After more than a decade at the two-Michelin-star “Vollmers” in Malmö, acclaimed chef Mats Vollmer and his wife Karin—the restaurant’s head sommelier—have opened a second, far more personal venture. At “Vollmerska Gården”, set in a converted stable behind their farmhouse near Svedala, a town in Southern Sweden, they now welcome nine lucky guests into their home for an intimate fine-dining experience where the distance between the kitchen and the diners has shrunk to just a few decimeters.
For years, Mats and Karin Vollmer defined contemporary Nordic dining through Vollmers, their refined Malmö restaurant crowned with two Michelin stars. But now, after more than a decade at the top, the couple has invited guests closer than ever—literally into their home.
Their newest project, Vollmerska Gården, opened in August 2025 in a converted stable behind their farmhouse outside Svedala, just 30 minutes from Malmö. Here, nine guests gather around a single table for an evening of elevated, handcrafted dining—hosted and cooked by the same couple who redefined Swedish gastronomy.
“It’s exactly the same level as Vollmers—just smaller,” says Mats, smiling as he prepares for the weekend’s dinners alongside chef Mohamed Almosawi. “We have all the same equipment, the same precision. The only difference is the kitchen is closer to the guests.”
The old stable has been lovingly renovated by Mats himself. Panoramic windows frame views of the garden—sometimes with a hen wandering by—and a soaring ceiling gives the space light and warmth. Yet the intimacy remains. One table, nine guests, and only a kitchen island separating them from the chefs.
“It’s so different from Vollmers,” says Karin. “More personal, more relaxed, but still just as ambitious. You’re eye-to-eye with the guests, sharing the rhythm of the evening with them.”
The tasting menu—13 courses drawn from Vollmers’ repertoire—is both nostalgic and exploratory. Mats revisits signature dishes from Malmö and reimagines them with seasonal inspiration. “Here we can play more. If I want to step outside and grill, I do that. If I want to make a pizza, I make a pizza. It’s freer—but the standards are just as high,” he says. “If Vollmerska Gården were in the city, we’d probably already have a star.”
The idea for Vollmerska Gården first took root during the pandemic, when Mats and Karin hosted casual, family-style dinners for friends at home. He cooked in their kitchen; she ran plates to an adjoining room. When their son Gabriel was born, the couple began envisioning something more structured—something sustainable.
After years of 70-hour weeks in Malmö, the Vollmers wanted to find a new rhythm that balanced career and family without compromise. “This project is our way to continue at the level we love, while making our life work as a family,” says Karin. “Otherwise, one of us might have had to step back or change our concept. Here, we can do both.”
The couple still divides their time between Malmö and Svedala. One weekend they run Vollmers in the city; the next, they host dinners at Vollmerska Gården, which also doubles as their test kitchen during the week.
“We welcome the guests together,” says Karin. “Then Mats takes care of Gabriel while I present the food. When Gabriel’s asleep, I join the service and Mats starts cooking the snacks. It’s all choreographed—and it works.”
Despite opening only months ago, Vollmerska Gården has already been fully booked well into spring 2026. On alternate weekends, private dinners fill the schedule. And for the first time in years, the couple plans to close for a few weeks this summer—time to recharge before diving back into the rhythm of fine dining and family life.
Because here, between the fields of southern Skåne, the Vollmers have found something rare in haute cuisine: balance, warmth, and a reminder that hospitality begins at home.
