Have an alternative vacation by travelling to these hipster cities and neighbourhoods rich in culture… before they become too popular
Heads up: Hipster holidays are now one of the hottest buzzwords in travel trends, and you’re likely to have gone on one yourself *gasp*. Though notoriously difficult to define, this alternative figure is pretty easy to spot; think of that one friend who obsesses over obscure music, speciality coffee joints and dresses in chic ensembles made up of under-the-radar brands and vintage steals. Now think of an offbeat holiday destination (without the usual tourist crowds) with an abundance of everything a hipster loves. If you’re liking that idea, congrats! You’d love a hipster holiday. We dish out 12 of the world’s best destinations for the hipster traveller.
Edgy underground urbanity: Berlin, Germany
Since the fall of the Wall, Berlin’s seen a major shift in its youth culture, which learnt to embrace rebellion and personal freedom. Alternative artists are big in this city, with the government dedicating major funds to various collectives and residencies. Today, you’ll find daily small art gallery openings and plenty of underground art centres like Kuntshaus Tacheles which houses installations, workshops and exhibitions; and former railroad works, The Raw Tempel, which melds music, theater and art effortlessly. When you’ve got a moment to breathe, pop into one of the many minimally designed coffee shops or hole-in-the-wall bistros, or spend your nights throwing shapes at rave hideouts and secret shindigs.
The original hipster haven: Portland, Oregon, USA
With its rich history of counter-culture movements, Portland’s reputation as the original hipster heartland is unprecedented. The state is the core of this nonconfirmist subculture, and attracts young creatives in droves with its laid-back lifestyle, eclecticism and progressive appeal. As a true hipster wonderland, expect to see countless craft beer stores, gourmet food trucks, secret warehouse parties, independent bookstores, and cafes serving all things artisanal and locally-sourced produce. It’s little wonder that an entire show (Portlandia) was created to satire the city’s inclination towards all things alternative.
The Mecca of street art: Hackney, East London
Forget Shoreditch; word has it that the once trendy hub is passé. Instead, Hackney is now East London’s buzziest hipster ‘hood of the moment. While the borough is unmistakably an incubator for hip restaurants and cafes, the food scene isn’t the only thing big in Hackney. The trendy borough is also home to Bohemian markets, vintage stores and a thriving arts scene of over 150 galleries featuring the works of up-and-coming young artists. The Hackney Wick area, in particular, is a cool canal-side hub boasting a swell mix of performance art festivals (Hackney WickED), street art and the highest density of artisans, emerging artists and designers,
Manhattan with a side of grit: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Once regarded as the less cultured and less cool sister of Manhattan, Brooklyn now reigns supreme on the hipster level charts. With Williamsburg taking the lead as the borough’s Mecca of hipster hubs, this neighbourhood has achieved global fame, thanks to its huge variety of trendy restos, stylish boutiques, ironic dive bars and nightly music performances. A star attraction is the Brooklyn Flea – the granddaddy of American bazaars- a popular bargain-hunting hipster’s paradise of everything from antiques and crafts to vintage wares and, of course, artisanal food.
Effortless, understated cool: Stockholm, Sweden
There’re no two ways about it: Swedes are cool. If musicians like Lykke Li and cult fashion brands like ACNE aren’t evidence enough, a visit to Stockholm will set the record straight. Its residents are the stuff of hipster fashionista dreams, with athleisure, and all black ACNE-inspired clothings reigning their so-hip-it-hurts #ootds. If you’ve only got time for one neighbourhood, stop by Sodermalm, also known as one of Europe’s coolest districts. Boasting 16th-century architecture and breathtaking city views, the area houses numerous independent art galleries, stylish vintage boutiques, bang-on-trend fashion brands, speciality coffee shops, old fashioned barbers and snug, yet swanky speakeasies.
Off-beat quirky: Tokyo, Japan
You didn’t think we’d miss out on Tokyo, did you? The Japanese city is the original hipster city, with trend-setting youth subcultures and heavy emphasis on street fashion and quality music. Must-visit neighbourhoods of this achingly hip city is Shimokitazawa: a popular music ‘hood lined with old buildings, recording studios and small concert halls, and populated with hipsters, rockers and hippies. Over at Koenji, hipsters looking for a taste of old Japan will be well satiated; the quiet district houses a dizzying network of alleyway vintage stores offering everything from clothes to retro vinyls. Suburban underground culture is king with its quaint neighbourhood vibes and array of live music venues, jazz bars for music lovers.
A secret hipster hideout: Brussels, Belgium
Despite its small size, the often-overlooked capital of Europe brims with charming, alternative features for hipster tourists. If you’re here for an extended weekend, reserve a day for exploring the Belgian Comic Strip Center as well as Magritte Museum for surrealist art, before checking into the historic Galeries Cinema or Cinemateque at Flaggy Place for indie films. The city also hosts a monthly hipster-visited Vintage Market at Halles Saint Géry Vintage and the daily flea market at Place du jeu de Balle for kitschy, second-hand goods.
A former hippie heartland: San Francisco, USA
Fun fact: This city was the birthplace of the 1960s flower power, hippie movement. Modern day San Fran still holds dear to its rich counter-culture roots, rejecting mainstream establishments and advocating eco-friendly, sustainable practices. For a taste of the free love era, head to Hippie Hill, where hand drummers hold ceremonies, local artists hawk their products, and people chill under dodgy smoke signals. Other not-to-be-missed psychedelic spots include the Haight Ashbury neighbourhood (tie-die boutiques and quirky shops galore), the outdoor 420 in the Park festival, the City Lights Bookstore, and Veusvio Cafe, which honed some of the best writers and Beatniks of the hippie movement.
South East Asia’s best hipster fleas: Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok knocks it out of the park as the most hipster city in Southeast Asia – can you say you’re surprised? This Thai city isn’t just great for tom yum goong, cheap beers, and crazy affordable shopping. A walk around Chatuchak weekend market’s hidden alleyways is proof enough, with stores hawking specially-imported vintage wares and under-the-radar Japanese brands. Another must-see is Talat Rod Fai, which is chock-full of thrift store style stalls selling a mish-mash of vintage items and memorabilia, and the new Brooklyn-inspired art markets and fleas popping up all over the city. Beyond these flea markets, hipsters also hobnob at cool cafes or artfully shabby bars in trendy suburbs and new art galleries.
World’s best Java culture: Melbourne, Australia
Quality coffee is so embedded in Melbourne culture, that tourists frequently cite it as a reason for their travels. Australia’s most hipster state boasts a coffee culture like no other; mean cuppas are found everywhere from the countless hip neighbourhood cafes to the weekend food markets. Coupled with fabulous brunch options (made with only organic, locally-sourced produce, of course), the cafes are worth your daily visits, with the variety including back-lane buildings, converted shopfronts and brew bars. Cool crowds, in particular, congregate at Fitzroy. Despite ongoing gentrification, the ‘burb maintains its distinctly artsy vibes with an abundance of local street, galleries, studios and second-hand bookshops. Check out great flight deals to Scoot to Melbourne!
The indie music epicentre: Montreal, Canada
Known as Canada’s hipster capital, Mile End in Montreal is studded with hipster hangouts on every corner, with endless brunch and coffee choices, breezy yoga studios, and artist collectives. But what had us sold (and perhaps what Mile End is best known for) is its devotion to indie music. The district is a magnet for artistes – including Arcade Fire – and houses an assortment of music venues for up-and-coming performers. As a hotbed of artistry, it’s also famously bred some of the world’s most well-known writers and film makers, including Leonard Cohen, Modercai Richler and William Shatner.