Pappa Sven

Pappa Sven is a Nordic and Scandinavian design and lifestyle store at 33 Union Street, Cooks Hill, bringing a distinctly Swedish and broader Nordic influence to Newcastle. The shop stocks design-led goods for the home, including Scandinavian kitchen textiles such as tea towels, alongside knitwear, pantry products, gifts and other lifestyle pieces. Its online collections also feature brands and makers from Finland, Sweden and Denmark, including Marimekko, Lapuan Kankurit, Ekelunds, Spira of Sweden and Jalfe Denmark.

The range extends beyond homewares. The Nordic Food collection includes Scandinavian sweets, chocolate, drinks, sauces, preserves, tea and seasonal treats, while the store also highlights 100% merino knitwear, sauna products and Finnish weaving. The selection of tea towels is particularly prominent, with designs from labels including Marimekko, Ekelunds, Arvidssons Textil, Anneko Design and Kauniste. For shoppers interested in Nordic culture as well as objects, Pappa Sven has also hosted a Nordic Film Club, including a special screening of Mother of Snow Cranes.

The store’s story began with a year spent by its owners in Skellefteå, a small town in Sweden just below the Arctic Circle. That experience shaped the shop’s focus on Scandinavian design, homewares, the natural environment and artisan culture. The owners opened Pappa Sven on 30 August 2014, with the aim of sharing that part of their life in Sweden with Newcastle and customers around Australia. Their own description of the shop as a little piece of Scandinavia in the heart of Newcastle reflects that personal connection.

Pappa Sven suits anyone looking for Nordic-inspired homewares, a thoughtful gift, Scandinavian pantry goods or a less familiar design find. It is also a useful stop for people seeking a particular Nordic product, as the store invites customers to contact them directly if they are looking for something specific. Visitors can browse in person in Cooks Hill, while the online store provides access to the wider collection.