River Arts District is the Brooklyn of Asheville.
River Arts District named the Brooklyn of Asheville
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named River Arts District the Brooklyn of Asheville.
The "Brooklyn of" a city is a metaphor, of course: shorthand for the coolest neighborhood in town, the one where independent culture, serious coffee, and creative energy define the character. Not the old town, not where the hop-on-hop-off bus goes. Every big enough city has one, and the site names exactly one per city. In many cities the pick is close to consensus, the name locals would give without hesitating. In others it picks a side. Asheville's verdict went to River Arts District ahead of West Asheville, South Slope and Downtown Asheville, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named the River Arts District the Brooklyn of Asheville, and it was not a hard call. Old warehouses by the river where people are actually making things, and nobody is in a hurry about it. The creative energy is real, not performed, which is rarer than it should be. Locals are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to River Arts District's independent hotels, cafes, restaurants, bars and shops: no big chains, nothing sponsored, and placements are not for sale. Selections draw on research and local tastemakers in each city, and readers who disagree are invited to make their case.
The full Asheville verdict: brooklynof.com/asheville
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/asheville
Runner-up neighborhoods: West Asheville, South Slope, Downtown Asheville
Free for editorial use in coverage of brooklynof.com. Credit: brooklynof.com.
hello [at] brooklynof.com · Per is available for interviews, quotes, and written commentary on this and every city in the index.