Södermalm is the Brooklyn of Stockholm.
Södermalm named the Brooklyn of Stockholm
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Södermalm the Brooklyn of Stockholm.
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. Stockholm's verdict went to Södermalm ahead of Slakthusområdet, Hornstull and Vasastan, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Södermalm the Brooklyn of Stockholm, and the call was not a hard one. It is an island that treats coffee and natural wine as serious business, the bars fill up by Thursday, and sitting by the water doing nothing is a legitimate way to spend an evening. Stockholmers are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Södermalm'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 Stockholm verdict: brooklynof.com/stockholm
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/stockholm
Runner-up neighborhoods: Slakthusområdet, Hornstull, Vasastan
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.