2D café on Öland - charming and unique at Mellböda farm.

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: October 2026 | A 2D café – what is it? We didn't know that either until we visited Mellböda farm on northern Öland. Here we found one of the most personal and creative stops during our Öland trip, with 2D Café Kex, art, games and lots of unexpected details.

2D café on Öland - Mellböda farm

A few months before we travelled to Öland, we received an email from Ann at Mellböda farm where she told us about "Sweden's first 2D café". Hm, interesting, but what did it mean? We saved the email in case we might go to Öland later. It was Öland, and we did not regret the visit to Mellböda farm and 2D Café Kex.

Ann and Kex come from Germany, and it was Ann's love of Sweden that brought them here. Now they have been living on the farm for a long time and are engaged in all kinds of artistic and craft activities.

Mellböda farm is located on northern Öland, about 8 kilometres south of Böda Sand camping and about 5 miles north of Borgholm.

Art (that touches) in the stables

We first got to see the art centre, and we loved it. We were actually here at the wrong time, because the exhibitions hadn't really opened yet, but we loved the environment. What could be better than exhibiting art among the stalls of an old stable?

Ann is an artist herself, and when she showed one of her artworks, it turned out that we had already seen it recently, at Öland's Himmelsberga museum. Just that I (Helena) spent a long time with the artwork. Ann does not make simple art, but raises questions about things that hurt a bit, such as trafficking and abuse of women. That's why she likes to give "art talks" about her work, but she also shows other artists in the stables.

Lekladan - for our playful spirit

Next door to the art exhibition is the 'play barn'. Before, we might have thought that it was a big step between serious art and joyful play, but now it somehow felt the other way round. Like the step was quite short.

When we visited the play barn, it was not yet cleaned and organised for the season, so we couldn't take many photos, but we can tell you that we loved what we saw. Here you can play old school (where children are teachers and parents are students, of course) or build your own (loud!) pipelines with balls along the walls.

Toys (as they used to be)

When we visited Mellböda farm, there was also the toy store Drakens Koja, filled with wooden toys, dolls, cards and other things that made us feel a bit like children again. Of course, we bought a gift with us. The store is no longer there, and closed at the end of 2023.

Kite flying at 2D Café

Kites have long been an important part of Mellböda Farm's history. Ann told us that kite flying is big in Germany and that she was surprised that the tradition was not as widespread in Sweden.

When we were here there was a whole shop with kites and the opportunity to try kite flying. The shop has since closed, but kite flying and kite building are still among the farm's activities. Check the current program before your visit.

Insect hotels, chickens and "guess the sound" toilets

Right next to the stable is a small insect hotel and a chicken enclosure, where the chickens may soon move in again.

The most fun was the old outhouse that had been remodelled. "Guess the noise and poo in the loo" it says. What!?

Yes, if you step inside, you can lift the toilet seats and look at artistically made "animal poo". You can also guess the sounds of different animals.

Holiday apartment at 2D Café

Ann and Kex always have new ideas and one of their latest ideas involved building an apartment for overnight stays. "I wonder what colours we should use?" they thought, and then it became almost every colour of the rainbow. To utilise a space at the side, this became a sleeping hut, and when they had to build 'air holes' at the top, it became a 'sleeping castle'... No shortage of imagination!

Café, garden and cake rally

Now we've told you about all the "side activities", but at its core, Mellböda Farm is still a café. Kex is a trained pastry chef, which is one of the reasons why the couple started the café. Today you can eat their delicious cakes (including German apfelstrudel!) and enjoy their lovely garden.

During the Ascension weekend you can usually take part in Mellböda Gård's "cake rally". You order a cake that is served in a pot. When you have eaten the cake, you take the pot to Böda harbour where you get inspiration and a gift. Finally, you go to Torp in north-west Öland, where you get a cutting to plant.

2D Café Kex

Let's talk about 2D Café Kex! After all, this is what attracted us to Mellböda Farm in the first place. And yes, it is cool! The whole room is painted in black and white, with great artistic skill, to achieve the feel of a two-dimensional cartoon world. Fascinating!

We loved the creativity of this place! Visit for the 2D café, but also for the art and toys!

See more in the neighbourhood

• Böda and Böda Sand
• Coastal road Byrum-Äleklinta
• Fornborgar on Öland
• Around Öland by car or campervan
• Things to do on Öland