Seongsu-dong is the Brooklyn of Seoul.
Seongsu-dong named the Brooklyn of Seoul
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Seongsu-dong the Brooklyn of Seoul.
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. Seoul's verdict went to Seongsu-dong ahead of Mangwon-dong, Hongdae and Mullae-dong, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Seongsu-dong the Brooklyn of Seoul, and it was not a hard call. Old factory bones, espresso in the air, and everyone on the sidewalk is a designer, a photographer, or doing a fair impression of one. Seoulites are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Seongsu-dong'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 Seoul verdict: brooklynof.com/seoul
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/seoul
Runner-up neighborhoods: Mangwon-dong, Hongdae, Mullae-dong
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.