Schanzenviertel is the Brooklyn of Hamburg.
Schanzenviertel named the Brooklyn of Hamburg
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Schanzenviertel the Brooklyn of Hamburg.
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. Hamburg's verdict went to Schanzenviertel ahead of Karolinenviertel, St. Pauli and Ottensen, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Schanzenviertel the Brooklyn of Hamburg, and it was not a hard call. The neighborhood smells like spray paint and fresh coffee, the bars see no point in opening before dark, and the politics never left. Locals are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Schanzenviertel'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 Hamburg verdict: brooklynof.com/hamburg
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/hamburg
Runner-up neighborhoods: Karolinenviertel, St. Pauli, Ottensen
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.