Mile End is the Brooklyn of Montreal.
Mile End named the Brooklyn of Montreal
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Mile End the Brooklyn of Montreal.
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. Montreal's verdict went to Mile End ahead of Plateau-Mont-Royal, Rosemont-Petite-Patrie and Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (HoMa), which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Mile End the Brooklyn of Montreal. A neighborhood that smells like wood-fired ovens on Sunday and strong coffee the rest of the week, where everyone seems to be writing something, is doing exactly what this title tries to name. Montrealers are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Mile End'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 Montreal verdict: brooklynof.com/montreal
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/montreal
Runner-up neighborhoods: Plateau-Mont-Royal, Rosemont-Petite-Patrie, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (HoMa)
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.