A major international travel publication has officially released its annual rankings, and an unexpected Ontario city just snagged a top spot on the global stage.
Located just over a one hour drive from Toronto, Time Out Magazine has officially named Downtown St. Catharines as one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world for 2026, placing it at an impressive ninth overall on their list.
Thanks to its waterfront charm, local art scene, thriving vintage shops and record stores, and proximity to some of Niagara’s best farms and wineries, Time Out praised it as “one of Canada’s coolest city escapes – shifting Niagara-on-the-Lake as the region’s epicentre.”
The historic heart of the city centres on St. Paul Street, a curved main street where more than 100 heritage buildings (some dating to the early nineteenth century) house a handful of the country’s most exciting new restaurants.
The area is also home to Montebello Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, which has a rich history tied to the Underground Railroad. This year’s local celebrations even marked the 175th anniversary of Harriet Tubman’s arrival in St. Catharines, where she lived for nearly a decade.
To craft the perfect day in the city, Time Out suggests starting your morning with a cinnamon bun from Sugar + Butter Baking Co. or a Peach Cobbler doughnut from Beechwood Doughnuts, before browsing indie-exclusive vinyl at Mindbomb Records and vintage finds at Auds N Ends Boutique and Nac Studio Shop.
For food, the magazine shouts out the cherry cola and Luau Pig & Pineapple pie from Di’s Pizza Pies and a box of pastries from Happy Snack, as well as Michelin-minted Fat Rabbit, Bar Les Incompetents, and Oddbird.
If you are planning a trip, Time Out notes that September to October is ideal due to its beautiful fall foliage alongside harvest season at nearby farms and wineries, while the year-round STC Farmers Market and live programming at the Performing Arts Centre are also in full swing.
Here are the top 10 coolest neighbourhoods in the world for 2026, according to Time Out:
- Jongno 3-ga, Seoul, Korea
- L’Ocean District, Rabat, Morocco
- Neos Kosmos, Athens, Greece
- Chinatown, Los Angeles, U.S.
- Govanhill, Glasgow, Scotland
- Kitakagaya, Osaka, Japan
- Chapinero Alto, Bogota, Colombia
- Koenji, Tokyo, Japan
- Downtown St. Catharines, Canada
- Esquilino, Rome, Italy
You can check out the full global rankings list and read more about the feature on the Time Out website.
