Discover Malmö, the Host City of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024!

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 

Malmö has a thriving art and design scene thanks to Moderna Museet (in a former power station), Konsthallen and Malmö konstmuseum as well as smaller galleries and museums dotted around town - all within an easy walk! You might also be lucky enough to time your visit with the Southern Sweden Design Days or Gallery Open Night! 

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.

For great outdoor gear head to Naturkompaniet, Peak Performance, or Stadium. 

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).

Other design stores I love include Norrgavel, Svenssons, Miloii, Bolia, Geijersgatan 53 as well as chains Lagerhaus and Granit. 

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! 

Restaurants for lunch and dinner

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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Mia's Serene Stockholm Apartment is Full of Texture

I forgot to say happy halloween yesterday! Here, it was absolutely tipping it down all say so we had some very wet witches and ghouls appearing at our door. Full cred to them for weathering the storm for a handful of sweets! 

With all this rain, more rain and then some, everyone except the 'trick or treaters' have been hiding at home under a blanket - and this is where I think Swedish homes really come into their own. They are just so lovely and serene - like an oasis of calm even on the stormiest of days! 

Mia, a psychologist, and her family have a beautiful apartment in Stockholm which is the epitome of calm. Think soft, natural tones, lovely paintings and floral displays. Plus the entire apartment is layered with texture in the form of natural materials such as marble, sheepskin,  wood, linen and a very fluffy rug! 

I hope Mia's home leaves you with plenty of ideas for your own living space, I for one love the kitchen bench - such a clever way to squeeze in a table for four in a narrow space! 

Enjoy the tour!  

Lovely!

The wall mounted desk is such a clever idea - you can find a similar one here*. 

And those of you who have been curious about where swedes store all their clothes (winter, summer etc) I hope this floor to ceiling closet has provided some closure! No doubt, there is some kind of extra storage in the apartment basement too - there usually is. 

See more of Mia's apartment and the family's summer cottage on her instagram @madebymor. 

See more serene living spaces here: 

A charming blend of old and new in a Stockholm home

A stunning Stockholm pad in calming greens and greys (love the kitchen!)

This is not in Stockholm, but I just stumbled over this 'sofa make-over' Helen and I shot in her apartment   - it was such a fun day! 

Despite the calm home tour, it's all a little frantic here today. I'm on the early morning train to the IKEA headquarters in the forest for a meeting, and then racing back as my youngest and I are heading to London later today to visit my mother, sister and family (it's half-term here). Plus I am hoping to visit my wonderful editor from Simply Scandi magazine for whom I write a regular column. Guess what's on the forecast? More rain of course! 

Hope you're having a great week and that means your sunshine! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Mia / @madebymor.

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A Charming Blend of Old and New in a Stockholm Home

It's a school holiday this week in Southern Sweden and I feel like I'm the only one up, tapping away on my laptop in a cafe by the sea. The clocks went back at the weekend which means darker nights - which in turn means the warm glow from lamps, candles and log fires. Further North, snow covers the ground and the birds taken flight to warmer climes. It's a time for cosying up at home by the fire, reading and taking long walks. And I'm all for it! 

This lovely Stockholm apartment is owned by Mina and Carlo, founders of IO Kids Design and is located in 'Söder', a hipster part of town with some of the Swedish capital's best cafes and restaurants. Even so, when the temperatures hit minus, being tucked up under a blanket beside the kakelugn (tiled masonry oven) is the way to go! Keep a look out for personal touches, a blend of antique and designer pieces as well as the beautiful entrance way. 

I hope you find something in this lovely home to inspire you! 

Two tone kitchens are where it's at right now. The apartment owner Carlo Negri - an architect for Sweco, designed this kitchen. I love how the upper cabinets are in wood, adding lots of warmth to the space. 

Carlo also designed the book cases in the sitting room and bedroom. 

Space is limited in the city and many get creative to make space for the entire family. In this aprtment, the children's room is divided into two using a series of closets.

This bunkbed is next level (literally!). I actually haven't seen one like this before. Does anyone have any tips on where it might be from?  UPDATE: it's called the IO Bunk Pod and was designed by Mina and her husband - the owners of this apartment and founders of IO Kids Design!

The other half of the room is small (yet cosy) - with enough space for a charming antique bed! 

I love these grand early 19th century communal entryways you find in Sweden! 

Confused about the layout? Here's the floorplan as shared by Historiska Hem: 

Glossary: sovrum - bedroom, Kakelugn - fireplace, allrum - living room, bad - bathroom, kök - kitchen, Gardrob - wardrobes.

I love the exterior of this property too - classic Stockholm! 

Is there anything that stood out to you about this lovely apartment? 

Why not cosy up for a while and see a few other incredible apartments from the Swedish capital here: 

A charming Stockholm home in wintertime

A lovely Stockholm home where past and present meet

Get the look from the fab Stockholm home of a design hunter

Right folks, the autumn sun is shining and I've got two children (teenagers) here at home waiting to get into action (actually they're still asleep so they don't know that yet, but they will be!). 

Wishing you a great start to the week! 

Niki

Photographs courtesy of Historiska Hem with thanks 

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Autumn touches in our Little Cottage Kitchen

Hello, happy Friday friends! Got any great plans for the weekend?

Last weekend we stole away to the cottage for a couple of days. An hour and a half north of here, the wind was howling and the rain lashed at the windows. Perfect weather for cosying up indoors beside the fire! In Sweden each season is so powerful and in contrast to the one before that I think it's important to embrace each and every one in all its glory! Is it the same where you are? 

Along with our fireside tea, we also made some small Autumn updates to the cottage kitchen - I hope you like them (my favourite was Per's apple pie!). 

Per is definitely the baker of the family. He whipped up this apple and cinnamon pie with apples from our neighbour's garden - it tasted divine! 

I picked up the ceramic bowl at Mölle Krukmakeri in nearby Kullaberg and the candle holder was made by a local ceramicist. 

We recently swapped out the faux brass handles from IKEA for these solid brass knobs (I was fortunate enough that it was part of an instagram collaboration last week). They've made a difference to the entire experience of the kitchen. 

I've noticed that one of the most important investments in the kitchen are the items you touch: handles, taps, utensils etc. Do you agree? 

I love bringing in Autumn foliage! At the back you can see The Little Swedish Kitchen cookbook, which was a present from my Mother. I dip into it all the time! 

Hooks are so useful in the kitchen (these wooden ones are from H&M Home) - the display here is forever changing too.

When we renovated the kitchen, the curtain was the last thing to be installed. My mother-in-law was a bit unsure to begin with but she's really grown to love the way it billows in the wind and creates a sense of drama and privacy even when the door is open. 

We're lucky enough to have a huge stack of firewood in the garage (last winter there was a shortage due to the rising price of electricity!), it's looking the same for this year. 

I hope you like these touches. 

Have you also updated your home for the season? If so, I'd love to hear how!

Feel inspired by other Autumnal homes here: 

Cosy autumn ideas from Laura and Nora's homes

11 autumn ideas to steal from a hyggeligt danish home

5 cosy autumn ideas from a Swedish home

What are you up to this weekend? We're heading to Västerås for Allie's gymnastics competition. I'm so excited as I love to watch her and her team do their gymnastics. I've never been to the Swedish city before either so I hope I'll have some time to explore! 

Trevlig helg! Have a fabulous weekend! 

Niki

// This post is not sponsored. Some of the items seen are press gifts but I was under no obligation to mention them here on the blog. 

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12

Cici and Locke's Cosy, Relaxed, and Elegant Berlin Home

Boy, do I have a treat in store for you today! There's something so easy, so relaxed, and so beautiful about Cici's apartment, with its lush green views, playful touches and wonderful mix of designer touches, plants, books and blankets. Couple this with the Berlin architecture and warm glow from lighting and you have the perfect autumn home. Lucky Locke (the resident hound!) who gets to share the space. 

Pour yourself a coffee, pull up a seat and enjoy the tour! 

Pendants from IKEA, wishbone chairs, print from Wall of Art.

Two happy residents: Cici and Locke. 

Togo Fireside armchair from Ligne Roset, mood lighting from Artemide.

Panton wired shelving from Montana.

Striped bedding from H&M Home, Rice paper shade from Hay. 

So cosy and elegant. I love this home! 

Did you enjoy the tour of Cici and Locke's home too? 

I think one of my favourite things was all the mood lighting in the form of table lamps. There are so many portable lamps available these days which means you can move them around without having to worry about cables and wall sockets which opens up a world of opportunities! This portable Flowerpot lamp from Danish band &Tradition is one of my favourites. 

See more of Cici's lovely home (including films) here. 

Would you like to tour a few other Berlin apartments today? Take a look at: 

A light-filled Berlin home with a Nordic touch

A lovely, relaxed artists' home

An edgy Berlin home full of contrast

All stunning in their own way! 

Happy mid-week friends! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Cici / @lockeundcici, shared with kind permission. 

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