The Project for Public Spaces, a non-profit out of NYC that helps communities and cities build smart public spaces, has an interesting feature on their website called Great Public Spaces. It focuses on markets, parks, streets, buildings, and neighbourhoods. Their August newsletter added 10 new highly-touted public spaces (Vancouver’s Stanley Park was the only Canadian entry).
Also check out two other features: Five of the World’s Most Overrated Places, and the list of Five Endangered Public Spaces.