was the main draw when the 2026 FIFA World Cup was in town, locals know that Mount Pleasant is the place to be for the best vibes in Vancouver,” added Time Out.

The full list of Time Out’s coolest neighbourhoods in the world can be found online.

A travel website that looks at cool spots in the world also recently named Mount Pleasant the “Brooklyn of Vancouver.”

“Mount Pleasant is our pick for the Brooklyn of Vancouver. It has the exact thing this title tries to name: a scene that is creative without being precious, and sidewalks that fill up on a Saturday with nobody in a rush. Vancouverites are welcome to tell us we are wrong,” said Per, creator of travel site Brooklyn Of.