Botafogo is the Brooklyn of Rio de Janeiro.
Botafogo named the Brooklyn of Rio de Janeiro
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Botafogo the Brooklyn of Rio de Janeiro.
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. Rio de Janeiro's verdict went to Botafogo ahead of Santa Teresa, Lapa and Ipanema, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Botafogo the Brooklyn of Rio de Janeiro. It sits under one of the most famous views on earth and mostly ignores it, because the food and the nightlife carry the neighborhood on their own. Cariocas are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Botafogo'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 Rio de Janeiro verdict: brooklynof.com/rio-de-janeiro
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/rio-de-janeiro
Runner-up neighborhoods: Santa Teresa, Lapa, Ipanema
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.