Korea's 60 Starbucks Stores: Part 1 - Where Heritage Begins

 

Every Starbucks across the country has its own unique charm, but 11 locations stand out above the rest.

They are places where Starbucks’ heritage blends seamlessly with the history of the space, where the natural landscape is beautifully preserved, and where local character comes alive in unique ways. 

We confidently promise that these are spots where conversations will flow endlessly over a single cup of coffee.

Steeped in rich history and a sense of wonder, these stores are highly recommended as must-visit destinations for your next outing or trip. Here, you will experience something far beyond just coffee.

1. Starbucks Heritage Boutique Edae(Ewha Univ)

On July 27, 1999, Korea’s very first Starbucks opened its doors, marking the dawn of the country's modern café culture. In celebration of its 25th anniversary, the historic Edae branch has been beautifully reimagined as a "Heritage Boutique."

Back then, its diverse espresso-based menu and customizable drink options were nothing short of revolutionary, sparking a massive nationwide trend.

Having held its ground in the exact same spot for a quarter-century, this store stands as a living museum that preserves Starbucks' unique legacy in Korea.

2. Starbucks The Bukhansan

True to its name, the The Bukhansan branch is located right next to Bukhansan National Park. Take a leisurely stroll along the well-designed walking trail in front of the store, or head up to the rooftop to admire the panoramic views of Bukhansan Mountain. It is a place where you can fully enjoy the elegance of four distinct seasons: spring flowers, lush summer greenery, autumn foliage, and winter snowscapes. Looking out at the sky through the floor-to-ceiling windows, you can experience the sheer bliss of being immersed in nature. Because of this exceptional view of Bukhansan Mountain, the terrace and window seats tend to fill up quickly, so you'll need to be diligent if you plan to visit.

The indoor landscaping, designed to blend seamlessly with the scenery of Bukhansan Mountain, is another highlight. Inside, a miniature model resembling Bukhansan Mountain is placed, allowing you to encounter a "mini Bukhansan within the mountain." On the rooftop, a stone monument stands among the comfortably spaced chairs arranged for enjoying the view. Take a photo in front of the monument with Bukhansan Mountain—which changes its colors with the seasons—as your backdrop.

Sit back, take in the endless view, and enjoy the store's special menu. The "Bukhansan Lemon Earl Grey Blended," which features mountain-shaped ice, shows a thoughtful attention to detail with toppings that change according to the season.

3. Starbucks Jangchung Lounge R

The Jangchung Lounge R store reimagines a 1960s modern architectural gem—never before opened to the public—through Starbucks’ unique perspective. The space features a mysterious underground area, a grand bar and drawing room on the first floor, and a beautiful blend of 1960s–70s Italian Mid-Century Modern vintage furniture and contemporary Korean designer pieces on the second floor. From the awe-inspiring marble art wall, fireplace, and chandelier preserved for nearly 60 years, to the two serene gardens, this store offers an entirely different atmosphere from the Starbucks we used to know.

As a Reserve-Only store, Jangchung Lounge R also serves about 10 variations of cocktail drinks. It offers light food pairings to complement the cocktails, as well as merchandise (MD) to help you set up your own home bar. In the drawing room overlooking the garden, you can fully immerse yourself in the vibe of having your own private home party.

Knowing the building’s history makes the experience even more fascinating. The residence was originally designed by Na Sang-jin (1923–1973), a first-generation Korean architect who laid the foundation for modern Korean architecture. His notable works include the Grand Hotel, the Hanilgwan restaurant in Myeong-dong, and the old main building of the Gyeonggi-do Provincial Government.

4. Starbucks The Jeju Songdang Park R

Nestled within Jeju Donghwa Village, a place packed with diverse attractions, lies the Starbucks The Jeju Songdang Park R store. As you step into the basalt sculpture park, a flower path blanketed with snow-white European hydrangeas is the first to welcome you. Walking aimlessly, captivated by the fragrance, you will soon arrive at the store. Once inside, the remarkably vast and open space instantly gives you a breath of fresh air. The windows on the first and second floors are connected into a single, massive floor-to-ceiling glass wall, offering a unique landscape that looks just like a giant painting.

Another highlight here is the kinetic art sculpture suspended from the ceiling, moving with a rhythmic dance. Watching its curving frame and spinning wooden balls, time seems to slow down, forgetting its usual pace. This mesmerizing installation is artist Cho Byung-chul’s From Seed to Cup. It is a piece that uses motion to express the entire journey of a coffee bean, from its origin until the moment it becomes espresso and is poured into our cups.

On the second floor, a permanent exhibition is held, allowing you to appreciate artworks while sipping your coffee. Don't forget to stop by the observation deck in front of the store, where you can look down at the beautiful view of The Jeju Songdang Park R store blending seamlessly with Donghwa Village.

5. Starbucks The Bukhansangang R

Facing the Bukhan River with lush mountains rising both in front and behind, the The Bukhan River R store offers a unique landscape to admire with every changing season. Boasting a grand scale with a sculptural architectural design that looks as if it were cleanly sliced on one side, the store features large windows throughout that look out onto the river and mountains, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the flow of the four seasons.

On the first floor, there is a Pet Park, a dedicated space for pets and their owners. It is, in essence, the perfect place to enjoy coffee or take a stroll with your companion animal. Of course, this space is open to visitors without pets as well, so if you wish, you can fill your eyes with the joy of watching your favorite animals, even from a slight distance. A photo zone is also available, so feel free to capture and record precious moments with your pet.

On the second and third floors, chairs are thoughtfully arranged along the windows to offer a leisurely view of the Bukhan River and its surroundings. Finally, on the fourth floor, you will find a rooftop—sit back on a sofa or at a table, watch the river gently flow by, and allow yourself to be free from all your worries for a moment.

6. Starbucks The Yeosu Dolsan DT

Looking up at the first-floor ceiling, a swaying installation that resembles both the ripples of the Yeosu sea and the scales of a mermaid instantly captures your gaze. Following the mermaid’s tail painted on the wall up to the second floor, you will encounter a grand artwork featuring the Siren. Under a night with a full moon, the Siren swimming along lush branches laden with crimson coffee cherries evokes a scene from a fantasy fairy tale. The painting also beautifully captures Yeosu’s iconic landmarks, including the Yi Sun-sin Bridge and Odongdo Island in full camellia bloom.

True to its theme, "The Color of Yeosu," the The Yeosu Dolsan DT store is infused with the unique essence of the city. Over the spacious table on the first floor, waves seem to crash in abundance. This sensor-equipped interactive table responds to your coffee cup, creating ripples on the screen as you place it down—making you feel as though you are sipping coffee right in the middle of the ocean.

Following the direction the Siren points, you can step out onto the terrace, where a breathtaking, panoramic view of the Yeosu sea unfolds. Capture exotic, picture-perfect moments against the backdrop of the Mediterranean-style terrace lined with neatly planted arborvitae trees.

7. Starbucks Gana Art Park

Collaborating with art to present a brand-new space, the Gana Art Park store features a cozy exterior overall that reminiscent of a log cabin, completed with spacious terraces throughout to offer an even more relaxing environment. In partnership with the art platform "Print Bakery," the store has designated dedicated exhibition spaces for the platform's affiliated artists. A diverse range of artworks by leading artists, including Dadaz, Kim Tae-joong, and Kwak Chul-an, adorn not only the walls but also the pillars and ceilings of the store.

While temporary special exhibitions are held on the first floor, walking up the stairs to the second floor reveals a cozy interior reminiscent of a villa’s attic, beautifully integrated with artist Shin Ye-jin’s installation piece, And So the Journey Dances to That Place.

The defining charm of the Gana Art Park store lies in how generously it allocates its space to art, to the point where the line between a cafe and a gallery becomes beautifully blurred. It is a place where even children can naturally and comfortably encounter and experience artwork.

8. Starbucks The Yangpyeong DT

Through the full floor-to-ceiling glass wall that spans up to the third floor, the panoramic view of the Namhan River becomes a piece of interior design in itself. It is a space where you can clear your mind while gazing at the ever-changing river scenery from anywhere in the store. The ramp connecting the first and second floors is perfectly designed to help you capture picture-perfect moments against the beautiful backdrop. The seating on each floor is arranged in a tiered, stepped design, evoking the open and airy feel of an outdoor theater. Overhead, a long, cascading wooden mobile sways leisurely at its own pace—completely detached from the busy movement of the people below—as if momentarily freezing time within the space.

If you want to fully immerse yourself in the seasonal atmosphere, the third-floor rooftop is a must-visit. The The Yangpyeong DT store is highly recommended, standing out among other drive-thru locations. In addition to the parking lot, it features a dedicated bicycle rack area, showing a thoughtful consideration for cyclists.

If you are planning a bike ride along the scenic Namhan River or a late afternoon drive with someone special, stop by when you need a break to enjoy a peaceful moment of pause.

9. Starbucks Daegu Jongno Gotaek

Daegu's "Jin-golmok" (Long Alley) is a place where the traces of modern history are preserved intact. It is renowned for radiating a unique retro vibe, where old Western-style buildings blend seamlessly with the modern sensibility of newly opened shops. Walking along while enjoying the serene atmosphere, the Daegu Jongno Gotaek store catches your eye, standing grandly like a high-ranking official’s residence from the Joseon Dynasty. As you open the main gate of the main building and step inside, you will be amazed by the intricate details of the hanok (traditional Korean house). Exposed rafters that have endured for over a century still proudly support the structure.

The uniqueness of the Daegu Jongno Gotaek store does not stop here. Paying homage to Daegu's heritage as the birthplace of Korea's classical music appreciation lounges, this store collaborates with Bang & Olufsen with the intent of connecting the past and the present through the medium of music. Since the store was conceptualized from the design stage as an experiential space for optimal music appreciation, high-end speakers have been meticulously placed throughout. Thanks to this, you can enjoy music without any sound distortion, no matter which seat you choose.

We highly recommend crossing the courtyard of the historic house and taking a seat on the jjokmaru (a narrow wooden veranda) hidden behind the annex. As a gentle breeze blows, the clear, resonant chiming of the windbell fills the air, doubling the elegance of the ambiance.

10. Starbucks Kyungdong 1960

Kyungdong Market in Dongdaemun-gu offers an atmosphere slightly detached from the typical image of Seoul with its endless rows of high-rises and apartments. As a traditional market where you can shop for all kinds of medicinal herbs and fresh vegetables right in the heart of the city, it is also a popular tourist attraction. Wandering along the alleys and taking in the market sights, you will stumble upon the Kyungdong 1960 store, quietly tucked away. While its exterior blends seamlessly with the market’s ambiance, the interior is a beautifully reconstructed retro building with a distinctively "Korean flavor," repurposed from an abandoned theater. Within the vast space that hints at the grand scale of the former movie theater, you can admire the wooden ceiling framework that preserves the original theater structure. With about 200 tiered seats, the ordering counter and coffee bar now occupy where the silver screen used to stand, making it a prime example of successfully repurposing an existing space.

It also features a romantic, clever touch: when your ordered beverage is ready, your name is projected onto the wall using a movie projector, scrolling up like the ending credits of a film.

Furthermore, a portion of the profits generated at the Kyungdong 1960 store is accumulated into a local community fund, which is widely used to improve the surrounding environment and revitalize nearby businesses.

11. Starbucks The Chuncheon Uiamho R

Facing Chuncheon's Uiamho Lake right before your eyes, the The Chuncheon Uiamho River R store is Starbucks Korea's 11th special store. Stepping into the SENSORY HALL on the second floor, the view of the shimmering lake undulating outside the floor-to-ceiling windows is truly breathtaking. With the integration of a media facade, once the sun sets, the entire space—from the floor to the glass windows and out to the exterior terrace—is dyed in brilliant, ethereal light. Visitors can admire a fantastic display of media art, where waves crash through a coffee farm, flowers swim like fish, and the Milky Way flows gracefully. While stopping by in the evening to savor the art is wonderful, if you visit during the day, take your time walking up through all the floors to watch yunseul (the sunlight shimmering on the water) transform into different expressions moment by moment.

Your visual experience is perfectly complemented by auditory pleasure, thanks to the music flowing from Devialet speakers that boast solid sound with ultra-low bass frequencies. It is worth noting that from 3 PM to 5 PM, slightly different playlists are curated on designated days.

The store's exclusive specialty drinks are also a must-try: "Uiamho Violet Lavender Tea Latte," which captures the romantic night sky of Uiamho, uses calming lavender to offer a relaxing sip, while "Uiamho Green Grapefruit Fizzo," embodying the fresh green hues of Uiamho during the day, is a refreshing fizzy beverage made with green grapefruit, lime, and lemon jelly. Awaken all your five senses as you deeply breathe in the fragrant aroma of grapefruit and lavender. If you would like a breath of fresh air as your dessert, feel free to step out gently onto the terrace with your drink in hand.

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"60 STARBUCKS STORES: The Must-Visit Destination," a store magazine by Starbucks Korea that selects and introduces stores where customers can enjoy differentiated experiences in unique spaces, is the very first guidebook produced by Starbucks to enhance the understanding of customers planning to visit these distinctive locations. Hankut Korea will introduce them in order, from PART 1 through PART 9.