Canada’s Coolest Neighbourhoods

The best places to eat, drink and explore in Canada

July 21, 2026

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You can say one thing for Canadians: we’re stubborn. In the last year and a half, ever since Trump started bullying us like a pimple-nosed teenager from a John Hughes movie, we’ve quit the U.S. cold turkey, with Canadian travel to the States down by 42 per cent. Instead of flying south, we’re exploring the delights within our own borders.

The only question is where to go. For that, Maclean’s surveyed our pool of writers about the neighbourhoods they love most. The result is both a portrait of a country bursting with urban development and an indispensable bucket list for Canadian summer travel. Instead of Nashville, you can visit Inglewood, a Calgary pocket packed with rowdy country music venues and grade-A Alberta beef. Instead of Seattle, there’s Lower Lonsdale, a waterfront wonderland accessible via Vancouver’s adorable SeaBus. And forget Brooklyn: Toronto’s still-gritty Davenport district abounds with delectable bites and twinkly patios to eat them on.

The following stories are love letters to these places and more—destinations rich with excellent dining options, lush green spaces, vibrant streets and, as a bonus, no exchange rate to speak of.

Two cyclists sitting by the pond at a park

Wîhkwêntôwin, Edmonton: The Valley Vista

In this Edmonton pocket, the cafés and bars are as inviting as the lush riverside view

By Zachary Ayotte

Two people sitting at patio of a cafe that says "sandwicherie" on its window

Saint-Sauveur, Quebec City: The Vintage Revival

This multi-cultural labyrinth in Quebec City’s Lower Town is home to a vibrant community

By Pablo Strauss

A front of a shop made of brick with a neon sign saying "Shorty’s Pizza"

Crown Point Hub, Hamilton: The Steeltown Charmer

Hamilton’s Crown Point Hub features fairy-tale beauty alongside industrial grit

By H.G. Watson

People sitting outside by tables or campfires, talking over foods and beers

The Forks, Winnipeg: The Magical Meeting Place

This historic Indigenous trading hub is now a destination for festivals, patios and pedestrian fun

By Jenny Heijun Wills

A person on a bicycle passing by the front of a brick building that says "Mamie" on its windows

Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, Montreal: The Picnic Destination

A perfect day in this borough involves charcuterie, cheese and day-drinking in the park

By Caitlin Stall-Paquet

Shore under the blue sky, with the ocean and a building side by side, white boats in the background

Songhees Walkway, Victoria : The Waterfront Secret

Victoria’s shoreline community features float-home villages, amazing views and wildlife galore

By Jeni Gunn

River and a bridge under the blue sky. The shadow of the bridge reflecting on the river

Inglewood, Calgary: The Music Mile

Honky-tonk venues, record stores and steakhouses abound in Calgary’s oldest neighbourhood

By Joshua Whitehead

Ocean and a street under the sky and the sunlight, people walking over the bridge

Lower Lonsdale, North Vancouver: The Oceanside Getaway

This idyllic waterfront community is a 12-minute ferry trip from downtown Vancouver

By Sara Harowitz

Restaurant's patio under the blue sky, surrounded by the brick wall, flower gardens and the barrels. People eating at tabes under the bright yellow umbrellas

Davenport, Toronto: The Food Lover’s Paradise

The still-gritty Davenport neighbourhood features Toronto’s highest concentration of artisanal treats

By Lindsey King

Variety of meals on the plates, placed on the baby pink-coloured table

The Hydrostone, Halifax: The Historic Makeover

Rapid population growth has transformed Halifax’s sleepy semi-suburb into a bustling attraction

By Matthew Halliday

the cover of the August 2026 issue of Maclean's

This story appears in the August 2026 issue of Maclean’s. You can subscribe to the magazine here or send a gift subscription here.

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