Poblenou is the Brooklyn of Barcelona.
Poblenou named the Brooklyn of Barcelona
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Poblenou the Brooklyn of Barcelona.
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. Barcelona's verdict went to Poblenou ahead of Gràcia, El Raval and Poble Sec, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Poblenou the Brooklyn of Barcelona, and it was not a hard call. Old factories full of design studios, dominoes next to laptops, the beach a short walk away, and nobody in a hurry about any of it. Locals are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Poblenou'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 Barcelona verdict: brooklynof.com/barcelona
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/barcelona
Runner-up neighborhoods: Gràcia, El Raval, Poble Sec
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.