A new cultural hotspot is emerging in the south of Sweden. Nordic Hotels & Resorts are set to open the brand new Munksjöstaden Hotel in Jönköping, anchored in an area rich with history. Right by the beautiful Lake Munksjön, the 120-room hotel—complete with bistro, bar, café, and wellness facilities—is expected to welcome its first guests in 2028.
Jönköping is a city long defined by industrial breakthroughs and lakeside landscapes. Now, a new chapter is about to be written in its story. Come 2028, the former factory buildings on the edge of Lake Munksjön will reopen their doors—this time as Munksjöstaden Hotel, a contemporary, design-led retreat. The new hotel rises from a history with many layers. From healing waters and rowing clubs to paper mills, the new project is set to lean into its industrious heritage rather than covering it up.
The letter of intent for the unique lifestyle destination has been signed by Strawberry, Nordic Hotels & Resorts parent company, and real estate company Tosito. Munksjöstaden Hotel will be the crown jewel in the district of Munksjöstaden, a former factory area currently being transformed into a vibrant hub of work, residence and commerce.
From Wellness to Papermaking: The Forces Shaping Munksjön
For centuries, Jönköping has been a place where people converge. In many ways, Lake Munksjön in the south of the city center tells the story of this legacy.
Starting in the 18th century, visitors traveled to Munksjön for the reputed healing powers of the health spring Västerbrunn. The spring became the nucleus of a lively social world, and by the mid-1800s, it featured a grand salon, smaller pavilions, a bowling alley, and swings. This reinforced Munksjön’s identity as a destination for restoration long before the concept of “wellness” existed.
The lake’s recreational streak evolved with the era. In 1884, Munksjön became home to Jönköpings Roddsällskap, whose boathouse sat proudly on the shore. Over the years, regattas, canoeing competitions, and weekend excursions have animated the waterfront. Paired with the surrounding forests—favourite spots for picnics, midsummer dances, and berrypicking—Munksjön emerged as an area filled with possibilities.
Alongside leisure came industry. The area was transformed during the late 19th century into a centre of Swedish manufacturing. Among the driving forces were Johan “Janne” Lundström—industrialist, inventor, and widely celebrated as the father of the Swedish safety match. Lundström, together with publisher and businessman Lars Johan Hierta, founded the paper mill Munksjö pappersbruk in 1862. The move not only solidified the area’s industrial identity, but also positioned Jönköping as a forward-looking manufacturing hub.
Design-Led Spaces for the Contemporary Traveler
It’s within this long, layered history that Munksjöstaden Hotel now unfolds. The property is envisioned as the cultural centerpiece of the new district Munksjöstaden, currently taking shape around the lake. The building that will become the hotel stands at the heart of the revitalized district, carrying its heritage forward.
Munksjöstaden Hotel will inhabit a former factory space, once a storage hall tied to the area’s production lines. The bones of industry remain, but the purpose has shifted. The property will blend industrial soul with warm tactility: original brickwork and repurposed materials, softened by rich textiles and a bespoke scent developed for the hotel. A café, bar, and open-kitchen bistro will form the social core, encouraging a day-to-night experience.
Out of the 120 rooms, several suites will be offered, referencing the building’s past through design and atmosphere. The emphasis is, however, far from nostalgic; interiors aim for a “retro-progressive” sensibility. Think original details reframed through contemporary Scandinavian design. Beyond typical hotel amenities, the building will also house a flexible event arena capable of hosting up to 1,000 people.
A New Point of Gravity
Echoing the area’s health roots, wellbeing will be central to Munksjöstaden Hotel’s concept. A 35-degree indoor pool will overlook Munksjön, blurring boundaries between indoors and the outdoors. From the hotel’s jetty, guests will access a lake sauna—an architectural gesture that anchors the project to the water’s edge.
Against this backdrop, it is clear that Munksjöstaden Hotel approaches its hometown with a bold ambition: to become the new point of gravity for Jönköping, tying its past to the future.
Construction is set to begin in autumn 2026, with the first guests expected in 2028.
Munksjöstaden Hotel
Jönköping, Sweden
