Leith is the Brooklyn of Edinburgh.
Leith named the Brooklyn of Edinburgh
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Leith the Brooklyn of Edinburgh.
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. Edinburgh's verdict went to Leith ahead of Stockbridge, Bruntsfield and Portobello, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Leith the Brooklyn of Edinburgh. It is a port town that quietly became the best place in the city to eat and drink, where the air still smells like salt water and the correct pace for a pint is no pace at all. Locals are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Leith'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 Edinburgh verdict: brooklynof.com/edinburgh
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/edinburgh
Runner-up neighborhoods: Stockbridge, Bruntsfield, Portobello
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.