Morocco’s capital doesn’t always get the same attention as Marrakech, but according to ’s global network of local experts, one corner of it deserves a serious second look. L’Ocean, in Rabat, has been named the second coolest neighbourhood on the planet for 2026, pipped to the top spot only by Jongno 3-ga in Seoul.
The list comes from ’s local writers, each nominating the one neighbourhood in their city worth shouting about right now. A panel of editors then vetted every entry against a set of criteria, including food and drink, nightlife, unique local businesses, liveability and community, before landing on the final ranking.
L’Ocean sits right where the city meets the Atlantic, anchored by a palm-lined seafront promenade dotted with beaches and sports pitches that doubles as one of Rabat’s main community hangouts. That coastal strip, currently in the middle of a major redevelopment, runs the whole length of the district, from the old Medina at one end to a converted eighteenth-century palace, now home to a Four Seasons, at the other.
Away from the water, low-rise apartment blocks are home mainly to local families and young professionals. They give way to a maze of residential streets, among them Rue Abidjan and Rue Zanzibar, their walls doubling as canvases for street art, with independent shops and cafés tucked into the quieter corners. A newly pedestrianised stretch, Rue Bruxelles, is bringing even more life to the area, with fresh cafés and cultural spaces opening along it.
So why visit Rabat? As the seat of Morocco’s royal family and government, the city carries a certain ceremony with the ornate streetlamps, palaces and Royal Guard uniforms, but it’s also home to a laid-back, beach-and-surf culture that sets it apart from busier cities like Marrakech, plus Roman ruins and Morocco’s tallest tower within easy reach. It’s artsy, too, being named UNESCO’s World Book Capital for 2026, and opening the Zaha Hadid-designed Théâtre Royal de Rabat this year.
Curious where else made the cut? Here’s the full list of the world’s 40 coolest neighbourhoods for 2026.
Read ‘s full local guide to Rabat for more on the city.
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