West Queen West is the Brooklyn of Toronto.
West Queen West named the Brooklyn of Toronto
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named West Queen West the Brooklyn of Toronto.
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. Toronto's verdict went to West Queen West ahead of Kensington Market, Davenport and Leslieville, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named West Queen West the Brooklyn of Toronto, and it was not a hard call. It has the whole package: record shops, late-night bars, street art, and a park scene that runs on cheap tallboys in summer. Torontonians are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to West Queen West'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 Toronto verdict: brooklynof.com/toronto
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/toronto
Runner-up neighborhoods: Kensington Market, Davenport, Leslieville
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.