VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – When you think of the world’s most stylish neighbourhoods, SoHo in New York might come to mind, maybe parts of Paris… but what about Gastown?

The cobblestoned neighbourhood has just been ranked number four in the world, unleashing a torrent of criticism online.

New York-based fashion and art website Complex lists what it considers the top 50 most stylish neighbourhoods globally, looking at things like shops, bars and restaurants, galleries, museums, and the unidentifiable vibe that some neighbourhoods exude.

But if you scroll down to the comments section, there are some people who feel Gastown exudes something else: the smell of urine!

There are also mentions of wandering drug addicts and drunks and griminess. One traveller, originally from Vancouver, calls it “grab yer gut funny” that Gastown is even close to SoHo.

The 1st Arrondissement in Paris tops the list, followed by the Harajuku district in Tokyo, SoHo, and then Gastown, which the magazine calls a hotbed of grassroots fashion, cool boutiques, interior design stores, restaurants, nightclubs, real estate, and jazz.