The coolest cities in Canada were ranked — and Toronto didn't even scratch the top 5

If you've ever wondered which are the coolest cities in Canada, a new ranking has just dropped — and let's just say, it's causing some serious civic side-eye.

From foodie hotspots to tatted-up towns with banging music scenes, this new ranking is based on what actually makes a place feel fresh, fun and full of vibes. And when it comes to the best cities in Canada for that undeniable cool factor, some of the usual suspects got totally outshined.

In fact, according to the new report from Betway, Toronto isn't even one of the top five coolest Canadian cities. Canada's largest city landed in an embarrassingly low seventh place — behind Ottawa, Calgary and even Edmonton. Ouch.

The ranking looked at everything from how young a city feels (literally — median age is one factor) to how many vegan-friendly restaurants, hidden-gem bars, record stores, live music events and even tattoo parlours it has.

Basically, if your city has a strong self-expression game, chances are it scored higher on the list.

Taking the number one spot, Vancouver stood out for its multicultural energy and unreal natural beauty. The city packs 16 vinyl record stores and 48 tattoo parlours, not to mention over 100 restaurants per 100,000 people that specifically cater to vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free diets — all of which helped it snag the title.

Victoria grabbed second place, thanks to its booming foodie scene and chill vibe. With 14 "hidden gem" restaurants per 100,000 residents and a ton of veggie-friendly options, it's clearly punching above its weight.

Montreal landed in third with its huge festival culture and thriving food scene. The city has a whopping 802 upcoming music events on the books and more hidden foodie gems than any other Canadian city in the ranking.

The report also gives a shoutout to underdog Edmonton, calling back to its nickname of Canada's Festival City and highlighting its youthful population and strong music and arts scene.

Calgary rounds out the top five, scoring high for its mix of hidden dining gems and dietary-inclusive spots.

So, where did Toronto actually rank — and what other cities made the cut? Here's the full list of Canada's top 10 coolest cities, according to Betway:

1. Vancouver
2. Victoria
3. Montreal
4. Edmonton
5. Calgary
6. Ottawa
7. Toronto
8. Surrey
9. Quebec City
10. Winnipeg

So whether your city made the cut or got totally snubbed, one thing's for sure — the Canadian cool factor is alive and thriving coast to coast.

AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of Narcity's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our Editorial Standards page.