The 30 coolest streets have been revealed, and 7th Street in Melville, Johannesburg and Main Road in Kalk Bay are among the hippest.
Global (20 June 2021) – The 30 coolest streets in the world have been named by the Time Out guide… And 7th Street, Melville, Johannesburg has been awarded the number 12 spot and Main Road, Kalk Bay, Cape Town number 22.
As part of their Time Out Index 2021 survey, the publication asked more than 27,000 city-dwellers around the world about the best, most overrated and most undervalued neighbourhoods in their home town. Then, armed with their opinions, they went to the experts – Time Out editors and contributing writers who know the city like nobody else – and asked them to pinpoint the one neighbourhood in their city with the biggest buzz about it right now.

This is the second time that the Time Out Index has lauded 7th Street for its abundance of pubs, clubs and restaurants, as well as its strong sense of community.
“There’s always a discernible buzz. And that’s probably because pretty much the entire street is filled with restaurants, pubs and clubs,” the guide said.
Time Out said of Main Road, Kalk Bay, Cape Town:
“The main road in suburban Kalk Bay is just magical. Head past all the historic sea-facing homes, just beyond the train station, and you’ll find the dream spot for an afternoon mooch in the sun. On a warm day, it’s habitual to start with a swim at Dalebrook tidal pool, where locals and visitors lay out towels on the rocks.”
Topping the list is a street far, far away from here… It is Smith Street that’s located in Melbourne, Australia.
Number two on the list is Barcelona’s Passeig de Sant Joan.
South Bank, London, best known for its buzzing Thameside pathway, is the bronze medalist.
Here’s the full list, in order of coolness:
- Smith Street, Melbourne
- Passeig de Sant Joan, Barcelona
- South Bank, London
- San Isidro, Havana
- Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles
- Witte de Withstraat, Rotterdam
- Rua Três Rios, São Paulo
- Haji Lane, Singapore
- Rua Rodrigues de Faria, Lisbon
- Calle Thames, Buenos Aires
- Krizíkova Ulice, Prague
- 7th Street, Melville, Johannesburg
- Cat Street, Tokyo
- 30th Avenue, New York
- Levinsky Street, Tel Aviv
- Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago
- Gran Vía, Madrid
- Calle Ocho, Miami
- King Street, Sydney
- Rua de Miguel Bombarda, Porto
- Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City
- Main Road, Kalk Bay, Cape Town
- Alserkal Avenue, Dubai
- Rue Tiquetonne, Paris
- Mariannenstrase, Berlin
- Calle José Gálvez, Lima
- Seaport Boulevard, Boston
- Jægersborggade, Copenhagen
- Allen Avenue, Lagos
- Star Street, Hong Kong