In paid partnership with Malmö Town
'And twelve points go to.... LOREEN'. Back in May, the Swedish singer and songwriter won the Eurovision Song Contest in front of162 million viewers worldwide. For Sweden this was huge, firstly because it was Loreen's second win, and secondly because I simply cannot express just how big the Eurovision Song Contest is here! Traditionally, the country who wins the contest gets to host the event the following year. And next spring all eyes will be on Malmö, the city chosen to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2024!
Having moved to Malmö in 2004 - I certainly know a thing or two about this wonderful city and today, I'm going to put the singing aside (except for a little karaoke of course), to share some of my favourite places in Malmö with you, including cafes, restaurants, shops, sculptures, architect, museums and galleries!
Ready to discover this Southern city a short hop from Copenhagen? Step this way for my local guide!
Stroll through the old cobbled streets and squares of Gamla Staden
Wander through Gamla Staden (the old town) which includes Stortorget - the 'big square' with its majestic buildings and beautifully restored advertising from 1900 and Lillatorg - the picturesque 'small square' buzzing with cafes and restaurants. Take some time strolling around the cobbled residential lanes behind the main sites too, there are rows of colourful cottages to discover!
Keep an eye out for the city's architecture, fountains and sculptures
Malmö is well known for Turning Torso - a skyscraper designed by Santiago Calatrava, and of course the magnificent Öresund bridge which spans the Öresund Strait. But make sure you keep your eyes peeled around the city for an incredible array of architecture where old meets new. For a great architectue walk, start at Fiskehoddarna and make your way along Citadellsvägen beside the canal passing Malmöhus slott (the castle), Clarion live and many other exciting landmarks.
Throughout Gamla Staden and beyond you'll find many incredible fountains, sculptures and artwork. My favourite is 'Det Svenska Tungsinnet' by Marie-Louise Ekman - a crying man in bronze who is always sad despite the wonderful views over the canal!
Visit the museums and galleries
Stop for a fika (coffee and sweet treat)
No matter where you are in town, there will be a cafe with first class coffee and a fluffy cinnamon bun waiting for you! In the city centre you'll find the likes of
Noir,
Solde and
Konditori Katarina near the station. But I also love to heading to St Knuts torg where you can pull up a seat beside locals in
Uggla kaffebar (above) or
Söderberg & Sara (below).
You also can't get more local than Östra Kaffebaren in Värnhem (pictured below), why not make a morning of it and stroll through lovely Kungsgatan - passing Saint Paul's Church on the way.
If you're in Limhamn (not far from Hyllie - the site of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024), head to
Atelejen for a fika or brunch (below) - and pick up some ceramics made in the in-house workshop afterwards.
The good news is, when it comes to Swedish fika, there are no limits to the number of times you can indulge yourself in one day - so, why not try out all of these places during your stay?
Shopping for clothes
Malmö town centre is filled with the usual Swedish high street stores including H&M, & Other stories, Lindex, Tiger of Sweden, Åhlens etc. But if like me, you love to discover smaller independent stores, make sure you stop by at
Meloa (pictured above) on Davidshallstorg,
Miloii,
Grandpa and
AB Småland. You can also pick up second-hand finds at
Rad Susie and
Björk & Frihet.
Shopping for design
Malmö has so many great design stores! Nordiska Galleriet (above) recently opened it's doors and is filled with Scandinavian design.
Tucked away on a lovely old street in Gamla Staden you'll also find the independent interior design store Pepperholm (below) - which focuses on Giclée prints on paper and linen tapestries printed in Sweden as well as well as lamps, ceramics, cushions and other small items for the home (limited opening hours).
Shopping for antique and second-hand homeware
Tucked away behind Davidshallstorg, you'll find a whole host of small independent boutiques selling everything from antiques like Teddy's Antikshop (pictured above and below) and books to mid-century furniture and ceramics. Most have limited opening times but nearly all are open on Saturdays. While on the subject of books, seek out the '
Dawit Isaac Biblioteket - the library of banned books, it's fascinating!
There are so many excellent restaurants in Malmö. I'll start with lunch spots! Davidshallstorg - a square in the town centre is teeming with little restaurants all with the option of indoor or outdoor seating. I particularly like
Freja Cafe och Vinbar (above and below) which is open all day and serves an excellent breakfast, fika, lunch or evening meal. Other great brunch and lunch options include
Ruths (excellent food, great atmosphere),
MJs restaurant and the relaxed food hall
Malmö Saluhall. On a Friday, book a table for lunch at popular
Västra Station.
Looking for something more hipster? Head to Möllevången.
Known for its bohemian, edgy and hip vibe, Möllevången is packed with restaurants serving everything from Indian and Lebanese to Chinese and Iranian. Last Sunday Per and I spent the afternoon in the afternoon sunshine at
Ramen to Biiru - a popular Japanese restaurant which is always packed with locals for good reason - the food is excellent!
Nearby you'll find
Scandwich, another favourite! You can't make reservations at either of these places so just rock up and enjoy the atmosphere while you wait for your table!
In the evening, my favourite dinner places are Bouchon, Occo (I love the decadence of this place and the delicious mezze, plus its great for cocktails), Aster, Elsa, Atmosfär, Gustavino or Bise. For great Asian food head to Quan (hugely popular for good reason - book well in advance) Soho or Kin Lon, a chinese restaurant with robot service! In my mind, the best Indian in town is served at Kontrast, Ghee by the Sea overlooking the sea and Öresund bridge - it's a Brantmark family favourite!
Food shopping
Is self-catering an option during your stay? If so, you're in luck! There are many supermarkets all over town, but if you'd like to shop local, head to the farmers markets at Drottningstorget or pick up fruit and veg at the market at Möllevångenstorget (most stalls prefer cash). Möllevången is also a great place to experience Malmö's incredible cultural diversity - and you can buy ingredients for just about any dish!
For other independent stores,
Gram on St Knuts torg (pictured above) is a zero waste shop selling local, organic and sustainable products. You can also buy local eggs and freshly baked sourdough next door at
Söderberg & Sara. While in the neighbourhood, take a stroll in
Malmö Folkets Park - it offers an entire calendar of events as well as a host of cafes and restaurants and even a reptile centre!
Seafood on the menu? Pick up shellfish, salmon, herring, tuna steaks and many other delicacies from Malmö's largest fish market
Fiskehoddarna - a picturesque row of fishing huts by the canal (seen above and below) a stone's throw from
Malmöhus slott. I love to stop by for the catch of the day from
Blå Hoddan, owned by the brother of a friend of mine who has is own fishing boat. In late spring and summer you can dine-in.
Looking for some activities?
By day, take a stroll in one of the city parks - including Pildammsparken, which dates back to the 17th century or Kungsparken, with its canal, windmill and pretty gardens - both beautiful! When friends and family come to visit I also love to rent one of the electric boats from
Go Boat or
BookABoat and putter around the city canals with a picnic (pick up a baguette at
Picnic).
Feeling sporty? Soak up the amazing atmosphere at a
Malmö FF game (locals will tell you they are the best soccer / football team in Sweden!) or learn about ice-hockey by watching
Malmö Redhawks play!
If the sun is shining and the weather is warm, you'll find lots of action at the city beach at
Ribbergsborgstranden where, in summer time you can play volleyball and basketball. In the winter, warm up at
Ribersgborg kalbadhus (public sauna and pier). I was there yesterday and always leave feeling completely revived!
For evening activities -
Boulebar is always fun for dinner and boules, or get into the Eurovision spirit at the new karaoke bar
Moyagi! The art deco style
Spegeln is my favourite cinema thanks to the beautiful decor, comfy armchairs and in-saloon bar! For something that little extra you might like to see a performance at
Malmö Opera or
Malmö Stadsteater or put your problem-solving skills to the test at
Sherlocked escape room, before recovering in the cocktail bar.
Finish the night with a dance to live music on at
Paddy's (Friday's and Saturdays) or bust a move among the young and hip at
Plan B.
Where to stay
MJs,
Clarion and
Story are all in the heart of town and offer a great night's stay.
Finally
don't leave Malmö without picking up some chocolate from
Malmö Chokladfabrik (the Malmö chocolate factory) store near the central station for some ecological dream chocolate with that little extra!
Planning your trip? Here are five useful things to know...
1. Malmö is a near cashless city so don't exchange money in advance - credit cards are the way to go (except you would like to visit the market in Möllevången).
2. Get around on foot or hire a bike. For longer journeys download the easy-to-use
Skånetrafiken app for public transport (including the train to and from Copenhagen airport).
3. Dress for all weather but leave your brolly at home - this is a windy city! Oh, and bring your bathers - just in case you fancy a dip in the Öresund Strait!
4. Malmö is an understated city - relaxed clothing and flat shoes are the way to go (cobbled lanes and kitten heels do not mix well, trust me!).
5. In my personal experience, tips are generally not offered at lunchtime but 10% is standard for dinner
I hope this guide proves useful for your visit. We so look forward to welcoming you to our amazing city for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024!
Niki
All photography copyright: My Scandinavian Home
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