Soho is the Brooklyn of Málaga.
Soho named the Brooklyn of Málaga
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Soho the Brooklyn of Málaga.
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. Málaga's verdict went to Soho ahead of La Merced, Pedregalejo and El Palo, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Soho the Brooklyn of Málaga, and it was not a hard call. The murals do half the talking, the coffee is taken seriously, and the line between gallery and bar keeps blurring in exactly the way this title tries to name. Malagueños are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Soho'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 Málaga verdict: brooklynof.com/malaga
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/malaga
Runner-up neighborhoods: La Merced, Pedregalejo, El Palo
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.