Lonely Planet's five hippest destinations

1. Borgo San Frediano, Florence

Georgette Jupe (girlinflorence.com), an American writer based in this Italian city, recommends grabbing a bite to eat at Gesto (gestofailtuo.it) "where the salvaged and up-cycled vintage interior blends nicely with their tasty, tapas-style bites". Feeling thirsty? The craft cocktails whipped up at MAD - Souls & Spirits (facebook.com/madsoulsandspirits) have been a hit with locals. Sip them in an industrial interior of exposed brick and copper piping.

2. The Triangle, Lisbon

Portugal's capital has become a hit with tourists but the backlash is beginning. If you want to escape the hordes of hens and swarms of stags, go to this up-and-coming neighbourhood, which sits between Chiado and Santos. Lower rents have attracted a creative crowd who find mental fodder at travel bookshop Palavra de Viajante and share subsequent discussions over coffee at Hello, Kristof (hellokristoflisbon.tumblr.com).

3. Sunset Park, New York

OK, so it's a mini-trek from Manhattan, but Brooklyn has been wowing visitors for some time. Now those in the know are lapping up multicultural activities in this hub on top of one of the district's highest hills. Writer Robert Balkovich (@robertbalkovich) recommends heading over at sunset to enjoy the views of lower Manhattan.

4. Tooting, London

It's buried in London's deep south, trailing at the bottom of the Northern line, but this laid-back locale is worth the journey. It's home to some excellent curry houses, such as Apollo Banana Leaf (apollobananaleaf.com), and if you fancy a swim, the 91m x 30m Tooting Bec Lido is the largest pool in the UK.

5. Business Bay, Dubai

Cruel critics may claim it's soulless, but this Middle East metropolis does have a beating heart. You'll find it in an area of half-built office towers, which has transformed into a waterfront leisure destination. Bay Avenue is packed with cool restaurants, a manicured park and a weekly farmers' market held during the winter months.