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Multicultural Malmo

Möllevångstorget Multicultural Malmo

Möllevångstorget. CC Image by Guillaume Baviere (Flickr).

Malmo in southern Sweden is known for its multiculturalism. The city’s motto, “A multiplicity of meetings and possibilities”, refers to three things: Malmo is a multicultural, global city; Malmo is the meeting place between Scandinavia and the continent, between the Baltic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and a meeting place for all people; and Malmo gives possibilities for the people who live in the city.

Nowhere is the multi-culture more apparent in Malmo than in the area Möllevången, or Möllan, with its square Möllevångstorget, a large market place where the working-class movement developed during the end of the 18th century. The big statue on the square, titled “The honor of work” by artist Axel Ebbe, is an expression of how joint work keeps the society on its feet.

Today, Möllevångstorget offers a high pulse with opportunities to meet people from other cultures. Apparently, Englishmen have called it Malmo’s Soho and Danes compare it to Grøntorvet in Copenhagen. The square is famous for its cheap food and daily markets where you can buy fruit, vegetables and flowers. This is also the part of Malmo with the most restaurants. (In Sweden, Malmo is the city with the most restaurants per inhabitant.)

Because of its atmosphere unlike any other else in Malmo, Möllan is like a “city in the city”. Apart from lots of specialty shops and restaurants with exciting food (you can “travel around the world” in only a few blocks), Möllevången has a rich nightlife.

For culture of another aspect, the Culture House Mazetti, a building of a former chocolate factory, on Bergsgatan 33 a few minutes walk away, has photo and art exhibitions. Thanks to Malmö Chocolate Factory chocolate manufacture began again (although on a smaller scale) in mid 2004.

Where to Stay

The More Hotel

The More Hotel Multicultural Malmo

The More Hotel is located in the premises of the Culture House Mazetti, on Norra Skolgatan 68. In other words, close to restaurants around Möllevångstorget. If you’d rather purchase and cook your own food, each of the apartment hotel’s 68 studios features a separate kitchenette with refrigerator, microwave, stove, dishwasher and kitchen utensils along with a connected dining area. Whether you make breakfast, lunch or dinner, they’ve got you covered.

The studio apartments come in four types: Studio Standard, Studio Superior, Studio Deluxe and Studio Suite. The More Hotel offered me a standard studio at their discounted friends & family rate of SEK 500 per night, which is about half of the average daily rate. I loved the spaciousness (these studios for two people cover up to 34 sqm), the high ceilings and large vertical windows, the choice of furniture, decoration and natural color scheme. The only thing that lowers the overall appearance of the studio is the lack of a more modern and larger TV. A plus, however, is that you’re not limited to a specific floor when you book a certain studio size as all floors represent all studio types.

The More Hotel apartment Multicultural Malmo

Standard Studio at The More Hotel.

I found the size of my studio ideal and loved the space as well as the hotel so much that I booked the studio for two more nights. The name of this apartment hotel truly sums up what a stay here is all about. More in every sense of the word. To begin with, you’ll get more value for your money, more space, more comfort, more style, and more possibilities.

A hotel stay of up to four nights includes a continental breakfast buffet at Restaurant Retro on the ground floor, Internet, free access to gym and sauna, and cleaning upon departure. Access to the laundry room (which is free for weekly and monthly guests) comes with an additional fee. Not many hotels can offer similar free benefits for less than SEK 1,000, though. Plus, its location only a 3-minute walk from the Triangel Station near shopping, restaurants and nightlife is hard to beat.

The More Hotel apartment 2 Multicultural Malmo

Standard Studio at The More Hotel.

The More Hotel has a manned reception and lobby shop during daytime, parking, a welcoming lobby with comfortable seating for rest or work, bicycle hire, and chocolate boxes from Malmo Chocolate Factory for sale.

Regardless of when, where or how long you stay, The More Hotel offers one opportunity for blissful travel moments after the other.

A Walk Through Western Harbor in Malmo

Sundspromenaden A Walk Through Western Harbor in Malmo

Västra Hamnen, Sundspromenaden. CC Image by La Citta Vita (Flickr).

Sweden’s third greatest city Malmo is situated on the southern tip of the country near the bridge to Copenhagen. In summer time, the water side is especially beautiful. Once an uninhabited industrial area, the Western Harbor in Malmo is now an attractive place to live and work or visit, a hip quarter of cafés, restaurants, art galleries, architecture and a few boutiques.

The neighborhood is located next to the 3 km long Ribersborg Beach, or “Ribban” as locals call it, where adjacent green spaces invite to rest, play and activities. On the other side of the canal, a walking path leads to Sundspromenaden created by Danish landscape architecture Jeppe Aagard Andersen. This promenade along the sea is lined with trendy architecture, which is part of Malmo’s environmentally sustainable housing project Bo01.

By the quay at the beginning of Sundspromenaden, Sweden’s first slow food restaurant Salt & Brygga serves organic quality food from local farmers. Salt & Brygga translates as Salt & Bridge, a name likely chosen from the salt in the water and the Oresund Bridge, which is clearly visible from the open-air restaurant. Neighboring Italian restaurant SPOT competes in terms of dining with a view.

A stone’s throw away, the Swedish coffee chain Espresso House is popular among the kids and young-ish adults to grab a cup of coffee, lunch, or see and be seen from the outdoor café, often crowded on warm summer afternoons.

The remaining stretch of Sundspromenaden has a parallel wooden deck with large wooden stairs, ideal for rest, reading or reflection. The promenade ends at the open concrete place Scaniaplatsen, west of Turning Torso. At its corner facing the sea, Dolce Sicilia offers homemade organic Italian ice cream with about a dozen flavors (try dark chocolate, white chocolate or hazelnut).

Turning west to Lilla Varvsgatan, you’ll cross Lilla Kockumskanalen, a canal whose water is drawn from the sea and let out by the city’s trademark Turning Torso. Specifically designed for the Bo01 area by Spanish architecture Santiago Calatrava, the high residential building Turning Torso was inspired by the human form in motion and twists 90 degrees from top to bottom.

Should you continue north from Scaniaplatsen, you’ll reach the park Daniaparken with bathing bridges, balconies, stairs and a large ramp to a stone table five meters above the water surface. Further ahead is Scaniaparken. Where the park turns to concrete, the street Östra Varvsgatan leads to Lilla Varvsgatan, east of Turning Torso, and the new neighborhood Dockan, with resturants and more galleries. (Galerie Leger on Dockplatsen 8 shows contemporary Nordic art.) The previous south-facing street from the park, Västra Varvsgatan, leads to a residential area. There, on Vimpelgatan 39, you’ll find SEAL’s GALLERY where artist Jean Bitsch Marzec sells his art. The city park behind borders Turning Torso and south-west, along the canal, is Ankarparken by the Danish architects Stig L Andersson och Hans Kragh. The area’s only hotel, Park Inn by Radisson, is located nearby on Stora Varvsgatan. As is Stapelbäddsparken, a 1800 sqm, internationally known skate park designed by Stefan Hauser.

Where to Stay

Even though the Western Harbor is equally beautiful in the evening, a change of scenery can be appreciated. Within the central part of Malmo that is surrounded by the canal, only a five-minute walk from the railway station, you’ll find several hotels.

Hotel Mäster Johan

Hotel Mäster Johan room A Walk Through Western Harbor in Malmo

Double Room at Hotel Mäster Johan.

Hotel Mäster Johan on Mäster Johansgatan in the Gamla Väster district has a central location near Lilla Torget Square, perfect to combine a stay with dinner at one of the restaurants around the square.

The hotel has a pleasing environment with modern and classic furnishing throughout the property and in rooms, which all have inner and outer doors to ensure peace and quiet. Rooms are spacious and elegantly furnished with light colors and natural materials along with selected art works. Wireless broadband is available at no cost. Most of the rooms are centered around the Pelargården, the hotel’s core where guests can serve themselves coffee or tea at all times, or order from the bistro menu.

For total relaxation, there’s a sauna in the cellar. For those who’d rather stay active there’s a gym with treadmill, exercise bike and a weights machine, and bikes for hire via the 24-hour reception.

Overall, Hotel Mäster Johan provides a calm and comfortable place to stay for anyone who favors tranquility and peace of mind after a day of discovering Malmo.

My 3 Best Kept Travel Secrets

Many thanks to Katie for tagging me in Tripbase Blog Tag, which aims to “unite travel bloggers in a joint endeavor – to create an amazing list of top travel recommendations, to share with the online travel community.”

Here’s what Katie writes in her best kept travel secrets post:

What’s interesting about travel is that the places / hotels / restaurants that everyone agrees are fantastic, are often not so fantastic.

And even if they are, it can all be a bit predictable.

Now what’s really fun is when you find somewhere obscure that is truly out of this world.

You can’t believe your luck to have stumbled across this travel gem.

Since I have lived in Sweden for the last two years and love to discover new foods wherever and whenever I travel, I want to share my best kept travel gems from my home country.

I bet you haven’t heard of these three places before:

1. Kniv å Gaffel, Linköping, Sweden

kniv å gaffel My 3 Best Kept Travel Secrets

Along Drottninggatan, not too far from the city’s pedestrian shopping streets, I found an outstanding Greek restaurant. A sign on the wall said “All people consume food… but few know the art of eating!” In Kniv å Gaffel, chance is you’ll savor every bite.

3 reasons to eat at Kniv å Gaffel:

  • Super tasty food including a terrific selection of starters
  • Exceptionally welcoming, friendly staff
  • The comfy seating with satine pillows by the windows

2. Riccardos, Möllegård, Halmstad

ice cream My 3 Best Kept Travel Secrets

How could I not have heard about this ice cream shop/café until recently? The owner Riccardo brought the Italian family recipes to Sweden and only uses the best products such as fresh pressed lemon, mango from Thailand and Piemonte hazelnuts.

3 reasons to visit Riccardos:

  • The most delicious homemade Italian ice cream
  • Large outdoor café
  • Beautiful surroundings near Möllegård Nature Reserve

3. Kaffe & Konst, Malmö

coffee My 3 Best Kept Travel Secrets

Kaffe & Konst, or Coffee & Art, is a music and art café that offers good coffee, innovative food, and about ten exhibitions a year. Everything from classical painting and illustrations to photography and graphical design.

3 reasons to drop by Kaffe & Konst:

  • Sandwiches and salads with rather unusual taste combinations
  • Their popular espresso
  • Music events and art exhibitions throughout the year

I nominate these 5 bloggers to share their top 3 travel secrets on their blog:

Monica Wong, A Pair of Panties & Boxers
Cheryl M. Cordeiro, Singapore – Sweden: Writings on Food, Fashion and Travel
Anil Polat, foXnoMad
Matthew Kepnes, Nomadic Matt’s Travel Site
Priyank Thatte, Final Transit

The final list of ‘Top Bloggers’ Best Kept Travel Secrets’ will be published in a special blog post at the Tripbase Blog.