Former French Concession is the Brooklyn of Shanghai.
Former French Concession named the Brooklyn of Shanghai
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Former French Concession the Brooklyn of Shanghai.
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. Shanghai's verdict went to Former French Concession ahead of Jing'an, which takes the runner-up position.
"We named the Former French Concession the Brooklyn of Shanghai. It is the city at its most walkable, where the lane houses do the work a museum would and the food and design scene runs on quiet confidence rather than spectacle. Shanghainese are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Former French Concession'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 Shanghai verdict: brooklynof.com/shanghai
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/shanghai
Runner-up neighborhoods: Jing'an
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.