Melbourne ranked the world’s best city for 2026: Discover the apartments to match the lifestyle

Melbourne has officially claimed the global spotlight.

In Time Out’s Best Cities 2026 list, the Victorian capital has been named the best city in the world, climbing three places from last year’s list to take the number one spot. The annual ranking, produced in partnership with Intrepid Travel, surveyed more than 24,000 locals across 150 cities worldwide, alongside insights from Time Out’s global network of editors and city experts.

It marks the first time Melbourne has taken the top spot in the ranking’s 10-year history, and it’s easy to see why.

From global sporting events like the Australian Open, Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, AFL Grand Final, and Boxing Day Test, to its world-famous coffee culture and ever-evolving arts and music scene, Melbourne consistently delivers a lifestyle few cities can rival.

Survey results reinforce the city’s reputation: 94% of locals rate Melbourne’s food scene highly, 92% praise its arts and culture, and Time Out staff gave it the joint-second highest number of votes.

But beyond the big-ticket attractions, what truly sets Melbourne apart is its everyday goings on. Laneways filled with street art, stylish cafes and rooftop bars, galleries and indie cinemas, leafy gardens, and historic architecture all contribute to a city that feels both exciting and deeply liveable. With the Metro Tunnel now open and improving connectivity across the city, exploring it all has never been easier.

And increasingly, people aren’t just visiting Melbourne, they’re choosing to live here.

For buyers looking to be part of the world’s best city, a number of standout apartment developments are offering the chance to experience Melbourne’s celebrated lifestyle from the inside.

Apartments to watch

Drummond House in Carlton

Located moments from Lygon Street, Queen Victoria Market, the University of Melbourne, and Princes Park, Drummond House places residents within one of the city’s most culturally rich neighbourhoods.

As Carlton’s largest and smartest apartments, the homes of Drummond House are well-suited for families, complete with resort-style amenities such as a gym, sauna, salt therapy room, ice bath, children’s play area, private dining, business centre, and car and dog wash facilities.

The Queensbury in Melbourne

Fronting Albert Park Lake, The Queensbury offers a rare combination of parkfront serenity and city proximity. Residents enjoy sweeping views across parklands, as well as a front-row seat to the action when the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix arrives each year.

It’s a location that perfectly reflects Melbourne’s ability to combine world-class events with everyday outdoor living, where you’ll come home to timeless, light-filled interiors – your parkside retreat.

Collins Wharf in Docklands

Positioned along Melbourne’s most desirable street, Collins Wharf offers something truly rare: a dual waterfront setting on prestigious Collins Street. Here, residents are moments from the CBD while enjoying uninterrupted views across Victoria Harbour and easy access to Docklands’ waterfront promenades, dining, and entertainment.

The development reflects Melbourne’s evolving city-edge lifestyle, where walkability, waterfront outlooks, and connectivity come together in one of the CBD’s most dynamic precincts.

R.Evolution in South Melbourne

Set in a prime location between South Melbourne Market and the CBD, R.Evolution is the only South Melbourne address with multiple awards and 45+ lifestyle amenities.

The development places residents within walking distance of cafés, cultural attractions, and the arts precinct, while its amenity-rich offering reflects the increasingly experience-focused nature of modern apartment living, complete with never to be built out water views, over 1 acre of Paul Bangay Landscaped Gardens, a Coles and Liquorland located within the building, bookable 'Go-Get’ share cars, 24/7 concierge and security, wellness centre, 300m running track, bookable co-working centre, wine tasting room, and more.

Richmond Square in Richmond

Located moments from Melbourne's arts precinct, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and Swan Street – named one of the world’s coolest streets by Time Out in 2025, Richmond Square sits at the centre of one of Melbourne’s most vibrant inner-city hubs.

From restaurants and wine bars to live sport and music venues, Richmond’s energy perfectly captures the lifestyle that helped propel Melbourne to the top of Time Out’s global ranking.

While at home, the residences are set above an active retail and dining precinct, designed with generous proportions and a strong connection to views and natural light.

The Eveline in Moonee Ponds

Rising on the elevated grounds of the former Moonee Valley Racing Club grandstand, The Eveline brings new life to one of Moonee Ponds’ most storied sites.

The project blends heritage and contemporary design, offering residents thoughtfully crafted interiors and sweeping views of nature, the city, and the track. All while remaining close to the vibrant cafés, retail, and parklands that define Melbourne’s prized inner-north lifestyle.

Kooyong Gardens in Toorak

For buyers seeking a blue-chip address, Kooyong Gardens delivers parkfront residences in one of Melbourne’s most tightly held neighbourhoods, Toorak.

With north-facing views across landscaped gardens, the development offers a quieter, more refined interpretation of Melbourne’s celebrated lifestyle. Delivered by a team with an exceptional track record of luxury residential projects and individual homes, Kooyong Gardens offers a limited offering of eight residences with fully customisable floorplans of half-floor and full-floor options.

For more off-the-plan apartments and property news, click here.

Background header image source.