Once a gritty, industrial hub, the Swedish city of Malmö has undergone a transformation. As the shipyards closed in the 1980s, artists moved in, paving the way for a new crop of urban design and sustainability. The city’s renaissance took another step in 2000, when the Öresund Bridge opened, connecting Malmö to Copenhagen. Almost overnight, it became an adopted suburb of the Danish capital, allowing residents to commute daily.
The Swedish theme of “fika” (the act of eating something small, drinking coffee, and socializing) is something locals cannot live without, and most cafes here will serve nibbles alongside coffee. Multiculturalism only adds to Malmö’s charm, with over 180 nationalities calling this southern city home. This melting pot influences every aspect of the environment, creating a fascinating blend of cultures and the delicious hum of different languages on the street.
This is evident in the coffee scene too, where cafes distinguish themselves through experimentation, individuality, and heritage. Hopping from cafes with interiors evoking Milan, to experimental roasters selling second-hand clothes, cozy gardens for a sip and quick bite, and bakeries fusing Eastern European delicacies with Swedish favorites. Malmö truly has the cafe culture for you, no matter where you’re from.
The shops in this guide are all concentrated in the old town or neighborhood area of Möllan, an artistically vibrant part of town, and are a ten-minute walk from the train station -perfect for daytrippers from Copenhagen.
Nordic Brew Lab
Nordic Brew Lab opened in April at the old Djäkne location (a co-working cafe). The moment you walk in, it’s evident they take their coffee seriously. The walls are adorned with high-end coffee equipment and bags of specialty beans. Guests are encouraged to sit at the long wooden counter and are handed a menu. They offer a range of moderately priced espresso drinks, a handpicked list from well-established roasters, and the final “rare & exclusive” page is for serious aficionados only. If you are looking to spend the equivalent of a good bottle of champagne on a frozen vial of award-winning coffee, this is your page.
Pour-overs are prepared at the counter and brewed lightly. The light design of the shop is mirrored by the excitement of the staff. They really make a guest feel welcome and dive into conversations about new roasters they discovered or brewing methods. For people who have an experimental edge to them, they offer the option to add drops of Apex Lab mineral solutions to your coffee. This is a relatively new concept in the specialty coffee community, as different bottles contain mineral compositions that accentuate acidity, sweetness, or florality depending on the bean.
This is a coffee bar for those already far down the rabbit hole, and the barista’s passion for coffee makes a guest feel like a friend within minutes.
Cafe No. 6
This snug cafe near Folkets Park serves some of the best pour-over coffee in town. Locals consider it almost as an extension of their living rooms, so don’t be surprised if someone pops by with their pajamas on. Visitors can choose from a number of roasters, and if the sun is shining, head over the road to the charming garden cafe. When your coffee is ready, the barista will walk it over the road to you.
During our visit, they were showcasing coffees by Polish roaster HAYB, and had a wonderful washed Pink Bourbon by Italian roasters, Gardelli. Prepared using an Origami dripper, it was deliciously floral, sweet, and light-bodied. Having the large garden space opposite makes it one of the most pet-friendly cafes in town, and a great opportunity for fika. They have a small menu which includes vegan and gluten free items.
Flax
Every city needs a neighborhood joint like Flax. Unassuming, cozy, buzzing, and friendly. Situated under a long row of apartment buildings, they have the perfect outdoor seating for sunny mornings. Brewing only beans from Koppi (a legendary Swedish roaster), you can rest easy knowing your coffee will be delicious.
Flax is connected to an urban organic farm and sells a range of products from there. They offer a large food menu and an array of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The food is all plant-based and locally sourced. Inside, you’ll find limited seating in the window cubicle, where you can sip along to some experimental jazz music.
It’s no wonder they were awarded “Malmö’s Best Cafe” in 2021; if we lived here, this would definitely be on the weekly radar.
Kaffebaren På Möllan
Möllan is a bohemian neighborhood, full of quirky second-hand stores, coffee shops, and farmers’ markets. On a corner, sits Kaffebaren på Möllan, the Swedish equivalent of a northern Italian Cafe. Predominantly serving a touch darker roasted espresso-based drinks, this is the place to come if you miss ordering “Un caffè, per favore” at the counter, downing it, and being on your merry way.
Weekends can be boisterous, predominantly with locals from the area. This creates a loyal following and can be enjoyable to witness. When asked if they would offer V60s or pour-over coffees, the answer was a flat no. When pressed, they explained it gets so busy on the weekends that if they were to make a V60, the queue would reach around the block.
Perfect for a quick stop, Kaffebaren på Möllan is a quintessential pit stop on your Malmö coffee wanderings.
Solde
Solde roasts their coffee behind the central station, and whilst researching this guide, I may have walked there by accident. Luckily for customers who can read directions, their cafe is just shy of the river where Swedes row their boats on sunny days. The cafe is considered one of the originators of specialty coffee in these parts, and Solde has a long history of roasting light-medium roast coffee and selling vast quantities online. If you are too late to snag one of the few outside seating spaces and don’t fancy sitting inside, then the proximity to the grass-lined riverfront is an attractive option. This is primarily a take-away spot.
Known for their quirky packaging, their coffee is a mix of blends and single origins. The batch brew tends to rotate, but there is almost always a light roast Ethiopian on offer. It is quite good.
1998
Thrift-store hunters with a penchant for caffeine and bright lights flock to 1998. This quirky shop-cum-cafe roasts its own beans and sells second-hand clothes and random oddities. Located a minute’s walk from Triangeln, the heart of the operation is overseen by co-founders Carl Treberg and Mario Vezic. 1998’s profile leans more to the anaerobic processed, funky side of coffee, but they tend to have one or two washed options for the purists.
A bench out front allows for great people-watching capabilities, and the vibe is very young and vibrant. The washed Brazilian house coffee we ordered had a chocolatey, sweet flavor profile with a clean finish. If you happen to fancy a pour-over they have a well prepared menu. They also provide beans to nearby businesses, showing Malmö has accepted them with open arms.
Bullarbyn Bageri
Polish baking techniques meet traditional Swedish fika at this colorful, organic bakery. Having recently started brewing coffee sourced from 1998, visitors can expect their fruity bites to be accentuated by the vibrant cups. Should you prefer non-coffee drinks, they have a selection of rare teas and hand-brewed artisanal cacao. The baked goods, spearheaded by owner Marta Kubacka, run the gamut of traditional cinnamon buns, sourdough bread, and a wide assortment of Polish delicacies.
Inside the atmosphere is very “accidentally Wes Anderson,” but it feels homely. Their products for sale are intended and run with a craft, handpicked theme. Chocolate from Mali, cascara hazelnut spread, and tins of special edition Jasmine tea are some of the temptations. There is a generous choice of things to eat, and the room is just big enough to encourage chatter.
The sign outside reads: “Here Comes The Bun,” and they aren’t wrong.
Benjamin Sand is a freelance journalist and the creator of The Mouth. Read more Benjamin Sand for Sprudge.
