According to Time Out’s 2025 ranking, it’s the hottest alley in Metro Manila right now.
When it comes to travel, many people prefer venturing off the beaten path—those undiscovered destinations in smaller, lesser-known cities or simply ones that do not draw flocks of tourists. It’s no wonder, as these alternative attractions offer unique and authentic experiences, deeper cultural immersion, and just a different side of the world.
This is why global listing guide Time Out has come up with its annual “Coolest Streets” list, which rounds up the world’s hippest and most unique alleys around the globe. These places are “neighborhood backstreets and lively avenues that locals love; the places packed with independent shops and creative people, where a brand-new hi-fi listening bar will share the space with an old-school grocer or a centuries-old pub,” said Time Out Travel Editor Grace Beard.
Strolling in each walkaway, alley, and urban artery on the list “is like taking a stroll through the city in miniature, getting a taste of what makes life there brilliant–from food and culture to shopping and nightlife.”
First published in 2021, Time Out’s “Coolest Streets in the World” list initially intended to support “great local businesses and communities” that made our cities and streets “exciting” during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. “They have kept us going through the past year and it’s more important than ever to support them as the world begins reopening,” said James Manning, International Editor of Time Out.
Since then, the list has been highly referred to by media—like CNN and BBC News—locals, and tourists as a credible source for identifying dynamic urban neighborhoods. It is curated by Time Out’s global network of local editors and experts who are tasked to “nominate the street that best epitomizes their city.” From there, the magazine’s global travel team selects and ranks each street against criteria, including food, drink, culture, fun, and community spirit.
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The Philippines, of course, has been part of the list, thanks to the country’s vibrant street life and rich cultural heritage. Last year’s list featured LP Leviste Street in Manila, which Time Out said “doesn’t scream cool at first glance.” Still, it managed to enter the list on the last, or the 30th, spot for its coffee shops, thrift stores, and a host of independent food and drink joints inside nondescript buildings, “if you know where to look.”
In 2025, no alley is hotter in Metro Manila than Nakpil Street, which stands at no. 18 on the list. Located between the historic Roxas Boulevard and the busy thoroughfare of Taft Avenue, Nakpil Street is referred to by Time Out as “Manila’s hip go-to spot in the 1980s and 2000s, before being outshone by the more modern Makati business district.”
“Now, Nakpil Street has reentered the scene, unpretentious and as diverse as ever,” it continued. It is a must-visit for its “uniquely Filipino blend of historical and hip.”
The historic street is situated near landmarks like the Philippine Women’s University, the Philippine General Hospital, as well as Manila’s best-preserved and restored colonial houses, such as the ancestral Bahay Nakpil-Bautista. During nighttime, locals and tourists live the night away in the street’s restaurants, bars, and cafés “for all tastes.”
Time Out particularly recommends “the down-to-earth Silya Restobar” for its irresistibly crispy pork sisig, cheap beer, and a “lively atmosphere with office workers, musicians, and a smattering of travelers.” For those craving a good drink, the magazine suggests heading to the Ludus Bar, which is located at the center of the street and offers an extended happy hour from 6 pm to 10 pm.
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Top 10 coolest cities of 2025
This year’s winner in Time Out’s list of coolest streets in the world is Rua do Senado in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The magazine says that this street, which is defined by its classic bohemian vibe, now bursts with “fresh energy” from its newly opened spots alongside the historic bar and restaurant Armazém Senado. This includes the Lilia restaurant, Labuta Bar, and Labuta Braseiro, as well as the Destilaria Maravilha, which brings more life to the street with its regular lineup of DJs and live shows.
Following Brazil’s Rua do Senado at no. 2 is Orange Street in Osaka, Japan. It’s a must-visit for offering a “snapshot of everything Osaka has been and is becoming,” according to Time Out. While relatively quieter than its neighboring alleys, Orange Street buzzes with vintage furniture and clothes shops located beside the boutiques of forward-looking Japanese fashion labels that altogether will take you through the rich history of the city.
Other than Osaka’s Orange Street, other places worth visiting for something new and old is Rua do Bonjardim in Porto, Portugal and Fanghua Street, in Chedu, China. Standing at the third and fourth spots respectively, each street has a vibe that mixes retro life and youthful, design-forward energy. Bonjardin is close to major attractions but, at the same time, it takes you far from the chaos with its vibrant mix of new and old businesses positioned door after door.
Fanghua is described by Time Out as the street to be for “people-watching, coffee sipping and boutique browsing.” Here, you’ll find low-rise apartments decorated with murals, coffee shops that turn into wine bars, studies selling handmade jewelry, and other commercial establishments with glass windows packed with locals playing mahjong.
Art, meanwhile, thrives in Sherbrooke Street (no. 5) in Montreal, Canada and Montague Road (no. 6) in Brisbane, Australia. Sherbrooke is home to “architectural gems and historic properties” like the McCord Stewart Museum and Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, as well as the newly renovated Sofitel hotel and the century-old The Ritz Carlton. Over at the “eclectic, free-spirit neighborhood” of Montague, you’ll find the beautifully restored Thomas Dixon Centre, the go-to for Queensland ballet productions, as well as the Queensland Theatre Company where crowds flock for big-ticket musicals.
Other cities making it to the Top 10 are Maybachufer (no. 7) in Berlin, Germany for its parties and Neuköllner Wochenmarkt Turkish market; Olympou Street (no. 8) in Thessaloniki, Greece for its “elegant, laidback atmosphere and outstanding food scene” that mixes the city’s “vibrant, student-driven energy;” Orchard Street (no. 9) for how it maintains New York City’s authenticity and grit through fascinating shops, dining destination, and low-rise brick buildings that has since been attracting crowds to the city; as well as the vibrant food street of Vĩnh Khánh (no. 10) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Find all the alleys and thoroughfares that that make up Time Out’s list of 31 coolest cities in the world for 2025 here.
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