Cișmigiu is the Brooklyn of Bucharest.
Cișmigiu named the Brooklyn of Bucharest
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Cișmigiu the Brooklyn of Bucharest.
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. Bucharest's verdict went to Cișmigiu ahead of Piața Română, Cotroceni and Universitate, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Cișmigiu the Brooklyn of Bucharest. It moves slower than the rest of the city center, and the crumbling Belle Époque facades hide exactly the right things: serious coffee in the morning, natural wine by evening, basements after dark. Locals are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Cișmigiu'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 Bucharest verdict: brooklynof.com/bucharest
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/bucharest
Runner-up neighborhoods: Piața Română, Cotroceni, Universitate
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.