The Most Exciting Global City Trends Were Predicted For 2024 & Montreal's Is A Foodie's Dream

As cities worldwide adopt new trends in 2024, from art-infused public spaces to high-tech nightlife, Montreal is carving out an unexpected niche. You may see more local restaurants break down the walls between chefs and diners, according to a new list from Time Out. And that's not the only dining innovation travellers are likely to encounter this year.

Across the globe, dining out is becoming a full-fledged event. In New York, restaurants are adding glamour to the dining experience with special pours of bubbly and over-the-top presentations. In Singapore, dinner theatre is on the rise, serving audiences a live performance that complements their meal. London is seeing a resurgence of the higher-end gastropub, reminiscent of the late '90s, while in Barcelona, chefs are renewing Catalan and Spanish dishes, making them lighter and more accessible.

In Montreal, it's all about the open-concept kitchen. You can watch your meal being crafted from start to finish adding transparency to the food preparation process and inviting curiosity and conversation. The setup allows diners to directly observe the chef’s skills and monitor meal quality up close. If the trend continues to gain traction it could change how you connect to the food on your plate and make each meal a unique, personal experience. Spots like Cabaret L'enfer and Yama in Montreal, and L'Affaire Est Ketchup in Quebec City, are often lauded for the intimacy of their dining spaces and the seamless interaction between kitchen and table.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world seems to be turning night into day, in style. Cities are investing in their nighttime economies, from Sydney's new reforms to support nightlife to Hong Kong's initiatives to boost its nightlife culture. Venues are stepping away from the traditional nightclub model, offering immersive experiences combining music, art, and technology.

In Madrid, clubs are expanding beyond the city centre to offer cultural and artistic experiences alongside dancing. In Portugal, clubs are doubling as cultural hubs, hosting everything from art exhibitions to tattoo expos. Hong Kong is setting the stage for futuristic and thematic clubs, like Ark11 with its spacecraft-like design, providing partygoers with an unparalleled immersive experience

Here are this year's top city-specific trends, according to Time Out:

1. Tokyo — Reimagined Bathhouses
2. Singapore — Dinner Theatre
3. New York — Multidisciplinary Cultural Hubs
4. Dubai — Innovative Restaurant Art
5. Miami — More Trains
6. Hong Kong — New Developments with Art
7. Melbourne — Waterfront Revival
8. Montreal — Open Concept Kitchens
9. Bangkok — More Nighttime Events and Late-Night Eating Spots
10. London — Massive Nightclubs