Posted on Wednesday, 30 August 2017

A quadrant of the Malaysian capital boasting a bevy of community-focussed eateries and a former Korean industrial zone transformed into a mecca for food and art lovers. These are two of the trendiest neighbourhoods in the world – according to a top 10 compiled by Lonely Planet.

The selected unique urban zones are considered up-and-coming and are unlikely to feature in your basic travel guide. They're neighbourhoods that have either suddenly appeared on the travel map due to a high-paced transformation, or they have been bubbling away with special cultural and culinary offerings for decades. Lonely Planet considers these locations "ripe for exploration right now."

So if you're seeking an off-beat inner city vibe for your next trip, consider the following:

Sunset Park, New York City

Popular with sun downers across the Big Apple, Sunset Park is to be found at the foot of Park Slope, one of Brooklyn's loftiest hills. LP says this area offers a "heady mix of cultures and traditions." Not surprising, really, since Chinatown and the Latin American community are both right next door. It also offers great views of the skyscrapers downtown.

Seongsu-dong, Seoul

The factories and warehouses of this former industrial hub have been reclaimed by numerous innovative entrepreneurs, who have set up cafes, eateries and galleries for the great and good of the South Korean capital. Quirkiest of the quirky include Café Onion, Zagmachi and OR.ER.

Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur

The Malaysia capital has seen rapid change in recent years, driven by huge wealth creation. Much of this new money can be seen KL's Damansara Heights, where a host of cosmopolitan conveniences and community-centric cafes have sprung up. Check out the speakeasy Skullduggery and Flour, and the café-bakery Huckleberry. Gentrification has never been so thirst-quenching or tasty.

Tooting, London

Just making the tenth spot in the Lonely Planet run-down is London's Tooting. The neighbourhood has one of the best “curry corridors” in the UK, while there are arts and crafts aplenty in Tooting Market. Offbeat public houses include The Little Bar, The Castle and The Antelope.

Borgo San Frediano, Florence

Once better known for its craftwork than for its hipsters, Borgo San Frediano on the south side of the Arno has blossomed into one of the Florence's coolest quarters. For food, try the vintage-style Gesto, where you can fill up on taste-bud-tickling tapas. For a unique cocktail, head to the tiny Mad Souls & Spirits, where you can sample the concoctions of Neri Fantechi and Julian Biondi, who are "cult alchemists", according to Lonely Planet.

The full top 10:

1. Borgo San Frediano, Florence

2. Seongsu-dong, Seoul

3. The Triangle, Lisbon

4. Vesterbro, Copenhagen

5. Business Bay, Dubai

6. Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur

7. Sunset Park, New York City

8. Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro

9. Frelard, Seattle

10. Tooting, London

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