Palermo is the Brooklyn of Montevideo.
Palermo named the Brooklyn of Montevideo
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Palermo the Brooklyn of Montevideo.
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. Montevideo's verdict went to Palermo ahead of Cordón, Parque Rodó and Barrio Sur, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Palermo the Brooklyn of Montevideo. Drums echoing off crumbling pastel walls on a Sunday afternoon, murals older than anyone's memory, bars that see no reason to open before six. It is lived-in, not polished, which is exactly what this title is trying to name. Montevideans are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Palermo'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 Montevideo verdict: brooklynof.com/montevideo
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/montevideo
Runner-up neighborhoods: Cordón, Parque Rodó, Barrio Sur
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.