Malmö
Places to Eat
Pink Head HQ
Norra Vallgatan 78, 211 22 Malmö
Asian fusion at its best! Small plate menu that changes often so you never quite know what you will get that night. I had an awesome rooster liver Sichuan dip that was served with rice crackers, that I still wake up in the middle of the night dreaming about. Best food in Malmö right now! And don’t miss their noodle bar at Saluhallen (mentioned below)
Opopoppa
Simrishamnsgatan 3, 214 23 Malmö
Malmös (to my knowledge) only New York style pizza place. They are keeping things easy, only serving pizza by the slice and a massive selection of craft beer! No reservations, so might have to wait a little bit for a table - Worth it! Tasty pizza, tasty beer… what else do you need on a Friday night?
This place will show up in any food guide about Malmö, and there is a very good reason for that. It is great! It was one of the first to pioneer medium size plates and nose to tail dining in the area. Menu changes almost daily, but you can be sure it is delicious and locally sourced nordic food. Also a place for excellent cocktails, especially in summer in their little courtyard. Just be sure you book well in advance, this place gets booked up.
Malmö Saluhall
Gibraltargatan 6, 211 18 Malmö
Another one you simply have to have in a Malmö guide. This is the Malmö Food market, and pretty much anything from the different food vendors is delicious here. While a poke bowl from PåRis is pictured, I want to especially mention Pink Head noodles, malmös only noodle bar and Hedvigsdals pizza, who makes awesome sourdough bread pizzas. It closes around 7, making it the ultimate lunch place.
Jalla Jalla
Bergsgatan 16, 211 54 Malmö
You cannot say you have visited Malmö without eating falafel. Falafel runs through the veins of Malmö and you can find a falafel place almost anywhere in town. This is my personal favourite and I would recommend the falafel wrap with halloumi, as adding cheese to anything makes it better. It’s pretty much a whole in the wall and only have about two seats. But food is tasty and cheap and for god’s sake don’t forget to get mixed sauce!
I’ve been waiting for years for Sweden to catch up with the knowledge that Chinese food doesn’t equal the American take-away style. And here it is - An authentic style Chinese restaurant! Menu is small, focusing on dumplings and roast meat with rice or noodles. This is value for money and you get to wash it all down with a cold Tsingtao beer.
The most authentic Thai restaurant southern Sweden can produce. Swedes have had a love affair with Thailand for a long time and fallen in love with the food as well, unfortunately we have mostly brought back the foreign friendly versions of it. But here is a challenger! SOI 29 gives authentic and tasty (and spicy) Thai food to the people. I especially recommend the crispy pork! Located in Malmö’s old chocolate factory
The best french restaurant Malmö can offer, which the fact that it is always fully booked can vouch for. All dishes I have had are good, but there has to be special mention of the bearnaise sauce. Even if you are getting anything else. You still need it in your life. It is the most buttery goodness of all time - AND you can buy it to take with you home after dinner…
Boulebaren
Drottningtorget 8, 211 25 Malmö
A place I always end up at, even if it’s not planned! It’s a french boule bar, so go for food, drinks or a game. In summer there is a large outdoor area with evening sun, which is the main reason I end up here. And there is usually always place for drop ins!
I would also recommend the weekend brunch
Places to Drink
Julie Vinbar
Malmös foremost wine bar - stuck in the cute houses of old town, with a courtyard seating area as well. This looks and feels like someones house, in the best way possible! Staff is great, wine recommendations are good and cheese and snacks to go with the wine are bountiful!
This is one of Malmös only true cocktail bars, and they do it well. It’s a small, cozy venue so I would recommend booking if you can. The mostly foreign staff is very attentive and willing to suggest and customize drinks to your personal taste. And a cocktail here is the same price you would pay almost anywhere else, so why not make it one of the best ones?
MJ’s “hidden” bar
Hotel MJ’s mentioned below, has a bar in their lobby and make great cocktails, but they have a second one of you go down the small street that looks like it has nothing else on it, then it is on your right! And yes - you are supposed to pass the trash cans in your way in. When you are in a really cool bar with a mini dance floor appears. And it feels even more special because you are “in the know”
This place is a bit under the radar, which means it’s not crowded. Their outdoor terrace and lawn is the perfect place to enjoy the evening sun and a spritz in summer - as they have a large spritz menu. I would not recommend the food here, but perfect for before or after dinner drinks
Places to Stay
Story Hotel Studio
Located in the harbour of Malmö close to the central station with what I think are Malmös best designed hotel rooms with views over the harbour and an affordable price. It is a little bit outside the action, but there is plenty of options around still! In the building you can find Kasai, asian dining with Malmös only outdoor rooftop and Lokal 17 which serves quality nordic style food.
(Pic from Story Hotels website)
Owned by ESS group who owns a lot of cool hotels around Sweden, this one being their Malmö location. Excellent location bang in the middle of town, with two bars and a great restaurant in the hotel. And they have lots os great packages that mixes drinks, brunch, dinner etc. with your stay. You basically don’t have to leave the hotel when you stay here.
(Pic from MJ’s Website)
Clarion Hotel Malmö Live
Dag Hammarskjölds torg 2, 211 18 Malmö
This hotel gets a mention because of it’s great location in “Malmhattan” which is the newly built Malmö concert hall and the surrounding buildings located next to the central station. The hotel also contains Malmö sky bar, which makes great cocktails and offers a view over the bridge and Copenhagen
Malmö is growing to be one of the nordic hotspots for foodies, and starting to write this I am honestly struggling how I am gonna limit myself to not overflowing this guide with places. I might also be biased about Malmös greatness since I’m from here, but it is definitely worth a visit! Malmö is the little sister of Copenhagen, connected through the Öresund bridge, that is smaller, slightly more relaxed.