Ruzafa is the Brooklyn of Valencia.
Ruzafa named the Brooklyn of Valencia
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Ruzafa the Brooklyn of Valencia.
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. Valencia's verdict went to Ruzafa ahead of El Cabanyal, Benimaclet and El Carmen, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Ruzafa the Brooklyn of Valencia, and it was not a hard call. The nights spill onto the sidewalks, the mornings belong to the market and good coffee, and everything worth doing sits within a ten-minute walk. Valencians are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Ruzafa'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 Valencia verdict: brooklynof.com/valencia
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/valencia
Runner-up neighborhoods: El Cabanyal, Benimaclet, El Carmen
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.