Melbourne’s The World’s Friendliest City. What Makes Our Corner Of It So Special?

Melbourne has been voted the world’s friendliest city in Condé Nast Traveller’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. And here in Berwick, Beaconsfield, Officer and our neighbouring suburbs, it feels like a lovely reason to celebrate the everyday people who make our part of Melbourne feel like home.

What did Melbourne win?

On 6 October 2026, Condé Nast Traveller placed Melbourne first in its reader-voted list of the world’s friendliest cities, with a score of 98.52. It’s a wonderful recognition of the welcome people experience across the city. Of course, it’s a city-wide result, not a separate ranking of our south-eastern suburbs.

What does friendliness look like around Berwick, Beaconsfield and Officer?

Sometimes it’s as simple as someone remembering your coffee order. A neighbour stopping for a chat. A friendly wave on the school run. Or the familiar faces you see when you pop into your local shops.

There’s something special about those small moments. They turn a street into a neighbourhood and a place you live into a place you belong.

Whether your everyday routine takes you through Berwick, Beaconsfield, Officer or another corner of Melbourne’s south-east, we hope you’ve had those moments too. They may never make an international awards list, but they matter.

Why does this mean so much to us at Peake?

We spend our days talking about homes, but a home is never just an address. It’s the people nearby, the local places you return to and the little connections that become part of your week.

We feel fortunate to live and work in this part of Melbourne. This recognition gives us another reason to say thank you to the neighbours, families, local businesses and community members who make it such a welcoming place to be.

Here’s to the people who make our community feel like home

Melbourne might have the international title, but friendliness starts close to home. So here’s to saying hello, supporting local businesses, making newcomers feel welcome and looking out for one another.

From all of us at Peake Real Estate, thank you for making our corner of Melbourne a place we’re proud to call home.

Sources

Condé Nast Traveller, The friendliest cities in the world: 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards (6 October 2026).