World Pride looked different (again) this year, but Malmö, Sweden did not disappoint!
In the heart of the Malmö city center, this year’s premiere destination for WorldPride ‘21, dapperQ was invited by our friends at Visit Sweden to get an exclusive insider’s view – thanks team VisitSweden!
We were eager to celebrate and to learn more about Malmö’s commitment to inclusion and their position as a top destination for LGBTQIA+ friendly tourism, vacationing, and travel during Pride season and beyond. Like many cities across the world, Malmö made adjustments for Pride activities, regulations concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, and while placing the safety and health of its visitors first.
As with many bustling cities, LGBTQIA+ friendly businesses in Malmö continue to navigate the new normal, offering virtual, hybrid and curated Pride events for smaller audiences.
We sent #dapperQrew member Gabrielle Royal on assignment to get the deets…
DAY 1:
ARRIVAL
Can you say #VacationMode?! We grabbed our gear, hopped in a yellow cab, and then: all aboard the SAS. After several hours of cozy-in-air amenities, we opened our eyes to a scenic and sun-kissed Scandinavian landscape. Touch-down, Copenhagen, Denmark!
In Denmark we were met by team Visit Sweden to escort us to Malmö, Sweden, taking us across the iconic Öresund Bridge, a breathtaking bridge-tunnel that connects Sweden and Denmark. Cool, right? We were briefed on our curated itinerary for the extended weekend.
ACCOMMODATIONS
We arrived at the Clarion Hotel Malmo Live and were invited to warm beverages, a decadent breakfast spread, and artistically designed rooms. Staff of the hotel were very friendly and shared information on WorldPride programs and activities taking place in the hotel conference center.
DINNER
After checking into our rooms, we headed upstairs for a group an exquisite dinner, reservations at the iconic Kitchen & Table restaurant by Marcus Samuelsson.
DAY 2:
SUMMIT 2021
We spent the day in conference sessions and workshops, listening, learning, and celebrating Malmö Pride.
Session highlights included (click links below for full video of recorded events!):
- TransFashion Show
- Double oppression – LGBTQI Youth of Color
- Rainbow refugee community – What it means to be a minority within a minority
- #YouAreIncluded – Debunking myths around LGBTI+ people, religion and faith
We were especially excited for the Summit on refugees, borders and migration (Summit om flyktingar, gränser och migration), which confronted global discourses concerning borders, refugees and immigration through an LGBTQIA+ lens. In case you missed it, find the recorded sessions here!
LUNCH
After a day of conference sessions, we attended lunch at Ruth’s. With vegetarians on the trip, Ruth’s welcomed us with open arms, curating special dishes for plant-friendly guests. Ruth’s felt like home. Warm, hearty, and thoughtfully designed plates with a unique flare on classic dishes.
IT’S 5PM SOMEWHERE
Drifting through the nooks and crannies of a charming Malmö with cobblestone streets, ending our afternoon at MJ’s for a pick-me-up. We highly recommend MJ’s for bubbly cocktails in their insta-worthy lobby bar – bring your whole crew!
DAY 3:
CULTURE
Eager to see more of Malmö’s creative side, we took a trip to visit the Moderana Museet Malmö. The exhibitions on view were a smartly curated and featured artists from across the regions.
After a little museum hopping, we enjoyed a quiet stroll down the 15th-century city center, enjoying cozy cafes, pubs, and a pit-stop at a massive dining hall, Malmo Saluhall, all scattered throughout the charming city.
GROOMING
Before hopping back on the plane, we had to clean-up – dapperQ style! We popped by Broder Barberare to get a classic fashioned skin-fade with some OD barbering. Click here for some of dapperQ’s recommendations on gender inclusive haircuts. Aesthetically, BB’s felt like a blast from the past, wood panels, and skulls, edge-razors for a smooth shave. The space was elevated and with bright modern lightening and rustic accents! We’re ready for take-off.
Overall, we’d highly recommend Malmö as a top LGBTQIA+ destination. There were so many green-spaces for cute picnics in a cozy Sweden (can we say day-date?). Malmö was foodie-central, we stayed full the entire trip! We’ve highlighted some of our pit-stops along the way below. WorldPride ’21 did not disappoint, and we look forward to another opportunity to #VisitSweden in the future!
Where to stay: Clarion Hotel Malmo Live
Places to eat: Kitchen & Table, Ruth’s, Aster, Atmosfär, Malmö Saluhall
Places to drink: MJ’s, Sky Bar, Red Shoe Bar, Moosehead Bar
Things to do: Moderna Museet, Turning Torso
Fashion & Grooming: Broder Barberare
