And the coolest neighborhood in the US!
Earlier this week an annual comprehensive survey carried out by award-winning magazine Condé Nast Traveler deemed Chicago the top city in the United States. It was an unprecedented fifth year running that Chicago took the top spot in Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. Now our great city has claimed yet another prize.
Chicago’s cosmopolitan Andersonville neighborhood, which began as a small village of Swedish immigrants on Chicago’s far North Side in the mid-19th century, has been voted the second-coolest neighborhood in the world and the coolest neighborhood in the US in a Time Out survey.
Time Out selects a shortlist of the coolest neighborhoods in the world based on the results of an annual Time Out Index survey which are then meticulously vetted by a panel of experts. Criteria including food and drink, nightlife, culture, sustainability, community spirit, and how forward-thinking a neighborhood is then contributed to ranking the top neighborhoods.
It’s unsurprising that Chicago’s eccentric and laid-back Andersonville, therefore, scored so highly. The neighborhood is a cosmopolitan and vibrant enclave of Chicago with iconic architecture and a flourishing hub for the LGBTQ+ community. Home to a charming array of antique shops, artisanal vendors, Scandi-inspired eateries, and an eclectic mix of bars and restaurants, the historically Swedish neighborhood has a one-of-a-kind charm.
@ChiPartyAunt Chicago is on a roll this week! Andersonville voted 2nd coolest neighborhood in the WORLD by @timeout! @avillechamber @chicagohttps://t.co/j7Z58y4gk3 pic.twitter.com/yWRwKuJnsu
— Jake (@jake9085) October 6, 2021
Time Out pointed towards Clark Street corridor and “how the area has bounced back in a big way, welcoming new bars and restaurants, while events like the Taste of Andersonville have done a top job of showcasing beloved local institutions.” The district’s “proximity to beaches and coastal parks has only made it more appealing during the pandemic” and as a “community that’s looking forward,” it has launched initiatives “like Clark Street Composts – a pilot program that could serve as a model for eco-friendly composting throughout Chicago.”
The far North Side was beaten to the coolest neighborhood in the world by Copenhagen’s Nørrebro while Jongno 3-ga in Seoul, South Korea, came in third.
See the full list of Time Out’s 2021 49 coolest neighborhoods in the world.
[Featured image from Shutterstock]