Barrio Italia is the Brooklyn of Santiago.
Barrio Italia named the Brooklyn of Santiago
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Barrio Italia the Brooklyn of Santiago.
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. Santiago's verdict went to Barrio Italia ahead of Bellavista, Barrio Lastarria and Barrio Brasil, which take the runner-up positions.
"Barrio Italia is our pick for the Brooklyn of Santiago, and the call was not a hard one. It fits its whole personality into a few walkable blocks: converted houses turned design studios, vintage shops dealing in actual finds, and more specialty coffee than seems reasonable. Santiaguinos are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Barrio Italia'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 Santiago verdict: brooklynof.com/santiago
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/santiago
Runner-up neighborhoods: Bellavista, Barrio Lastarria, Barrio Brasil
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.