MALMÖ

Business Casual

Mingle with clients in the mellow social scene of

Malmö. BY TERRY WARD

Old and New:

Malmö skyline and Hamnkanalen Canal

PHOTO: © DIEGO GRANDI | DREAMSTIME.COM S weden’s third-largest city may not enjoy the name recognition of Stockholm and Gothenburg, the Swedish cities that come first and second in size. But once you get to know mellow, friendly and exceedingly eco-minded Malmö, you just might end up wondering where it’s been all your life.

Located roughly 30 minutes by train from Copenhagen Airport, across the Øresund Bridge linking Sweden with Denmark, this coastal city in Sweden’s southernmost county of Skåne with a population of just 350,000 people surprises visitors with its diverse urban attractions and natural beauty.

A European leader in sustainable development, Malmö hosted the ICLEI World Conference in 2021 and 2022 — a global network of local and regional governments active in more than 125 countries committed to sustainable urban development.

And everything that develops in Malmö is done with an eye on sustainability, whether implementing new environmental technologies into existing areas of the city or creating new climate-smart city districts.

By 2030, in fact, the entire city will rely on 100 percent renewable energy thanks to the use of a mix of renewable sources, waste-to-energy programs from a plant that’s among the most advanced and energy-efficient in all of Sweden, and recycled energy.

In recent years Malmö even lured eyes away from Stockholm as a hub for digital entrepreneurs and startups, with technology companies drawn to the diversity of Malmö’s workforce, strong in international numbers and talent. Lest you think it’s all work and no play in Malmö, however, rest assured that’s hardly the case.

The annual week-long street festival, Malmö Festival, plays out in August every year right in the heart of the city, with groundbreaking art, music and cultural performances showcasing the city’s rich intercultural vibes.

Malmö’s dining scene is decidedly diverse, too, not to mention refreshingly inexpensive, with menu prices, for the most part, far more affordable here than

in Stockholm and Copenhagen.

For something as casual, cool and communal as the city itself, consider entertaining at Boulebar, where you can combine an all-weather game of the popular boules from the South of France with an aperitif hour, lunch or dinner, sampling dishes like steak frites rounded out by some excellent vegetarian options.

Other options with private dining rooms for hosting a business dinner include Johan P., which can host up to 30 people for fine seafood meals, and Malmö’s best Asian restaurant, Quan, where the flavors of the Far East and continental Europe mingle.

Danish diners regularly cross the bridge to dine at favorite Malmö restaurants like SMAK, with its leafy courtyard located within the city’s contemporary art museum, Malmö Konsthall. Come for seasonal dishes that incorporate cod, lingonberry and other Scandinavian specialties. It proves perfect for a business casual lunch with great food and zero pretenses, as does Malmö Saluhall, a food market hall with everything from Korean street food and falafel to the best pizza and ice cream in town.

For dining solo, pull up a seat at the communal tables at Saltimporten Canteen in the city’s port district to tuck into New Nordic cuisine.

Getting out into the fresh air whenever the weather doesn’t make it impossible is a must in this city full of parks and leafy spaces. The public transportation system is predictably robust for a Scandinavian city, with buses and trains that can whisk you here from Copenhagen Airport and all around town. But locals will be the first to tell you pedaling a bike offers the best way to get around Malmö, where more than 300 miles of biking paths unspool around town.

Let Travelshop plan a Bicycle Meeting with Picnic for breakfast, lunch or fika (the all-important Swedish coffee tradition) for you and your colleagues, oxygenating your brain while you pedal — with all the food and cycling route tips provided along the way.

When it’s time to relax, you can count on this city to have you covered with wellness options, too. Enjoy lunch or a cup of coffee or glass of wine at Ribersborgs Kallbadhus, Malmö’s open-air baths fronting the Øresund Strait and Ribersborgs Beach, where you can try a cold plunge followed by a bonewarming sit in the sauna.

And during the warmer months, get out into nature during a kayak or SUP sunset paddling outing along Malmö’s beautiful coast during tours from Ribban Beach Camp.

Whether you detour from Copenhagen in search of something different to explore or you come here specifically to mix business and pleasure in one of Scandinavia’s most pleasant and easily navigated cities, Malmö’s casual cool and inherently friendly vibes will make you want to linger and enjoy.

Sociable City:

Pedal a bike to get around town (top); take a fika break for coffee and cinnamon rolls (middle); and enjoy the open-air baths at Ribersborgs Kallbadhus (bottom).

PHOTOS: © MARINV | DREAMSTIME.COM, © NATASHABREEN | DREAMSTIME.COM, © DUDLAJZOV | DREAMSTIME.COM