Everybody loves a list

We were in Melbourne this week, which of course meant endless comparisons to Sydney. It’s not that it’s interesting, more that it’s obligatory.

Weather, restaurants, transport, food, and coffee were all put forth to be held up against our home (or adopted home) city. 

What we really need is a ranking to end the debate once and for all. 

Melbourne has outstripped Sydney in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Ranking since 2021, and comfortably won in Time Out’s ‘50 Best Cities in the World’ list. 

On the other hand, Sydney is now apparently home to the world’s best coffee shop, which is akin to telling Italians they don’t make the best pasta.

Adam Liaw’s point in that last link about the perils of ranking things without visiting them or providing a methodology is undoubtedly valid, but on the other hand, who doesn’t love a list? Sometimes, the more baseless and subjective the better.

Allegorists have lists of the best restaurants in Sydney, the best albums each year, the best books read, the best places to visit, and a detailed and unimpeachable ranking of every type of Pepsi and Coca-Cola.

None have any methodology, and all are better for it. Just like the Melbourne v Sydney debate.