Kreis 5 (Zürich West) is the Brooklyn of Zürich.
Kreis 5 (Zürich West) named the Brooklyn of Zürich
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Kreis 5 (Zürich West) the Brooklyn of Zürich.
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. Zürich's verdict went to Kreis 5 (Zürich West) ahead of Kreis 4 (Langstrasse / Aussersihl), Wiedikon (Kreis 3) and Seefeld (Kreis 8), which take the runner-up positions.
"Kreis 5, also called Zürich West, is our pick for the Brooklyn of Zürich, and it was not a hard call. Old rail yards and factories now hold galleries and warehouses where people drink natural wine and nobody apologizes for eating dinner at 9pm. Locals are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Kreis 5 (Zürich 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 Zürich verdict: brooklynof.com/zurich
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/zurich
Runner-up neighborhoods: Kreis 4 (Langstrasse / Aussersihl), Wiedikon (Kreis 3), Seefeld (Kreis 8)
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.