This Somerville neighborhood is one of the coolest in the world, new ranking says

Somerville is home to one of the coolest neighborhoods in the world, according to an international travel magazine.

Time Out shared its ranking of the 38 of the coolest neighborhoods in the world on Thursday. Somerville’s Union Square clinched the 38th spot. “Cool,” Time out clarified, means the neighborhood encapsulates “culture, community spirit, nightlife, food and drink,” all in a walkable district.

Other U.S. cities that made the list were Portland, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Chicago.

Time Out said the rankings came from their local writers, which were narrowed down by the magazine’s global editors looking for “unique and exciting pockets of our cities.”

Local writer Jacqueline Cain called Union Square a “haven” for graduate students and young families connected to Boston for work or Cambridge for school. She wrote that the recent opening of the Green Line Extension has made Somerville “Boston’s coolest cousin.”

Multiple restaurants in the square got a shoutout, including award-winning Celeste and Sarma. Time Out also highlighted Neighborhood Restaurant & Bakery, Bow Market, Union Square Donuts, and Field & Vine.

The square also has antiquing and indie shops, as well as ax throwing for the more adventurous. Annual events also gave Union Square that “cool” factor, like Porchfest — which attracted national acts this year — and the “What the Fluff? Festival, celebrating the creation of Marshmallow Fluff.

No good neighborhood is complete without nightlife. Cain points visitors in the direction of The Jungle, known for live indie shows, and Backbar for craft cocktails.