Cinnamon Gardens (Colombo 7) is the Brooklyn of Colombo.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cinnamon Gardens (Colombo 7) named the Brooklyn of Colombo

August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Cinnamon Gardens (Colombo 7) the Brooklyn of Colombo.

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. Colombo's verdict went to Cinnamon Gardens (Colombo 7) ahead of Slave Island / Park Street Mews (Colombo 2), Kollupitiya / Barefoot Strip (Colombo 3) and Havelock Town (Colombo 5), which take the runner-up positions.

"We named Cinnamon Gardens (Colombo 7) the Brooklyn of Colombo. It has wide shaded streets, galleries running out of old houses, and a pace slow enough to make two nights feel like a booking error. Locals are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.

The verdict comes with a guide to Cinnamon Gardens (Colombo 7)'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 Colombo verdict: brooklynof.com/colombo

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