Disgusting Food Museum Malmö

Click here for Swedish Version

Food is so much more than sustenance. Curious foods from exotic cultures have always fascinated us. Unfamiliar foods can be delicious, or they can be more of an acquired taste. While cultural differences often separate us and create boundaries, food can also connect us. Sharing a meal is the best way to turn strangers into friends.

The evolutionary function of disgust is to help us avoid disease and unsafe food. Disgust is one of the six fundamental human emotions. While the emotion is universal, the foods that we find disgusting are not. What is delicious to one person can be revolting to another. Disgusting Food Museum invites visitors to explore the world of food and challenge their notions of what is and what isn’t edible. Could changing our ideas of disgust help us embrace the environmentally sustainable foods of the future?

The exhibit has 80 of the world’s most disgusting foods. Adventurous visitors will appreciate the opportunity to smell and taste some of these notorious foods. Do you dare smell the world’s stinkiest cheese? Or taste sweets made with metal cleansing chemicals?

EXHIBITED DELICACIES INCLUDE:

  • Surströmming – fermented herring from Sweden.
  • Cuy – roasted guinea pigs from Peru.
  • Casu marzu – maggot-infested cheese from Sardinia
  • Stinky tofu – pungent bean curd from China.
  • Hákarl – well-aged shark from Iceland.
  • Durian – infamously stinky fruit from Thailand.

Media Mentions

  • It is a hands-on, tongues-out experience. At the Museum of Disgusting Food in Malmö, in Sweden, all the world’s great cuisines are represented. Each exhibit is considered a delicacy somewhere, but strikes many unaccustomed palates as revolting. Visitors are invited to handle a raw bull’s penis and sip liquor with dead mice in it.

  • The idea that anything labeled “food” can be described as “disgusting” is a minefield, running up against cultural tastes and personal preferences, not to mention the shrinking ability of some countries to feed all their people. But clearly, if every human had a cornucopia of the world’s edibles laid out on a table stretching from one end of the earth to the next, not everyone would dig enthusiastically into, say, a lamprey pie, a sliver of maggot-infested pecorino or a chunk of rotten shark meat.

  • Fermenterad isländsk surhaj, ost med larver och surkålsjuice. Utställningen som öppnade i Malmö på onsdagen är ingen gourmetmässa – tvärtom så är det äcklet som står i fokus. – Äckel är subjektivt. Det handlar om vad man har vuxit upp med, säger arrangören Andreas Ahrens.

  • The idea behind the museum is actually quite noble. The owners want us to think about our perception of food, because we simply throw away way too much food. Why do we find eating insects or meat that was grown in a lab so nasty?

  • There was a time when museums were reserved for fine art and high-brow nonsense we only pretend to understand. These days, the world is full of wonderfully weird museums accessible to the everyman with everything from broken relationships and all things phallic to ramen and barbed wire. Now, Sweden is set to open one more: the world’s grossest food museum.

  • Welcome to the world’s first exhibition devoted to foods that some would call revolting. The museum’s name and its contents are pretty controversial — one culture’s disgusting is another culture’s delicacy. That goes for escamoles, the tree-ant larvae eaten in Mexico, or shirako, the cod sperm eaten in Japan, or bird’s nest soup, a Chinese dish of nests made from bird saliva. The name is meant to grab visitors’ attention, but that’s the point that West says he’s trying to make: Disgust is a cultural construct.

  • It’s easy to read the museum as a culturally insensitive house of culinary horrors — people (who are not me) in places (that are not here) eat that? And sure, there’s not not a gross-out factor, as evidenced by the name. But West told me the actual mission is the opposite: By really diving into the world of disgust, he’s hoping he can change the way people eat, and maybe save the world.

  • Disgust is considered one of the basic human emotions, much like Pixar’s movie Inside Out showed us. It protects us from disease by making us avoid unsafe food— and yet while the emotion itself is universal, the food that we classify as “disgusting” is not. And that’s exactly why Swedish Samuel West and Andrea Ahrens created a museum dedicated to disgusting food from everywhere across the world.

  • The main objective is to make it fun, interesting and interactive," said West, who explains that the exhibition is quite expensive since about half of the dishes are replaced every two days.

  • The name of the museum leaves little suspense on what will be there. On the menu, eighty culinary specialties that the world does not envy.

  • Have you come across a breathtakingly horrible food and thought ‘that belongs in a museum’? If you haven’t, that’s probably because you’ve never come across a durian. Or any of the other items belonging in the Digusting Food Museum. That’s right, there is an institution archiving all the weird and horrible foods being consumed around the world.

More media mentions and videos

Where to find us

Malmö, Sweden

Caroli city, Östergatan 12.

Hours

Wednesday – Sunday: 12:00 – 18:00
Recommended last entrance 17:00

Closed dates

We are closed March 4 and March 5.

Prices

Adult: 185kr
Student/Senior: 150kr
Children 6-15 years old: 50kr (only with guardians)
Children under 6 years old: two children enter for free per parent/guardian.

How to get there

Take a train to Malmö C, cross the channel and follow Adelgatan/Östergatan towards number 12, see the map. It’s a seven minute walk. We are located inside the Caroli shopping center. The best entrance is from Östergatan, next to Radisson Blu. You can also take any bus that stops at Malmö Caroli.

Do you visit us by car? Park in the Caroli garage, entrance from Kattsundsgatan. Once you enter the garage, take a right towards Radisson and take the elevator up to ground level. Our entrance is right across the elevator. Parking is free for 3 hours if you buy at least two tickets.

Kvarteret Caroli is only a seven-minute walk from Malmö central station, and there is plentiful parking in the area. We are just across the bridge from Copenhagen, and yes, Danes are also welcome.

Disgusting Food Museum
Disgusting Food Museum
4.5
Based on 237 reviews
powered by Google
Foodo Haggins
Foodo Haggins
07:54 10 Feb 20
If there is one place you should put on your list of places to see in Malmö, it's this. Absolutely lovely and... welcoming staff who made our visit (and tasting) a blast. Do make sure to try the items at the end of your tour. Some of the things are not as bad as you'd think.read more
Lia Contreras
Lia Contreras
22:15 09 Feb 20
Really interesting concept for a museum. As a chef, I would say that is something that you HAVE to try. Looks small In... the beginning, but is so well made, that can takes you easily an hour to go around experiencing the whole weird tasting world. The staff was awesome too, really kind and up to help you with everything.read more
Melina Barreto
Melina Barreto
19:27 09 Feb 20
What an awesome cool and unique place! Didn't look much from the outside but you go in and it's amazing! So... entertaining didactic and disgusting but in awesome way. Completely loved it. The staff working there were also really nice.read more
Maximilian Morales
Maximilian Morales
01:12 26 Jan 20
If you haven't checked this place out yet, you definitely should. Apart from all the disgusting food you get to look at... and smell you will also find weird food from different cultures. Very interesting museum.read more
Marcos Martinez
Marcos Martinez
16:32 19 Jan 20
Such a fun and novel idea for a museum. It’s well hidden within a shopping mall, and it looks more like an Apple... Store than your regular museum. The fact that all their exhibited dishes are real (as opposed to plastic/rubber models) adds to the genuine feel of the museum. The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable - as well as morally supportive when you get to taste the 20 dishes at the end. 🙏read more
Boris Turnsek
Boris Turnsek
12:47 15 Jan 20
Really interesting experience! You get to see and learn about some unbeliveable foods people eat. At the end also... tasting. The entrance fee is a bit high but I saw the lot of foods very freshly made or sourced ao t is not only a model you are looking at. I guess it raises the expenses. The main reason I give a 4 is that I feel the environment is quite sterile, just a white hall. A bit boring.read more
Hrvoje Fadiga
Hrvoje Fadiga
22:26 10 Jan 20
Short version: This museum should be your first place to visit upon arriving to Malmö! Best museum ever!Long... version: First of all, this was by far one of the most disgusting experiences I've ever had. The problem is that I liked it a lot (unlike my girlfriend who still has smelly flashbacks).This is one of the most (if not the most) interesting exhibitions I've ever seen. I liked the interactivity where it is possible to touch, smell and finally eat some of the exhibits. The concept of the museum is great, but also the way how the exhibits are displayed in an informative yet interesting manner.I have to add that your female employee who entertained us a lot with her food experiences at the "tasting counter" added a lot to our experience. We didn't get to know her name, but she upped the overall experience a lot and we are thankful for that!read more
Ben Kolt
Ben Kolt
04:41 15 Nov 19
You must visit this museum. We came to Malmo to visit this museum from Copenhagen. It exceeded our expectations in... every way. The exhibits were truly disgusting, and also very informative. The tasting at the end was awesome- from jelly bean roulette to Icelandic shark. We ate bugs, stinky cheese, worms, fermented shrimp, and more. YUCK!The artichoke liquor taste is still in my head a week later. This is a MUST SEE!read more
Sarah Scott
Sarah Scott
13:38 14 Nov 19
The whole thing was a blast, from beginning to end. We entered shortly before closing (our own fault), but were still... allowed to peruse the exhibit at our own pace. The museum, which was slightly tricky to find due to its location inside a shopping mall, was well put together albeit somewhat smaller than the "museum" it purports to be. I highly recommend it for the adventuresome eaters out there, as the tasting bar at the end of the exhibit gives you the chance to sample small bits of things of which you would likely never be brave enough to order a full serving. Live on the edge and go and eat some weird stuff. If nothing else, you'll walk away with a great story about that time you vomited in a museum.read more
roman d
roman d
14:09 07 Nov 19
I survived my flight. That’s why I’m writing this feedback. It was really DISGUSTING! Not only you can watch the... food, but sometimes even smell or touch. At the end you can try some (again, disgusting). Totally worth its price. So glad we visited this place. One of my favorite museums so far!!!read more
Amir Mahdaviyan
Amir Mahdaviyan
08:13 16 Sep 19
Great experience, take your time and read everything. And of course smell the samples. At the end you can try and eat... some the foods. Very nice staff, don't hesitate to talk to them if you have a question.read more
Michel
Michel
11:40 04 Sep 19
Very interesting and stimulating museum. They have a generous tasting table at the end where you can sample some of the... food displayed in the exhibition. The entrance cost is 150 for a student and it is totally worth it. A museum experience not soon to be forgotten. The staff is very friendly, speak English and know a lot about the foods. You can also buy some of the food at the end.read more
Next Reviews
Disgusting Food Museum
Disgusting Food Museum
4.9
Based on 68 reviews
powered by Facebook

Buy Tickets

Contact us

General inquiries: info@disgustingfoodmuseum.com
Group bookings, events:booking@disgustingfoodmuseum.com
Press: press@disgustingfoodmuseum.com
Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Phone: +46 (0)40 10 17 71

Team

Andreas Ahrens

Museum Director
Most disgusting food eaten: Hákarl from Iceland, fermented shark.

Dr. Samuel West

Director & Chief curator 
Most disgusting food eaten: duck fetus cooked in its egg from The Philippines.

Disgusting Food Museum
Disgusting Food Museum
4.5
Based on 237 reviews
powered by Google
Foodo Haggins
Foodo Haggins
07:54 10 Feb 20
If there is one place you should put on your list of places to see in Malmö, it's this. Absolutely lovely and... welcoming staff who made our visit (and tasting) a blast. Do make sure to try the items at the end of your tour. Some of the things are not as bad as you'd think.read more
Lia Contreras
Lia Contreras
22:15 09 Feb 20
Really interesting concept for a museum. As a chef, I would say that is something that you HAVE to try. Looks small In... the beginning, but is so well made, that can takes you easily an hour to go around experiencing the whole weird tasting world. The staff was awesome too, really kind and up to help you with everything.read more
Melina Barreto
Melina Barreto
19:27 09 Feb 20
What an awesome cool and unique place! Didn't look much from the outside but you go in and it's amazing! So... entertaining didactic and disgusting but in awesome way. Completely loved it. The staff working there were also really nice.read more
Maximilian Morales
Maximilian Morales
01:12 26 Jan 20
If you haven't checked this place out yet, you definitely should. Apart from all the disgusting food you get to look at... and smell you will also find weird food from different cultures. Very interesting museum.read more
Marcos Martinez
Marcos Martinez
16:32 19 Jan 20
Such a fun and novel idea for a museum. It’s well hidden within a shopping mall, and it looks more like an Apple... Store than your regular museum. The fact that all their exhibited dishes are real (as opposed to plastic/rubber models) adds to the genuine feel of the museum. The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable - as well as morally supportive when you get to taste the 20 dishes at the end. 🙏read more
Boris Turnsek
Boris Turnsek
12:47 15 Jan 20
Really interesting experience! You get to see and learn about some unbeliveable foods people eat. At the end also... tasting. The entrance fee is a bit high but I saw the lot of foods very freshly made or sourced ao t is not only a model you are looking at. I guess it raises the expenses. The main reason I give a 4 is that I feel the environment is quite sterile, just a white hall. A bit boring.read more
Hrvoje Fadiga
Hrvoje Fadiga
22:26 10 Jan 20
Short version: This museum should be your first place to visit upon arriving to Malmö! Best museum ever!Long... version: First of all, this was by far one of the most disgusting experiences I've ever had. The problem is that I liked it a lot (unlike my girlfriend who still has smelly flashbacks).This is one of the most (if not the most) interesting exhibitions I've ever seen. I liked the interactivity where it is possible to touch, smell and finally eat some of the exhibits. The concept of the museum is great, but also the way how the exhibits are displayed in an informative yet interesting manner.I have to add that your female employee who entertained us a lot with her food experiences at the "tasting counter" added a lot to our experience. We didn't get to know her name, but she upped the overall experience a lot and we are thankful for that!read more
Ben Kolt
Ben Kolt
04:41 15 Nov 19
You must visit this museum. We came to Malmo to visit this museum from Copenhagen. It exceeded our expectations in... every way. The exhibits were truly disgusting, and also very informative. The tasting at the end was awesome- from jelly bean roulette to Icelandic shark. We ate bugs, stinky cheese, worms, fermented shrimp, and more. YUCK!The artichoke liquor taste is still in my head a week later. This is a MUST SEE!read more
Sarah Scott
Sarah Scott
13:38 14 Nov 19
The whole thing was a blast, from beginning to end. We entered shortly before closing (our own fault), but were still... allowed to peruse the exhibit at our own pace. The museum, which was slightly tricky to find due to its location inside a shopping mall, was well put together albeit somewhat smaller than the "museum" it purports to be. I highly recommend it for the adventuresome eaters out there, as the tasting bar at the end of the exhibit gives you the chance to sample small bits of things of which you would likely never be brave enough to order a full serving. Live on the edge and go and eat some weird stuff. If nothing else, you'll walk away with a great story about that time you vomited in a museum.read more
roman d
roman d
14:09 07 Nov 19
I survived my flight. That’s why I’m writing this feedback. It was really DISGUSTING! Not only you can watch the... food, but sometimes even smell or touch. At the end you can try some (again, disgusting). Totally worth its price. So glad we visited this place. One of my favorite museums so far!!!read more
Amir Mahdaviyan
Amir Mahdaviyan
08:13 16 Sep 19
Great experience, take your time and read everything. And of course smell the samples. At the end you can try and eat... some the foods. Very nice staff, don't hesitate to talk to them if you have a question.read more
Michel
Michel
11:40 04 Sep 19
Very interesting and stimulating museum. They have a generous tasting table at the end where you can sample some of the... food displayed in the exhibition. The entrance cost is 150 for a student and it is totally worth it. A museum experience not soon to be forgotten. The staff is very friendly, speak English and know a lot about the foods. You can also buy some of the food at the end.read more
Next Reviews
Disgusting Food Museum
Disgusting Food Museum
4.9
Based on 68 reviews
powered by Facebook
Ilse Gilis
Ilse Gilis
2020-02-26T21:26:23+0000
Nice little museum with two enthousiastic owners. We loved every minute of it, witch is strange because it was at times... realy disguisting 😀read more
Jeanette Pamliden
Jeanette Pamliden
2020-02-22T17:02:19+0000
Kul, lärorikt och äckligt på samma gång. Väl värt ett besök!!
Florian Weissbach
Florian Weissbach
2020-02-20T13:06:24+0000
Quite entertaining and indeed disgusting!
Cam Nor
Cam Nor
2020-02-16T17:24:59+0000
A fun and interesting time. Come hungry!! 😂😂
PerOlof Morell
PerOlof Morell
2020-02-15T16:04:14+0000
Trevlig personal och spännande lukt och smakupplevelser!
Catrine Maria Olesen
Catrine Maria Olesen
2020-02-14T13:03:15+0000
Sjovt og anderledes museum. Meget interesant (og virkelig ulækkert)
Maura Lipchitz
Maura Lipchitz
2020-01-17T14:16:33+0000
Totally interactive fun and great 👍🏻 info. Interesting what one culture finds delicious is disgusting to another!
Jérôme Deltour
Jérôme Deltour
2020-01-02T12:02:11+0000
délicieusement dégoûtant !!
Ana Merimetso
Ana Merimetso
2019-12-14T15:20:43+0000
Interesting! A lot of food stuff that I've never heard about.
Barry Tomlinson
Barry Tomlinson
2019-12-08T17:59:06+0000
not a massive place but a great place to visit before you have food lol very good staff had plenty of time to tell us... all about the foodread more
Jessica Baaz Hajdu
Jessica Baaz Hajdu
2019-11-16T17:35:21+0000
Intressant, lärorikt och äckligt😝. Besökte detta tillsammans med ett gäng scouter. Rekommenderas!
Michał Radkowski
Michał Radkowski
2019-11-09T17:40:38+0000
It's a must-see (or must-experience) not even in Malmo, but in the whole Sweden! Amazing exhibits and fabulous, engaged... staff!read more
Kristian Holler
Kristian Holler
2019-11-06T18:00:26+0000
Ein Museum der besonderen Art. zunächst glaubt man, man bekäme vorallem exotische Dinge aus Asien oder Afrika zu... sehen. Es gibt aber auch bei uns in Europa viele "eklige" Sachen und an diesen darf man auch in der Ausstellung riechen. Höhepunkt ist aber ganz klar die Verkostung am Ende.read more
Pef Noren
Pef Noren
2019-11-02T15:01:23+0000
väldigt kul ställe.o trevlig personal👍
Muhamed Hasanovic
Muhamed Hasanovic
2019-11-01T15:32:17+0000
Definitely must visit while in Malmo.Those with weak stomach proceed with caution.
Patrik Abrahamsson
Patrik Abrahamsson
2019-09-16T05:16:41+0000
Intressant och väldigt äckligt! Trevlig och engagerande personal
Helena Abrahamsson
Helena Abrahamsson
2019-09-16T04:55:58+0000
Intressant och kul upplevelse, som rekommenderas.Bra med information att läsa, många lukter och en del smaker!... Mycket trevlig och bra personal.Vårt besök tog ca. en timme och det tror jag är det vanligaste.read more
Carl Blundell
Carl Blundell
2019-09-14T13:19:44+0000
Excellent museum for the weird and smelly and occasionally tasty..
Anette Feron
Anette Feron
2019-09-08T16:05:39+0000
Intressant utställning. Avstod från att smaka men min modiga lillasyster gjorde det.
Jonas Roslund
Jonas Roslund
2019-09-07T14:48:37+0000
No highlights, only disgusting, as promised.
Marie Åkesson
Marie Åkesson
2019-09-06T06:09:06+0000
En trevlig och annorlunda upplevelse som leder till skratt och spännande smakupplevelser.
Derek Nordin
Derek Nordin
2019-08-29T17:15:13+0000
A completely unique experience... but not for the squeamish or the faint of heart...
Dan Bachmann
Dan Bachmann
2019-08-28T16:12:04+0000
Quick fun little museum, a great way to spend an hour in Malmo.
Madelen Waernbaum
Madelen Waernbaum
2019-08-08T23:17:33+0000
what an awesome and mind challenge place to visit! - Så mkt bättre än jag kunnat föreställa mig! Vidgade mina vyer... och jag lärde mig massa nytt samtidigt som jag utmanades i tanken på vad som är mat och utmanads med lukt, syn, konsistens och smak (och säkert kräkreflexer om man är i fel sinnesstämning). Gäller att sätta sig i rätt mentala inställning innan man går dit!read more
Lars Olausson
Lars Olausson
2019-08-03T12:33:22+0000
En del skitäckligt, en del rätt ok.Totalt sett en spännande upplevelse!
Kirsti Gyldenløve Hoff
Kirsti Gyldenløve Hoff
2019-07-19T10:17:13+0000
Det var såååå sjovt. Kom afsted.
Mia Rosell
Mia Rosell
2019-07-13T14:46:15+0000
Askul! Glöm inte prova surströmming
Tor Schjoelberg
Tor Schjoelberg
2019-07-09T13:06:41+0000
Anbefales. Test dine luktesanser til det ytterste
Elin Kristiansson
Elin Kristiansson
2019-06-22T08:01:22+0000
Mycket intressant och läskig/god mat 🙂
Hallén Mary Ann
Hallén Mary Ann
2019-06-19T20:00:12+0000
I think the place is more cultural than disgusting. It's very educational not only for kids but for adults as well. For... the facts that those food are actually delicacies from where it came from. Definitely a place worth visiting..read more
Anders Jansson
Anders Jansson
2019-06-16T13:37:47+0000
Äckel-roligt, intressant och verkligen annorlunda.Extra plus för den supergulliga personalen som visade och... berättade vid entrén och provsmakningen 👌read more
Peter Piotr Koppe
Peter Piotr Koppe
2019-06-15T12:31:45+0000
Coolt ställe. Smaken av insekter glömmer man inte.
Frauke Schmidt
Frauke Schmidt
2019-06-12T18:17:54+0000
Delicious Food ..... muss man mal gesehen und evtl probiert haben
Bianca Holmgren
Bianca Holmgren
2019-06-06T12:18:26+0000
Fab place to visit, definitely a different way to spend your day
Louise Cederholm
Louise Cederholm
2019-04-29T10:27:00+0000
Väl värt ett besök - jätteäckligt!!!
Eva Appelgren
Eva Appelgren
2019-04-27T14:37:10+0000
Intressant, lärorikt och spännande! Skräckblandad förtjusning!Mycket trevlig personal. Rekommenderas varmt.
Madeleine Håkansson
Madeleine Håkansson
2019-03-23T23:00:22+0000
En annorlunda upplevelse somär både kul och intressant. Jag klöktes bara en gång trots vidriga ”doftburkar”... 😂read more
Simon Håkansson
Simon Håkansson
2019-03-23T22:47:05+0000
Incredible place, loads of interesting information and smells. Loads of new stuff added to the bucket list. The taste... bar at the end took some stuff off the bucket list. Superbly stupendous.read more
Mustapha Rang Rover
Mustapha Rang Rover
2019-03-12T07:07:11+0000
It looks Disgusting but test very good 😋
Carl-Adam Lindesvärd
Carl-Adam Lindesvärd
2019-03-10T15:17:34+0000
Häftig utställning💪🏻 supertrevlig personal🥰
Markus Krook
Markus Krook
2019-03-10T15:12:18+0000
Första gången man ger 5/5 stjärnor för äcklig mat till ett ställe. Värt ett besök för alla! De för även... statistik när senaste spyan har varit på museet. Tack o lov blev det ingen från mig! 👏read more
Rafi Allali
Rafi Allali
2019-03-04T10:29:06+0000
Not like all tourist activities (historical places, nature, malls...) Disgusting Food museum is so far the best... experience I have ever had abroad.If you are in Sweden forget about everything go to this museum first.Not only seeing what other cultures eat and perceived by other cultures as disgusting but it will open your eyes and make a switch in your mind.It will also introduce you to insects cuisine (Higher protein+environment friendly)Experience uncommon food around the world in one place under one roof.Very nice stuff also.The best ever.read more
Tess Törhed
Tess Törhed
2019-02-16T13:40:57+0000
Mycket av illaluktande mat🤢😂 väldigt intressant utställning, barnen tyckte det var jätte roligt,’.
Mats Berg
Mats Berg
2019-01-20T15:54:20+0000
Intressant. Men allt var ju inte disgusting. Har ju med tycke och smak. Men man får ju smaka på en del...om man... vågar.read more
Bethina Frølund Thinnesen
Bethina Frølund Thinnesen
2019-01-18T20:40:27+0000
En fed oplevelse, der til tider tester din psyke
Tanya Chubaruk
Tanya Chubaruk
2019-01-06T19:51:32+0000