Word of Mouth: Malmö
We explore the seaside city through the lens of the creative minds at MoMA Design Store
Across the water from another MoMA Design Store favorite, Copenhagen, lies Malmö. The third-largest city in Sweden, it’s less known than its sibling Stockholm, but since the construction of the striking Øresund Bridge, it has undergone huge growth. For design enthusiasts in particular, it continues to be a dynamic and exciting place to visit. It makes perfect sense then, that the knowledgable MoMA Design Store team frequently visits the city—scouting for inventive, inspiring and creative products and makers. As the team searches for design darlings to introduce to MoMA Design Store’s community, they concurrently discover spots to eat, drink and learn along the way. Take a look at some of their favorites here—along with some handy new products from the store that can be used at home or while traveling.
Moderna Museet Malmö
One of the most striking museums in Europe, a melding of past and modern architecture, Moderna Museet Malmö houses contemporary art from all over the world. The building (once an electricity plant) was reimagined by Tham & Videgård Arkitekter and will dazzle visitors even before they get inside. Of course, what’s within the walls is significant: works by Dali, Kandinsky, Matisse and others make up the permanent collection and the notable photography section is vast. MoMA Design Store is currently offering hard to find exhibition posters from the institution as part of The Print Shop.
Form/Design Center
Just a 10-minute walk from the museum, Form/Design Center is a wonderland for design enthusiasts. The space (which is free to visit) is full of sublime examples of Scandinavian design—from abstract art to craft, functional design and beyond. Located in the Old Town, it was founded back in 1964 and has seen some 1200 exhibitions in its time. After having a browse through the space, grab a coffee at the cafe and flip through some design publications—or take a seat in the cobbled courtyard. Just steps away, you’ll find the historic Lilla Torg market square, which is well worth a wander through. Malmö is also a great cycling city, but whatever your mode of transport, stay hydrated with My Flavor Water Carafe—a water bottle with a removable skewer to hold various fruits and herbs for infusion. Of course, it’s reusable and kinder to the environment.
Story Hotel Studio
With views over the city in one direction and the other over the harbor, Story Hotel Studio is ideally located and has a decidedly laid-back atmosphere. With plenty of industrial touches contrasted with opulent fabrics (raw concrete ceilings, brass sideboards and velvet lounge chairs) the interiors are considered, and playful. The hotel also boasts the highest outdoor terrace in the city—where the Japanese/Swedish restaurant Kasai in The Sky and cocktail bar are located. An 11-minute walk away (on the way to the Old Town) is Malmö Saluhall, a glorious food hall inside what was once a freight depot. Here, visitors will find plenty of snack options from fresh produce to homemade sausages and artisanal ice cream.
Jord
Breakfast is an all-day affair at Jord, where everything is vegan, and anything but dull. The tofu scramble is a favorite, but for those with a sweet tooth, we recommend trying the carrot cake porridge (complete with grated apple, soy yogurt, walnuts and more) or their fluffy lussekatter buns. Visitors can also buy beans, cups and more at this cafe-meets-boutique.
Grandpa
After your breakfast, take the 15-minute stroll to Grandpa. It’s here that the MoMA Design Store team found the perfect white T-shirt. Along with apparel for all genders, the shop also offers art prints, books, skateboards, stationery, kitchenware and so much more. The concept behind Grandpa (which was founded in 2003 and now has several locations from Stockholm to Gothenburg, with the Malmö shop the newest) is that it would always be more than “just” a store. While there’s plenty of product to peruse, the team at Grandpa strives to offer inspiration, service and atmosphere that warrants customers to spend a while.
Designtorget
Just two minutes down Södra Förstadsgatan from Grandpa, another of the MoMA teams’ favorites is Designtorget. This store is a design enthusiast’s dream with beautifully made contemporary Scandinavian products everywhere. Founded in Stockholm in 1993, the store now has several locations—from Gothenburg to Linköping, Malmö and Oslo. Whether looking for furniture or small souvenirs, there’s something for everybody here—kids’ toys, kitchenware, brushes by Iris Hantverk, jewelry by Jon Ek and so much more. Be prepared to spend plenty of time here.
Mineral
With candles, flowers and plants all over, Mineral is unabashedly romantic, but this is handsomely offset by concrete floors and unfinished wood benches. Serving lunch and dinner, there’s always plenty of vegetarian dishes on offer—like beet ceviche or potato dumplings with mushrooms and vegetal charcoal. But the real star at Mineral is the natural wine. The lengthy wine list has been carefully selected, with some of our favorites making an appearance. If all the plants here offer inspiration, we suggest buying self-watering pots to keep your home as lush as possible while you’re out adventuring. Plus, just two minutes away, Florera will fill the floral void with glorious bouquets and posies of wildflowers.
