Toul Tom Poung is the Brooklyn of Phnom Penh.
Toul Tom Poung named the Brooklyn of Phnom Penh
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Toul Tom Poung the Brooklyn of Phnom Penh.
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. Phnom Penh's verdict went to Toul Tom Poung ahead of Tonle Bassac, BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1) and Daun Penh, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Toul Tom Poung the Brooklyn of Phnom Penh. It grew up around a market and never let go of it: secondhand clothes and iced coffee by day, bars by night full of people who came for a week and stayed three years. Locals are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Toul Tom Poung'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 Phnom Penh verdict: brooklynof.com/phnom-penh
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/phnom-penh
Runner-up neighborhoods: Tonle Bassac, BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1), Daun Penh
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.