Looking to check out the coolest neighborhood in Atlanta? Well, we’ve got a contender for ya. Brooklyn Of, a travel publication that finds the coolest neighborhoods in every city, just ranked East Atlanta Village as the ‘Brooklyn of’ Atlanta. And you’ve gotta give it a visit! Keep scrolling to learn more.
Why is East Atlanta Village the ‘Brooklyn’ of Atlanta?
When it comes to picking a ‘Brooklyn Of’ a city, the travel publication Brooklyn Of is looking at the coolest neighborhoods around–a metaphor, of course, for “he coolest neighborhood in town, the one where independent culture, serious coffee, and creative energy define the character.”
East Atlanta Village, with its art scene, hip vibe, cool local flavor and vital community is an easy answer: EAV is the Brooklyn of Atlanta. Everything in East Atlanta Village is independently owned, with no big chains harshing the vibes of the neighborhood.
The creator of Brooklyn Of said in a statement,
We named East Atlanta Village the Brooklyn of Atlanta. It has a walkable core where a whole night out stays inside the neighborhood, live music even on a weeknight, and murals covering the brick in between. The locals we ran the pick past did not argue much. Atlantans are welcome to tell us we are wrong.
East Atlanta isn’t the only cool neighborhood in the ATL, of course, but it is the Brooklyn of the city! Runner-up neighborhoods include Little Five Points, Old Fourth Ward, Reynoldstown.
The East Atlanta Strut
Every year, East Atlanta Village hosts their iconic East Atlanta Strut, a combination street festival-parade-artists market-porchfest!
One of the coolest parts about the Strut? Unlike many Atlanta festivals, which pay corporations to run the show, the East Atlanta Strut is and always has been — since 1998 — completely run by volunteers, which allows them to pour 100% of profits back into the community!
The Strut has everything from local artisan crafters and vendors to fun games like the Strut Wing Toss, Leaf Blower Madness Tournaments, the Strut Baby Crawl & Toddler Trot and more!
By the numbers, The East Atlanta Strut usually has over 400 craft vendors and artists, with tons of food trucks and nearly 50,000 attendees.
This year, the Strut is: September 26, 2026, 12-6 p.m.
Learn all about the East Atlanta Strut on their website, here!
Where should I go in EAV?
Whether you’re visiting or you live around the block, EAV has a ton of great spots to check out. Here’s what we recommend:
For coffee:
If you’re grabbing coffee in East Atlanta Village, we’ve got some great recommendations for you to try out. Here are our top picks:
- Joes Coffeehouse (check out their $3 latte happy hour!)
- Bellwood Coffee (peruse all the beautiful plants while you sip!)
- Raani (a delicious Indian coffee shop!)
For food:
EAV is the perfect spot for affordable, delicious food from local tastemakers. Here’s what we recommend:
- EAV Thai & Sushi
- Argosy (for their wings & pizza)
- Gaja Korean Bar
- Emerald City Bagels
- Southern Feedstore food hall
For a drink:
EAV is a perfect bar hopping neighborhood, with tons of delicious, fun, and dive bar vibes. Here’s our list of recs to check out:
- Mary’s (for a fun, dancy Queer bar)
- Banshee (for a classic bar vibe)
- Flatiron (for a super hipster vibe)
- Buteco (inside Southern Feedstore for a artsy vibe)
For entertainment:
If you’re looking for something fun to do, EAV is crawling with things! Here are a few recommendations:
- The Earl – see local bands with a classic dive bar drink in hand
- 529 – another great spot for local indie rock and punk bands
- explore EAV’s street art – known for all of its gorgeous street art, EAV has tons of murals you’ve gotta see
- Seasonal farmers markets & pop up artist markets
- pop in all the local shops that line the street!
Don’t miss out on all the fun, Atlanta! Check out East Atlanta Village to take a trip to Brooklyn… without ever leaving the ATL.