A Perfect Weekend in Malmö

Day 1: Old Town, Food, and Wine. For a short getaway trip to Malmö, it makes sense to start your weekend in Gamla Stan, Malmö's city center. Known for its historic cobblestone streets, abundance of cafés and restaurants, and beautiful squares. Take a walk through Stortorget and Lilla Torg, pay attention to the small details, the mix of old buildings and everyday businesses, cozy cafés, and the shop windows around Stortorget where several high-end stores sit side by side. Sit down for a cup of coffee at Noir or Solde. Both are located in the city center.

Morning:  

• Walk around Stortorget and Lilla Torg  

• Coffee at Noir or Solde

For lunch, you have a lot of amazing lunch options around the old town:  

• If you're in for a burger, you have Surf Shack, Brödernas, and Tugg, which are three great options that are also located in or around the old town.  

• If you're in the mood for a pizza, Östergatan No. 25 is a great option, within 5-7 minute walk from the old town.  

• If you are in the mood for some Lebanese or Mediterranean food, Laziza on Baltzarsgatan is one of the best lunch restaurants in Malmö with an open buffet and an impressive range of alternatives.

Afternoon:  

• You can take a walk around Östra Förstadsgatan (a long pedestrian street also known as gågatan) and Davidshall for some shopping. There is a lot of independent stores and vintage shops around these two areas.  

• If you are not in the mood for shopping, you can visit some of Malmö's museums.

Dinner:  

There is unlimited amount of options for dinner around Gamla Staden.  

• One of the best options around this area is Quan, a contemporary Asian-inspired fine dining that serves both amazing food and great cocktails. Make sure to book in advance as it is usually fully-booked.  

• Another option is Marie Antoinette on Drottningtorget, again within a few minutes walk from the old town and the central station. They focus on well-executed small and medium dishes with international and Scandinavian influences that you share with your table. They are also well-known for fresh flavors, seasonal vegetable, and refined mains like entrecôte or fish. Besides their food and drinks, Marie Antoinette is famous for interior design that really stands out.

Day 2: Spend your second day outside the city center, walk through a few local neighborhoods, visit the sea and let the city take you along, and finish your day with a nice meal and a drink by the water.

Morning:  

• Take a walk to Möllevångstorget (known as Möllan), the most alternative, multicultural and hip area in Malmö. Möllan is chaotic, crowded, and full of life and if you visit Malmö, it wouldn't make sense to not see Möllevångstorget. While you are at, have a cup of coffee at Uggla.  

• After your trip to Möllan, you can bike or talk a walk towards Ribersborgsstranden (Ribban), Malmö’s main city beach, located just west of the center and popular for seaside walks, swimming in summer, and open views of the Öresund bridge.  

• Optional visit to Kallbadhuset if you are into cold baths and sauna culture. It is a classic Malmö experience, jumping into the sea and warming up in the sauna afterward.

Lunch:  

• While you are in the area, you can take a walk to Dockan for some amazing burgers and some of the best fries Malmö has to offer, at Dockside by the harbor.

Afternoon:  

• Walk around Västra Hämnen, a modern waterfront neighborhood by the sea. It's best experienced on foot with long walks, and cafés and restauanrants by the water.  

• In Västra Hämnen, you can also visit the Turning Torso from the outside, one of the tallest buildings in Sweden and Malmö's most recognizable landmark.

Dinner:   If you are still enjoying the Västra Hämnen area by the water front, there is many amazing food options around the area:

• Kontrast by the sea: Kontrast serves some of the best food in Malmö and their outdoor dining area is unmatched in a summer evening. You will be having some amazing Indian food with the sun setting on the water and Copenhagen on the other side. It doesn't get better than that.  

• Another amazing option is Porto Gastrobar. Porto blends European and Mediterranean influences and uses mainly locally sourced ingredients. Their offering ranges rom seafood and premium steaks to vegetarian and vegan-friendly options. However, if I were you, I would not skip their paella, one of the best, if not the best Malmö has to offer.

Malmö is easy to like because it doesn't try too hard. It's a city where walkable lovely neighborhoods and great food from every corner of the world sit very closely together. Follow this itinerary loosely, leave some time to wander and discover, and as Jane Fonda once said "Stay curious".

On a slightly separate note, if you're looking for a place to stay in Malmö, check out TwentySix.se. It's a boutique hotel in the city center. They offer a mix of beautiful hotel rooms and suites.