Quartier des Olivettes is the Brooklyn of Nantes.
Quartier des Olivettes named the Brooklyn of Nantes
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Quartier des Olivettes the Brooklyn of Nantes.
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. Nantes's verdict went to Quartier des Olivettes ahead of Île de Nantes, Hauts-Pavés - Saint-Félix and Chantenay, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Quartier des Olivettes the Brooklyn of Nantes, and it was not a hard call. Old workshops turned into studios and galleries, espresso by day, natural wine on the windowsills by night, and none of it performed for an audience. Nantais are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Quartier des Olivettes'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 Nantes verdict: brooklynof.com/nantes
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/nantes
Runner-up neighborhoods: Île de Nantes, Hauts-Pavés - Saint-Félix, Chantenay
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.