San Berillo is the Brooklyn of Catania.
San Berillo named the Brooklyn of Catania
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named San Berillo the Brooklyn of Catania.
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. Catania's verdict went to San Berillo ahead of Borgo-Sanzio, Pescheria and Piazza Bellini, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named San Berillo the Brooklyn of Catania. Until recently it was the red-light district; now street art covers the crumbling palazzi and the nights spill out onto broken sidewalks. It is raw, political, and genuinely interesting, which is exactly what the title is for. Locals are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to San Berillo'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 Catania verdict: brooklynof.com/catania
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/catania
Runner-up neighborhoods: Borgo-Sanzio, Pescheria, Piazza Bellini
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.