Corktown is the Brooklyn of Detroit.
Corktown named the Brooklyn of Detroit
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Corktown the Brooklyn of Detroit.
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. Detroit's verdict went to Corktown ahead of Midtown, Eastern Market and West Village, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Corktown the Brooklyn of Detroit. It is the city's oldest surviving neighborhood and it wears that history without being precious about it, old and new coexisting without awkwardness. Detroiters are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Corktown'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 Detroit verdict: brooklynof.com/detroit
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/detroit
Runner-up neighborhoods: Midtown, Eastern Market, West Village
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.