A Local Guide to Malmö, Sweden

I've lived in Sweden's third largest city of Malmö for over fourteen years. And the truth is, not only do I love it, but I'm also super proud of this town too. It's laid-back, buzzing with creativity and you can cycle everywhere in under 30 minutes (beach, parks, cafés, bars, musuems, art galleries, you name it!). So many fabulous places have popped up since my last guide to hip places to eat, drink and shop in Malmö that I thought it was about time for a new guide. So I put on my thinking cap, sourced a wonderful sponsor (thank you Malmö Turism) and chatted to all my Malmö friends to bring you a true, bang up to date local's guide to 24 hours in Malmö!

Where to stay
Oh Boy Hotel - located in Västra hamnen (Western harbour), Oh Boy is a short hop to the swimming bridges,10 minutes walk to the central station and comes with two bicycles (and a bicycle taxi service)!

It also comes with a skateboard (handy when you live opposite the skateboard park! 

Other places to stay:
Duxiana
Mäster Johans
Story Hotel Studio

(also see 20 instagrammable places to stay in Sweden) 

Great places for an aperitif
Gustavino Wine Bar - on the corner of Stortorget ('the large square')in a beautiful old building - these guys do the best Aperol Spritz in town (and of course, many decent wines!)! 

Lilla Torg (outdoor heated area lined with bars in the 'little square')
Möllevångstorget ( drinks on me if you're able to pronounce this outdoor heated area in the area of Möllevång)

Malmö Opera House
Västra Hamnen, Sundspromenaden - grab a bottle from Systembolaget (the off license) and enjoy a cool one looking out over the Öresund at sunset. In the summer you might even be treated to salsa, live music and other events as part of Malmö Sommarscene (check out what's happening this summer here).

Where to eat

Mineral 
A relaxed local hang-out near St Knuts torg packed with vintage finds. Enjoy organic wine, great beer and yummy food - inside or out.

Riket - a relaxed neighbourhood hangout with great food just off beautiful Davidhallstorg.

Bastard - this place always has a great atmosphere - start with a cocktail! Need to book in advance.
Lyran
MJ's
Saltimporten (where the media folk hang out on weekdays lunchtime)

First thing to do when you wake-up

Morning Dip
Nothing nurses a hang-over and gets you ready for the day better than a 'morgondopp'! Do as the locals do, don a dressing gown, walk / cycle down to the nearest swimming place and brace yourself!

Followed by breakfast or a long old brunch....

Breakfast / brunch hangouts

The Raw Food House 

The Raw Food House is on a street that's also great for antiques and vintage finds and right next door is Malört tattoo, which my friend (and fellow local) Sofie says uses "only vegan inks, William Morris wallpaper, and a small selection of naughty books for sale." She does actually have a tattoo from this place and it's beautiful (and I'm not even really into tattoos) - if you're tempted, you'll need to book well in advance! 

Other Brunch places:
Lotta Love Superfoodbar
Jord Malmö 

Activities:
Although it's tempting to sit around eating and drinking all day, soaking up the atmosphere - there are some activities that should definitely not be missed:

Kalbadhus - my friends visiting from England insist on calling this place the 'naked sauna' which amuses my Swedish husband no end. Located on the end of a pier off Ribbersborg, this place is well worth a visit, if only just for the relaxed cafe / restaurant. I'd totally recommend going for a sauna and cold bath too!

Matkaravan food tour - foodies will love this guided food tour of Malmö (book in advance!).

Boating around the canal - pack a picnic and hire your own motorboat to putter around Malmö's canals - it's a great way to see the city centre!

Folketspark - take a stroll around the boho 'People's Park' (especially if you're with children as it's a bit of a kids paradise). Don't miss Far i Hatten for wood-fired pizzas in the little old cottage and beer garden! 

Museums: I love Moderna Museet & Konsthallen for modern art (they both have great gift shops  too!) and Malmöhus for a spot of history. My kids love Tekniska & Sjöfartens hus  (Science and maritime museum) it's totally interactive and you can leap in and out of a submarine, cars etc and do other science-y stuff.

Fika! 
If you really want to enjoy Malmö like a local it's essential to enjoy a 'fika' (coffee break with something sweet) every half hour or so. In the summer I like cycling through the many parks and stopping at Slottsträdgårdens Cafe or enjoying a take-away coffee on a blanket in the park.

Other great places to fika
Söderberg & Sara on St knuts Torg is a wonderfully hipster café selling stone baked bread and the most divine cinnamon buns.

If you'd like combine your fika with shopping (err, hello!) you're in for a treat...

Great places in Malmö to Shop for Clothes and Interior


AB Småland - a café and eco butique rolled into one. Bonus: you can even buy the furniture you sit on to eat.

Grandpa Store - conveniently (or should I say dangerously?!) placed next door to AB Småland on the main walking street- this is a great little shop for clothes, interior items and some of Sweden's coolest bags, shoes etc.

Miloii - great for things for the home and clothes! I once featured the owner's home here (as an indication of her great taste!).

Geijersgatan 53 - fairly new on the scene, this wonderful café and shop is 15 minutes cycle from the town centre (just along the beach) and well worth a visit.

Meloa - always worth nipping into this little shop for clothes, jewellery, bags etc!

 Hathyllan - and just next door is this fab hat shop!



8 Great Shops in Malmö for Design:
One of my fortes as you can imagine! I'm so grateful for all of these wonderful interior design shops - do not miss a single one of them if you'd like to pick something up for your home!

Olsson & Gerthel

Malmö Modern
Form Design Centre
Design Torget
Granit
Lagerhaus
Formargruppen
En Familj  
Svenssons

And while in shopping mode, here are:

5 fab things made by local designers to pick up on your spree:

1.  Torso Chair by Lisa Hilland

2. Big darling and Little Darling lamps by Swedish Ninja

 3. Dressed in Clay candlestick by Kajsa Willner and Straight Ceramic pots by Pernilla Norrman

4. Modern art by Maria Leinonen

5. Beyond Local Collection by Anna Gudmundsdottir

And last but no means least, I never leave town without stopping to say hi to Sophie and her Cocker Spaniel Farfar on my way home to pick up some fresh flowers...

Florista

I think that might be it. I've no doubt left out a ton of amazing places - feel free to add your favourite Malmö haunts in the comment section below or on instagram using the hash tag #makeitmalmo.

VÄLKOMMEN!

PS You can also visit Malmö Town for more tips!

All photography ©Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home unless specified.


This post was made possible thanks to Malmö Turism, who kindly supported my endeavour with a hotel and expenses. All words and opinions are absolutely my own (and that of other locals!).

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Malmö city guide: hip places to eat, drink and shop (design)

Have you ever visited Malmö, Sweden? It's been my home for the past 12 years and I'm so incredibly proud of Sweden's third largest city! For those of you wondering about geography (let's face it, I wasn't entirely sure where it was before I moved here) - it's the hub of Southern Sweden (listed 9th place on the New York Times top 52 places to visit in 2016 - if that's not reason enough!), and just over the Öresund bridge (yes, that's The Bridge - apparently there's a special tour these days!), from Copenhagen.  With an abundance of cool new boutiques, restaurants, cafes, and bars popping up all over town, I invited my friend and photographer Valentina Fussell over for the day to capture some of my absolute places to eat, drink and shop in Malmö.....

 - Cafés, restaurants & bars: 

Noir: this is the perfect little café to start your tour (with a freshly brewed coffee of course!), on sunny days you can sit outside and watch the locals cycle by.

Johan P - a fabulous fish restaurant (and fish market) in a former factory just off Lilla Torg - and the perfect place to enjoy oysters, seafood platters and the local catch of the day. It's also great for an early evening apéritif (if only to marvel at the high ceilings, decor and Flos lights).

Bastard - In my mind you can't beat this restaurant for an evening out in Malmö. Not only is the food and service excellent, it's buzzing every night of the week and turns into a popular spot for late night cocktails too. You'll need to book in advance.

Lilla Torg - drinks (or light lunch) at an outdoor table in this old square is also a must (try Moosehead or mello yello). You might also end up at Koi nightclub later on in the evening too...(just as I have done on eh hem a few occasions). 

Boulebar - Another unique place (and a new favourite) - is this establishment on Drottningstorget which combines good food and drink with a game of Boule. Go for brunch on a saturday and sunday with family and friends - or in the evening (brilliant if you're travelling in a group).  Look out for local farmers / fleas markets (and Christmas markets) on the square outside too!

Central - shopping

Miloii is my go to shop for clothes (selling brands such as A.P.C, GANNI and Rodebjer) and lovely things for the home. If you need more convincing - this is the the owner's home.

Blomsterpigen - this is one beautiful flower shop, and even if blooms aren't the most practical item to take home with you, I can still recommend visiting if only to see their magical window display and the little upstairs oasis!

Granit - A firm fixture in my Malmö 'interior shop tour', this is the perfect place to pick up practical items for the home (especially if you love simple, clean style and monochrome). Other favourites (particularly for Scandinavian designer items) include Malmö Modern, Olsson & Gerthel, Norrgavel, DesignTorget, Form Design Centre (it's worth going in here for the building alone!) and Svenssons.

Formgruppen - a staple for locally made ceramics (and something unique to take home with you).

Mini Rodini - the cutest Swedish children's brand has opened up a shop just off Lilla Torg - because it would be mean to not pick up something for the little ones too!

St Knut Torg - restaurants & cafés 

This area of Malmö has a local village-feel and is well worth a visit for it's small, privately run cafes and bars. Hop on a bike (bike hire stations are located all over town) and enjoy.....

Söderberg & Sara - sit and read the paper alongside locals in this ecological bakery / cafe.

Spoonery - I often go here at lunchtime for the pared-back interior and chilli beef stew - mmmm!

No.6 Nip around the corner for a post-lunch coffee at this itsy, bitsy local cafe created by the previous owner of this home. He's since sold it but the decor and local vibe remains the same.

And if you like wine and cheese don't miss the neighbourhood hang-out- Kiez. There's a great write-up and a few of pictures of it here. For dancing the night away to live music - you can also head over the road to Cuba Café in Folkets park for a salsa (summer time only).

St. Knuts Torg - shopping

Flora Linea - Owned by Maja Ljungdahl, this little shop is a complete find! Well worth a visit if you love the idea of a hanging Kokedama (aka a Japanese bonsai where the root grows in a special soil wrapped in a moss ball) and seriously cute ceramics.

Kalbadhus / Ribbersborg - No visit to Malmö is complete without a visit to the sauna (this one's located out on a pier). When my family visit from London they call it 'the naked sauna', much to the bafflement of my Swedish husband - I mean, is there any other kind of sauna?! The traditional style saunas are divided up into female, male and a mixed section (note - don't make the mistake of thinking the teeny square cloth they hand to you when you go in is a towel - it's just for sitting on) after which a cold plunge into the Öresund strait is de rigueur! In the winter they'll cut a circle in the ice - so there's no excuse! Treat yourself to a hot chocolate (or something stronger) in the cafe / restaurant afterwards or enjoy the Sunday brunch (bentwood chairs alert!) with views over the sea and Ribbersborg beach.

I have to say this guide only scratches the surface of all the great places to eat, drink and shop in Malmö and we haven't even touched on Möllevången (with it's many, many fab restaurants and bars). Malmö guide II to follow imminently (once I've enticed Valentina back from Atlanta!).

In the meantime, here's a quick guide:

Möllevången (or 'Möllan')- Söder om Småland (ecological beers and great food), Malmö Brewing co. (Malmö brews for beer lovers), Tempo and Belle Epoche (for good food and cocktails).

Davidshallstorg: B.A.R (go for the taster menu!) and Escama (tapas on a balmy evening al fresco).

Places to stay:  a quick search on Air BnB has come up with some lovely little places including: a studio in Möllan, an apartment in Triangeln (great location, in walking distance of everything and near the tube). Or this beautiful home in Västra Hamnen, an area by the sea renowned for it's architecture and swimming (as well as a handful of cafés and restaurants) and 10 minutes by bike into the city centre.

Best time to visit - April to October (when the days are longer and the weather a little milder) or December (for the Christmas markets).

If you've visited Malmö and have some tips you'd like to share (or if you have any questions) you're so welcome to add them in the comments below.

I hope you make your way here soon. As they say in Sweden - Välkommen!

Credit: All photography by Valentina Fussell.

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