Time Out has released its much-awaited annual list of 40 coolest neighbourhoods in the world for 2026. And guess what, Humayunpur, South Delhi’s famous neighbourhood has been ranked No. 16 on the prestigious list. The other neighbourhoods are in Seoul, Rabat, Athens, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Rome. The list is based on nominations from its global network of local experts, followed by assessment by its editors across factors including food and drink, nightlife, culture, independent businesses, liveability and sense of community.According to Time Out’s 2026 ranking, the top 40 neighbourhoods are:Jongno 3-ga, Seoul, South KoreaL’Ocean District, Rabat, MoroccoNeos Kosmos, Athens, GreeceChinatown, Los Angeles, USAGovanhill, Glasgow, ScotlandKitakagaya, Osaka, JapanChapinero Alto, Bogotá, ColombiaKoenji, Tokyo, JapanDowntown, St. Catharines, CanadaEsquilino, Rome, ItalyRussafa, Valencia, SpainTân Định, Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamSão Bento, Lisbon, PortugalTalat Noi, Bangkok, ThailandSlakthusområdet, Stockholm, SwedenHumayunpur, Delhi, IndiaLaranjeiras, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilWest Town, Chicago, USARákóczi tér, Budapest, HungaryJalan Besar, SingaporeCrooswijk, Rotterdam, NetherlandsChacagiales, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaBandra West, Mumbai, IndiaCathedral Quarter, Belfast, United KingdomRepública, São Paulo, BrazilChangning, Shanghai, ChinaOost, Amsterdam, NetherlandsFinancial District, New York, United StatesNew Farm, Brisbane, AustraliaQuartier d’Aligre, Paris, FranceKalk Bay, Cape Town, South AfricaNorth Hobart, Hobart, AustraliaNewington Green, London, United KingdomYulin, Chengdu, ChinaMount Pleasant, Vancouver, CanadaCentro Histórico, Lima, PeruBoavista, Porto, PortugalStarstreet Precinct, Hong KongSouth Melbourne, Melbourne, AustraliaDistillery District, Lexington, United StatesHumayunpur: From farmland to one of Delhi’s most distinctive neighborhood
Delhi, Humayun Tomb (Canva)
At No. 16, Humayunpur is not just recognised for its restaurants. Its place on the list reflects a neighbourhood where food, migration, independent businesses and community have combined to create a distinctive slice of contemporary Delhi.Humayunpur’s story is very different from the polished shopping and dining districts usually associated with South Delhi. The neighbourhood was once surrounded by farmland. In the 1960s, much of the surrounding agricultural land was acquired for the development of what became Safdarjung Enclave, while the original village continued to exist as an urban settlement.Over the decades, Humayunpur became home to migrants from different parts of India. By the early 2010s, young people from the Northeast started arriving in Delhi for higher education and employment. The area’s relatively affordable accommodation and its growing community network helped turn it into a familiar base for Northeastern residents in the capital.What’s in for travellers
Food
Today, food is at the heart of Humayunpur’s appeal. Time Out says the neighbourhood has more than 50 kitchens, with everything from Naga thalis and Manipuri food to Korean ramen, seafood boils and Tibetan momos. The food is only one part of the experience: the lanes also have cafés, skincare stores, streetwear shops and tattoo parlours, among others.For travellers, this makes Humayunpur less about ticking off a single landmark. The narrow lanes are packed with small businesses and eateries. The neighbourhood’s culinary identity has also been documented by several food publications.More than a food destination
Delhi India Gate
What makes Humayunpur particularly interesting from a travel perspective is the way food, migration and community overlap here. It is not a neighbourhood designed as a tourist attraction; its appeal grew organically through the people who live, work and eat here.For visitors planning to explore Humayunpur, October to March for Delhi’s more comfortable weather and suggests arriving before 3–4pm, particularly for those who prefer quieter lanes. Weekdays can also be a better choice if you want to avoid larger crowds.Source: Time Out, The 40 Coolest Neighbourhoods in the World 2026
