Share
20th December 2016
12:18am GMT
If there's something we can all agree on it's that being hipster is not only a trend that has seemed to stay around a lot longer than we expected, it has actually become a lifestyle choice. These people are trendsetters, eating, drinking and dressing a certain way long before it was considered cool by the masses. And like many minorities of the world, hipsters tend to populate the rough and ready parts of cities and neighbourhoods that perhaps were once considered derelict, run-down and not middle-class. These guys are the uber creative, the painfully hipster crowd that we inevitably follow. Hipsters exist on all continents across the globe and we've made a lovely alternative listicle of the 17 places with the highest hipster density so when you visit these countries you can avoid the tourist traps and head straight to the trendy quarters:
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Rather than get stuck in the common touristy parts of this city, get lost in the slick Amsterdam-Noord borough. Industrial-style warehouses are scattered around this area that are now used as art galleries, creative spaces, restaurants, bars and homes. It's also home to MTV and Red Bull, making it a creative hub for global companies that consider themselves to go against the grain. Loads of start-ups are situated here and there are plenty of skate parks and public hangouts to... hangout in.
Check out The Top 10 Burgers To Eat In Amsterdam In 2015
Beunos Aires, Argentina
Located in the north-east of Beunos Aires, Palermo is the haven for hipsters in Argentina. For the past 15 years or so, Palermo has received a lot of development making it full to the rafters with trendy restaurants and making it one of the most coveted places to live in the country. Palermo is a neighbourhood of neighbourhoods. Each sub-neighborhood has its own nickname: Palermo Chico, Palermo Soho, Palermo Hollywood, Alto Palermo, Plaza Italia, Las Cañitas and Villa Freud giving it a very European feel.
Texas, USA
Known for their energetic nightlife and close to downtown Austin, East Austin is the hipster hub of Texas. Austin being well known as the location for SXSW it's crowded with creatives and techies. And you'll be spoilt for choice with bars and restaurants that all seem to share the same clandestine theme. If you like the trendy rugged feel of a place then you'll love the wild, wild east of Austin.
Paris, France
Canal Saint-Martin is a canal walk 4.5km along Paris. There's no shortness of boho-hipness here, being a culture hub for designers and creatives. There are also a ridiculous amount of cafes dotted along this stretch in Paris and you might even spot a celebrity while hanging out here. It's also totally acceptable to grab a few beers and sit along the waterfront chilling out. Anything goes.
Toronto, ON, Canada
West Queen West describes an area situated west of Yonge Street in downtown Toronto. It's the most eclectic part of Canada boasting a competitive range of hipster hangouts, bars and dining experiences albeit mainly vegetarian and vegan options. Loads of photographers set up camp here and you can find a photography studio on ever corner.
Tel Aviv, Israel
Florentin is a neighbourhood south of Tel Aviv, Israel. It's named after David Florentin, a Greek-Jew who bought the land back in the 20's. Now-a-days this area is known for it's bohemian lifestyle and it's rich nightlife. It has a very distinctive industrial feel and you're sure to bump into plenty of creatives and tourists while you're here. Florentin is a powerfully evocative place.
Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
Shimokita is the commercial and entertainment district of Toyko. This is where you'll be sure to bump into musicians, creatives and up and coming designers. This place is the hub for the quirky Japanese sub-culture of Harajuku with splashes of this everywhere. Known for their live music venues you won't be short on things to do in the evenings here. The perfect place to let yourself go and immerse yourself in the indie culture.
Barcelona, Spain
This is one of Spain's most vibrant districts - Gràcia has it's very own unique identity. Their bars, restaurants and shops all have an uber trendy feel to them. It's full of hip professionals and is a favourite haunt for Barcelonians who like to get away from the tourist traps themselves. They take huge pride in their public spaces which inevitably turn into open living rooms - Barcelona has one of the best public Wi-Fi services in Europe meaning people tend to do a lot of their work al fresco in this sunny neighbourhood. One thing you'll notice is they LOVE their dogs here, with most venues being dog friendly to accomodate their furry friends. Total hipsters.
Check out the 10 Best Places To Grab A Coffee And Work In Barcelona With Free Wi-Fi
Riga, Latvia
The Miera Street Republic is a tiny strip in Riga, Latvia which is known as the city's creative quarter. When you come here, you'll feel like you're exploring the city like a local - getting stuck into the culture. You'll feel right at home amongst these open-minded souls. This is more of a new-age hipster area, with most of the coffee shops and bars only opening in the past few years but a super experience non the less for anyone who wants to take on Riga to work remotely.
Check out the 10 Best Places To Grab A Coffee And Work In Riga With Free Wi-Fi
Melbourne, Australia
Fitzroy is a suburb of Melbourne about 2 km north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District in the local government area of the City of Yarra. Fitzroy is the real contemporary side of Melbourne and heavily populated with hip, skinny jeans and beard brewing young professionals. Brunswick Street is the main hangout zone, dotted with craft beer bars, cafes, hipster dining options and tons of stunning graffiti.
Dublin, Ireland
Dublin has somewhat become a cultural hub over the past few years. It has always been known for being a top tourist spot but of late Ireland's capital has gone through a serious food revolution with thousands of new restaurant seats available especially in the Dublin 2 region. You'll find bar after bar and eatery after eatery in D2 and you'll rub shoulders with enough hipsters and creatives you'll forget you're even in and Irish city. And the best thing? Everything in Dublin is within walking distance.
Check out our sister site Lovin Dublin for your alternative guide to the city
San Fransisco, CA, USA
The Mission District is located in east-central San Francisco. San Fran has global recognition for being the true global tech hub (Silicon Valley). Mission has awesome transport systems in place so you won't have to tire your legs - you can save that energy for their epic nightlife. You'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to trendy places to eat and drink and you'll never be stuck for things to do with Mission. Latino influences the heart of Mission making the food and local culture some of the best in the world.
Read all about the 7 Things Dublin Seriously Needs To Learn From San Francisco In Order To Keep Improving As A City
Copenhagen, Denmark
Nørrebro is one of the 10 official districts of Copenhagen. It's Denmark's coolest areas and Jægersborggade is a cobbled street of Michelin-starred restaurants, vegan cafés, quirky shops and dive bars. This vibrant, cool, casual spot is a hub for multiculturalism and a super place to head to if you're looking for value for money. Consider it a sister town to Mission, San Fran.
Stockholm, Sweden
Södermalm is a district in central Stockholm that covers the large island that it shares the same name. With a population of nearly 100k it is one of the most densely populated districts of Scandinavia but also one of the most densely populated hipster zones in the world. The Swedes are known for their contemporary outlook on life and minimalism and you're sure to find plenty of that here.
Berlin, Germany
Kreuzberg, a part of the combined Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg borough located south of Mitte since 2001. Berlin is one of the most creative places you can visit and is littered with recognisable graffiti. There's a huge amount of amazing little bars to chose from and you'll never go hungry with the diverse eateries on offer too. Every Tuesday and Friday, the canal front comes alive with the famous Turkish market where you can buy literally everything! There are also a few independent galleries in the area that give it an amazing eclectic charm.
Check out our sister site Lovin Berlin for all the latest on the amazing European city
London, UK
Still the heart of hipsterville in the UK, Shoreditch is awash with cool creatives and young twenty-somethings looking for a good time. There's street food at every corner you turn here and always so many alternative festivals run by promoters throughout the year in disused buildings and car parks. Shoreditch is the Mecca for all things trendy and you'll won't be disappointed with what's on offer.
Read all about The Top 10 Burgers To Eat In London In 2015
& The Top 10 Places To Eat Chicken Wings In London
& 10 Best Places To Grab A Coffee And Work In London With Free Wi-Fi
New York, NY, USA
Williamsburg is a neighbourhood of about 100k inhabitants in the NYC borough of Brooklyn. It has long be renowned for being the most hipster place in the world and it doesn't disappoint. The best way to get around here is by bike (just like the locals) and head into the various coffee shops that litter Williamsburg. And we have to give these guys credit - they were the first ones to make street style trendy. Yes, those beards, skinny jeans and over-sized knitted jumpers all originated in that order from here. There's a super artsy feel to the place and it's hard to ignore the musical, creative and alt boutiques scattered about.
