If you’re looking to dodge the tourist traps and drink natural wine in a neighbourhood that actually feels alive, pack your bags for Latin America. ’s annual round-up of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world has just landed, and the region has crushed it this year, locking down five spots in the global top 40. From high-altitude bohemian enclaves to newly minted creative hubs, these are the corners where culture, nightlife and community are currently thriving.
The region’s highest entry is Chapinero Alto in Bogotá at seventh place overall. Spread across roughly 16 hilly blocks with the city’s forested mountains as a backdrop, the neighbourhood has a laidback, almost village-like feel. It’s home to Colombia’s largest gay community, alongside a mixed crowd of digital nomads, students and local creatives. You can expect an architectural jumble too, as Tudor-style brick mansions sit next to 1970s low-rises and sleek modern lofts, all wrapped around a walkable strip of restaurants, cafés and terrace wine bars.
In Brazil, two neighbourhoods feature. Laranjeiras in Rio de Janeiro, the 17th coolest neighbourhood on the list, began life as an orange grove before becoming an aristocratic retreat and later a textile hub. Today it is one of the city’s most charming, culturally rich corners, home to tree-lined streets, traditional bars and a lively Saturday market complete with live choro music.
República in the heart of São Paulo came 25th, an area that centres on the iconic Copan building, a huge residential complex whose ground floor alone houses restaurants, bookshops, cafés and galleries, alongside standout spots like acclaimed pork restaurant A Casa do Porco and a thriving late-night bar and karaoke scene.
Over in Argentina, the neighbourhood representing the region is Chacagiales in Buenos Aires, landing at 22nd place. It’s a new name coined for the area sitting between the established neighbourhoods of Chacarita and Colegiales. Once defined by workshops, warehouses and traditional family homes, it’s evolved into a vibrant creative pocket, with leafy streets and green spaces, independent cafés, neighbourhood restaurants, wine bars and cultural venues, pulling in long-time residents, young creatives and curious visitors alike.
Rounding out the list is Centro Histórico in Lima, Peru, coming in at 36th. Long considered an overcrowded daytime tourist draw and a place best avoided after dark, the district has turned a corner, with new contemporary art spaces, rooftop bars overlooking the Plaza de Armas and a historic casona now home to one of the city’s finest pastry shops.
Curious to see where else made the cut? Here’s the full list of the world’s 40 coolest neighbourhoods for 2026.
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