I discovered a Helsinki shopping gem for lovers of all things eclectic and bohemian: a pastel-hued rainbow of a lifestyle boutique by the name of Moko Market & Café.
This concept store seemingly springs out of nowhere in an unassuming street of Helsinki's Design District like a bouquet of blossoms; a riot of soft yet vibrant colours, gorgeous oh-so-touchable textures, and a shabby chic aesthetic that compliments its address and surroundings - an old industrial building in Helsinki's former labour district. Brimming with carefully curated interior design, vintage items, artisan coffee and food ingredients, books and stationery from around the world, Moko Market & Café is a concept store which is very much a labour of love - a family business founded in 1991, still run by the two sisters. The care and attention to detail that goes lovingly into Moko Market & Café especially comes across in their café, where the daily menu emphasises homemade culture and organic ingredients.
When I walked through the doors into Moko Market I was immediately struck by how vast yet cozy this lifestyle store is - my first impression was not one of a shop, but rather more like a multi-layered box of candy filled with rows after row of colourful sweets, each one begging to be unwrapped and considered. Every nook and cranny is filled with vignettes of objects beautiful and accessible, all just waiting to climb into my shopping basket. Even though every inch Moko Market is positively brimming with detail, none of it felt cramped - it was all very carefully considered yet lost none of its eclectic, casual charm.
Leather Moroccan slippers, carved wood animals, Japanese-silk lined boxes, travel-themed art prints and stationery displayed on tables by country, furniture, foodstuffs...there's really nowhere else I can compare Moko Market to, at least, not when it comes to the diversity of offerings on a single floor. Especially when in the back of the store, there's a child's playroom (complete with pastel wooden-houses), coffee bistro, café, and probably also a doorway to some form of Nordic Narnia where everyone is stylish and effortlessly chic.
Familiar faces from London: Vintage Menswear is photographed by an old acquaintance, and of course you all recognise Mr Wynd... Sadly, these books were all I could bring back from Moko Market & Cafe, as I ambitiously opted for no check-in baggage on my flight (trying out that Nordic minimalist living for myself) - if I could, I would have swept everything in the store into my luggage, duck-egg blue iron cast bed frame and all.
Why can't more children's play areas be this rustic and charming? I love the crayon scribbles on the walls - for children to be able to play and not be too precious about their surroundings is so incredibly encouraging, creative, and innocent.
I mentioned that the menu at Moko Market & Café changes daily - guess what the lunch du jour was? Taco Tuuuuuesday! I had the chicken and the avocado taco, with generous sides of salad and lashings of sour cream, all washed down with a cold brew. The menu is small and simple, a contrast to the abundant shopping offerings of the shop, which really takes the pressure of decision making - yet oh-so-delicious, fresh, and homemade.
If you're in Helsinki, I thoroughly recommend Moko Market & Café for a stimulating yet relaxing afternoon of shopping (especially on Sunday, when brunch is served!). There's something for everyone there; be it coffee aficionados going crazy for exotic bags of beans, foodies who'd pour over the cookbooks (there's a brilliant book devoted to urban gardening that I wish I had bought) and ingredients, and of course especially if you're a fan of that whimsical, romantic, bohemian style - the dizzying array of decor items is enough to make you swoon. There are two Mokos in Helsinki - the one I visited is the Punavuori store (map), and the other Sörnäinen store is just a little further away (map). If you're short on time, dip your toe in the Punavuori branch as it's conveniently located smack bang in the centre of the Design District, and maybe venture to the other if you can't get enough. I have to say that Moko Market & Café is easily one of my favourite design destinations of my short Helsinki trip. Tomorrow I'll blog about the others, then you can decide which one is yours!
