The locals recommend: Mads Bordinggaard

Culinary experiences

I'm going to make it easy. Here's a guide to a full day's dining in Svendborg. All within a total distance of about 1000 metres. Because Møllergade is where the action is. You start your morning right opposite my shop, on Møllergade 69 where Ni69tres is located. They serve an absolutely brilliant BMO (roll with cheese), where not only the cheese, the whipped butter with a hint of lemon and the delightful apple compote are brilliantly put together - the sourdough bun is also just right.

Cafe Ni69tres is unfortunately closed, but we have many other great cafés in Svendborg.

For lunch, head to the top of Møllergade, where Kong Volmer is located. They know just how to make smørrebrød and they have a really exciting selection, and there's even the option for the fickle-minded to pick up some nibbles. Of course, the view from their terrace also adds to the whole experience.

Before dinner, you need to go to Føtex. Maybe pick up a coffee from Ni69tres on the way. Inside you'll find, at least if you're early enough, the best raspberry shortbread in Svendborg. Really savor the taste of it.

The evening will take place at the end of Svendborg's answer to the legendary Lombard Street in San Francisco, at Bar105. They don't just serve food - they serve you with a truly wonderful evening with both cocktails and delicious food from Southern Europe. That's it. Enjoy your meal. Møllergade is all you need.

Culture

Every year since 2021, Oure Højskole (Oure Folk High School) has hosted the RESONANS Education Festival. I've been covering the festival professionally since the beginning, and every time it has made me think and take a stand. I think that's valuable, but as far as festivals go, it needs a little more music. However, the Øhavet Festival in Marstal on the island of Ærø doesn't lack that. The programme is packed with music, food, talks and everything in between, and it's a great place to be. 

Nature

For me, nature has to be easily accessible before I really use it. That's why I love walking five minutes with my dog from my house to Ørkild Voldsted, and old castle ruin, where I can get away from the noise of cars and enjoy the wind in the trees, the babbling brook and see the heron watching the ducks and seagulls. At the top of the hill I can also keep an eye on most things, and in late summer it's full of blackberries.

Det unikke ved Svendborg

For mig, som kører mange kilometer rundt til kunder og opgaver hvert år, er Svendborg en lille smule ubelejlig at bo i, fordi den ikke ”lige ligger på vejen”. Men det er som om, strækningen fra Odense til Svendborg fungerer som et slags grovfilter på den måde, at de mennesker som vælger at bosætte sig hernede, er bevidste om netop dét, og at alle de muligheder de har valgt fra ved ikke at bo i Odense, Århus eller København, gør det nemmere at vælge det nære og det vigtige til. Det kan jeg mærke, fordi vi aldrig har for travlt eller er for pressede til at hilse på og anerkende hinanden i Svendborg. Tak for det.

The uniqueness of Svendborg

For me, someone who drives many kilometres to customers and assignments every year, Svendborg is a little inconvenient to live in because it's not ‘just on the road’. But it's as if the route from Odense to Svendborg acts as a kind of coarse filter in the sense that the people who choose to live here are aware of this, and that all the options they have opted out of by not living in Odense, Aarhus or Copenhagen make it easier to choose what is close and important. I can feel it, because we're never too busy or too under pressure to greet and recognise each other in Svendborg. Thank you for that.

When I have guests over

None of my guests have ever missed one of the exquisite croissants or pain au chocolat from the one and only Leanders (I cry inside at the thought of it closing). And these pastries are best enjoyed from a bench on Frederiksøen, from where you can admire the Svendborg skyline broken only by the sight of a beautiful turning manoeuvre from the Ærø ferry and the sound of the Højestene in its usual high speed and reverse gear.