Chow Kit is the Brooklyn of Kuala Lumpur.
Chow Kit named the Brooklyn of Kuala Lumpur
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Chow Kit the Brooklyn of Kuala Lumpur.
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. Kuala Lumpur's verdict went to Chow Kit ahead of Bangsar, Kampung Attap and Chinatown (Petaling Street), which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Chow Kit the Brooklyn of Kuala Lumpur, and it was not a hard call. It goes from pre-dawn market noise to late cocktails without changing costume, gritty and layered and moving fast without losing its teeth. Locals are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Chow Kit'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 Kuala Lumpur verdict: brooklynof.com/kuala-lumpur
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/kuala-lumpur
Runner-up neighborhoods: Bangsar, Kampung Attap, Chinatown (Petaling Street)
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.