Isola is the Brooklyn of Milan.
Isola named the Brooklyn of Milan
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Isola the Brooklyn of Milan.
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. Milan's verdict went to Isola ahead of NoLo, Navigli and Porta Romana, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Isola the Brooklyn of Milan, and it was not a hard call. The railway tracks kept it cut off for decades, and that isolation bred a character the new towers have not managed to flatten. Milanese are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Isola'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 Milan verdict: brooklynof.com/milan
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/milan
Runner-up neighborhoods: NoLo, Navigli, Porta Romana
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.