Belgisches Viertel is the Brooklyn of Cologne.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Belgisches Viertel named the Brooklyn of Cologne

August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Belgisches Viertel the Brooklyn of Cologne.

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. Cologne's verdict went to Belgisches Viertel ahead of Sudstadt, Agnesviertel and Ehrenfeld, which take the runner-up positions.

"We named Belgisches Viertel the Brooklyn of Cologne, and it was not a hard call. It has the mix the title is trying to name: bars that stay open late, some grit, and the sense that the city's creative class actually lives there instead of just passing through. Locals are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.

The verdict comes with a guide to Belgisches Viertel'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 Cologne verdict: brooklynof.com/cologne

Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/cologne