Kemang is the Brooklyn of Jakarta.
Kemang named the Brooklyn of Jakarta
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Kemang the Brooklyn of Jakarta.
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. Jakarta's verdict went to Kemang ahead of Senopati, Tebet and Menteng, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Kemang the Brooklyn of Jakarta. It is where the city's creative energy actually lives, a place that only really wakes up after dark and keeps going long past when most cities give up. Jakartans are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Kemang'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 Jakarta verdict: brooklynof.com/jakarta
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/jakarta
Runner-up neighborhoods: Senopati, Tebet, Menteng
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.