Northern Quarter is the Brooklyn of Manchester.
Northern Quarter named the Brooklyn of Manchester
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Northern Quarter the Brooklyn of Manchester.
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. Manchester's verdict went to Northern Quarter ahead of Ancoats, Chorlton and New Islington, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Northern Quarter the Brooklyn of Manchester. It is the city's creative engine room, red brick and all, where every other wall doubles as a canvas. Mancunians are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Northern Quarter'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 Manchester verdict: brooklynof.com/manchester
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/manchester
Runner-up neighborhoods: Ancoats, Chorlton, New Islington
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.