Jamaica Plain is the Brooklyn of Boston.
Jamaica Plain named the Brooklyn of Boston
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Jamaica Plain the Brooklyn of Boston.
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. Boston's verdict went to Jamaica Plain ahead of Union Square, Somerville, South End and East Boston (Jeffries Point), which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Jamaica Plain the Brooklyn of Boston. It is a place where the same counter serves everyone, the chains never really moved in, and a hundred people will still pack a room for a band on a Saturday night. The locals we ran the pick past did not argue much. Bostonians are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Jamaica Plain'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 Boston verdict: brooklynof.com/boston
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/boston
Runner-up neighborhoods: Union Square, Somerville, South End, East Boston (Jeffries Point)
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.