Sredets is the Brooklyn of Sofia.
Sredets named the Brooklyn of Sofia
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Sredets the Brooklyn of Sofia.
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. Sofia's verdict went to Sredets ahead of Lozenets, Oborishte and Ivan Vazov, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Sredets the Brooklyn of Sofia, and it was not a hard call. Theatres, galleries, and live music are packed into a stretch you can walk end to end, with coffee taken seriously by day and rakia poured with conviction at night. Sofians are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Sredets'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 Sofia verdict: brooklynof.com/sofia
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/sofia
Runner-up neighborhoods: Lozenets, Oborishte, Ivan Vazov
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.