Croix-Rousse is the Brooklyn of Lyon.
Croix-Rousse named the Brooklyn of Lyon
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Croix-Rousse the Brooklyn of Lyon.
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. Lyon's verdict went to Croix-Rousse ahead of Guillotière, Confluence and Presqu'île, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Croix-Rousse the Brooklyn of Lyon. It sits on its own hill and carries itself like a village bolted onto a big city, with a morning market that takes itself seriously and passageways that get used instead of performed. Lyonnais are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Croix-Rousse'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 Lyon verdict: brooklynof.com/lyon
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/lyon
Runner-up neighborhoods: Guillotière, Confluence, Presqu'île
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.