Bolognina is the Brooklyn of Bologna.
Bolognina named the Brooklyn of Bologna
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Bolognina the Brooklyn of Bologna.
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. Bologna's verdict went to Bolognina ahead of Ghetto Ebraico, Via del Pratello and Manifattura delle Arti, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Bolognina the Brooklyn of Bologna, and it was not a hard call. The porticoes are rougher, the rent is lower, and the mix on the street feels like the city figuring out its next chapter in real time. Bolognesi are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Bolognina'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 Bologna verdict: brooklynof.com/bologna
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/bologna
Runner-up neighborhoods: Ghetto Ebraico, Via del Pratello, Manifattura delle Arti
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.