It is a Friday in summer, and the light is still holding over the Öresund strait as people drift out of their apartments and into the centre. Some are heading for the squares, others for the parks, and a good number are drinking at home first, because alcohol at licensed premises is expensive.
Malmö's nightlife is vibrant but concentrated, and it suits visitors who are happy to move between squares, bars and cafés rather than commit to one long, expensive evening in a single venue. Expect most of the drinking to be limited to Friday and Saturday, except at the height of summer when many Swedes are on vacation. Prices are for the most part substantially higher than they are across the bridge in Copenhagen.
Where to go out in Malmö
1. Lilla Torg
Lilla Torg is the epicentre of the city's nightlife, a square lined with places to eat and drink. It suits a visitor who wants the busiest, most obvious night out and does not mind paying for it: prices here are high.
If you want to read up before you go, the free magazines Nöjesguiden and Dygnet Runt are available in various stores, though they are only in Swedish.
2. Möllevångstorget
Möllevångstorget is the alternative to the centre, a bustling part of town where the many bars, cafés and restaurants are good value. It suits a longer, more relaxed evening of moving between small places rather than a single big venue.
This is the area to choose if the prices around Lilla Torg put you off, and it stays lively without being the most polished part of the city.
3. Stortorget
The Big Square is home to Étage, a popular nightclub at Stortorget 6. It opens at 23:00 and runs until 04:00 Monday to Thursday and until 05:00 on Friday and Saturday, and entrance is usually free before midnight, afterwards 50–100 kr.
This suits a late, club-oriented night, and it is the kind of place where arriving before midnight makes a difference to what you pay.
4. Around Gustav Adolf's Square
Just off Gustav Adolf's Square you will find Fagans, an Irish pub at Per Weijersgatan 4, generally open 16:00–23:00 and as late as 02:00 on weekends. It suits an early start to the evening or a quieter, pub-based night.
Its position makes it easy to use as a first stop before moving on to the squares.
5. Lilla Torg for Japanese-style eating and drinking
Izakaya Koi sits at Lilla Torg 5. It is not quite like a Tokyo tavern, but it still manages to attract visiting Japanese business people. It suits a meal with drinks rather than a full night out.
Because it is on the same square as the busiest nightlife, it works well as a starting point before the bars fill up.
6. Folkets park
Folkets park is a park and entertainment venue in the central parts of the city, with free entrance. You can see the terrarium, ride a pony, sunbathe, and eat and drink.
It suits an early, mixed evening that is not built around alcohol, and it is one of the few central options where entry costs nothing.
7. Victoriateatern and the opera
Victoriateatern on Södra Förstadsgatan is an art nouveau building from 1912, once a movie theatre and now used for theatre and occasional concerts and operas. Malmö Opera, an opera house from 1944 clad in grey marble, has broadened its programme to include concerts, musicals and dance, and has an associated restaurant for dining and drinking.
These suit an evening that is planned around a performance rather than around bars, and the opera's restaurant means you can eat and drink in the same building.
8. Jägersro Hippodrome
Jägersro Hippodrome is Sweden's oldest horse race track, with both flat racing and harness racing. There are races all year and in all weather, mostly around weekends and public holidays.
It suits a daytime or early-evening outing rather than a late night, and it is worth checking the race schedule before you build an evening around it.
How a night out unfolds
Most people drink at home before going out, because alcohol at licensed premises is expensive; if you want to buy your own, a Systembolaget is usually open Monday to Friday 10:00–19:00 and Saturday and Sunday 11:00–15:00. Expect most of the drinking to be limited to Friday and Saturday, except at the height of summer when many Swedes have vacation. Venues set their own hours: Étage opens at 23:00, while Fagans generally opens at 16:00 and stays open as late as 02:00 on weekends.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- Malmö Pride — organised by the city's LGBT community, in July.
- Malmöfestivalen — a free eight-day festival with cultural and culinary experiences, in August.
Frequently asked questions
When do people go out in Malmö?
Most drinking is limited to Friday and Saturday, except at the height of summer when many Swedes are on vacation. Many people drink at home before going out, so the bars and squares fill later in the evening.
Is it expensive to drink out in Malmö?
Alcohol at licensed premises is expensive, and prices are for the most part substantially higher than across the bridge in Copenhagen. Lilla Torg is the epicentre but prices are high, while Möllevångstorget offers better value.
Where can I buy alcohol to drink at home?
A Systembolaget is the best way of getting what you need. It is usually open Monday to Friday 10:00–19:00 and Saturday and Sunday 11:00–15:00.
How can I find out what is on?
You can pick up the free Nöjesguiden and Dygnet Runt magazines in various stores to read more about Malmö's nightlife. They are only available in Swedish.
Decide whether you want the busy, expensive squares or the better-value bustle around Möllevångstorget, check what is on, and plan your evening around it.