Malmö, Sweden’s third largest city, is a friendly, inviting place with a vibrant nightlife, great cultural spots and exciting restaurants. It’s also a city that’s easy to explore on foot or on bike. But where to stop for a coffee or lunch break? We’ve selected the best cafés and coffee shops in town, from classic Swedish bakeries to vegan eateries and hip coffee bars.
Right in the middle of Malmö you’ll find Lilla Kafferosteriet (which means “the little coffee roastery”), a local favourite that’s been serving Malmö-made artisan coffee since 2006. The large space means its popular with bigger groups, as well as families, and there’s a lush outdoor space to be enjoyed in the warmer months. Lilla Kafferosteriet sells sandwiches, salads, toast and cakes, as well as beer and wine. If you want to try something more unusual, there’s carbonated and flavoured specialty coffee.
When walking through Malmö, you tend to end up close to one of the canals running through the city at some point. If you find yourself by Södra Förstadskanalen in the centre of town and in the mood for a coffee, make your way to Solde. The gorgeous, Italian-style coffee roastery also serves cakes and sandwiches. You can also drink its coffee with a clean conscience – the company exclusively sources coffee that is traceable to the farmer, the farm or the washing station.
Atrium is slightly further away from the town centre, compared to many other Malmö cafés, but it’s well worth a visit – the interior is beautiful, with its old wooden furniture and industrial vibe, and the food is excellent. Come for brunch and try their eggs Benedict or avocado toast, or for coffee and cake in the afternoon. Atrium is especially nice in the summertime, when you can sit outside in its lovely backyard.
A true Malmö classic, Konditori Hollandia is the oldest café in the city – first opening its doors in 1903, and under the name Hollandia since 1950. Today it’s a welcoming, charming café with an old-fashioned feel and some of the best cakes in town. While Hollandia sells cinnamon buns and other classic Swedish cakes, you really should try one of their more advanced creations, like the passion fruit and chocolate mousse cake. Located right in the middle of town, it’s a good place to rest after shopping and ideal for lunch, serving a selection of sandwiches.
AB Småland is a large, eco-friendly interior store in the centre of town. You can buy everything from scented candles to rugs, bed linen and succulents here, but a lot of people visit just to have a coffee in its spacious, welcoming café. It has a breakfast and lunch menu (all vegan or vegetarian) and sells organic coffee, grilled sandwiches and a selection of cakes. The café is popular with families, as there are plenty of big tables. And if you like the interior design, you’re in luck – all the furniture in the café is for sale, too.
In the up-and-coming Rörsjöstaden area, Uggla Kaffebar has been serving up coffee from micro-roasteries since 2015. It was also included in the Swedish restaurant guide White Guide’s list of the country’s best cafés in 2019. Uggla has vegan and vegetarian options on its extensive lunch menu, and also sells gluten free cakes. The coffee shop has a friendly and warm atmosphere, and the neighbourhood café also has a small shop where you can buy coffee, eggs and honey among other things.
This record shop, a local Malmö favourite for many years, stayed open when many others were forced to close. It managed to survive by transforming into a cafe, as well as remaining as a place to buy records. Enjoy a leisurely lunch with good food and a glass of wine. Folk å Rock also hosts small, intimate gigs in its space in the centre of town. The staff are friendly, and the laid-back atmosphere and good music selection keeps people coming back.
Café and shop Jord (“earth” or “soil” in Swedish) is a friendly vegan café close to the hip Möllan part of town. The pared down, elegant interior has a simple but welcoming vibe that works well with the food. Jord offers filling vegan dishes like tofu scramble, pea-pesto sandwiches and vegan cake, and its all-day breakfast is a favourite with locals. Note that Jord, like many places in Sweden, doesn’t accept cash payments.
Kaffebaren is a must-visit for coffee-lovers – its coffee is regularly called the best in the city. It’s also a good spot for people-watching, which is always fun in the vibrant Möllan neighbourhood. It’s not a big space and can get pretty busy, but Kaffebaren has seats by its windows as well as outdoor benches. While there isn’t a big food menu, there are tasty sandwiches and a selection of cakes. One for true coffee connoisseurs.
Bakery and café Systrar & Bröder (Sisters and Brothers) has some of the best sandwiches in town, and sells Swedish classics like prawn, smoked salmon and roast beef sandwiches. The café isn’t as well-known as some of the fancier coffee shops in town, but it’s an excellent lunch option, located close to Malmö Theatre and the Opera House. Sandwiches and cakes are made on the premises and are always fresh, and the vegetarian lunch buffet is popular with locals.
