I'm sure everyone knows Starbucks, it has the largest number of stores all around the world!

Starbucks created a very special and unique branch only in Korea on March 26th. It's called Starbucks Byeoldabang in Myeong-dong!

Today I'll be introducing the one and only Starbucks Byeoldabang branch in Korea right now. 😉

Information

Address: 서울 중구 회현동 2가 퇴계로100
100 Toegye-ro, Hoehyeondong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul

Hours: Weekdays: 07:00-21:00, Weekends: 08:00-21:00 

Starbucks Byeoldabang opened its store on the first floor of the State Tower Namsan building in the middle of Myeong-dong! 

This is also where the Starbucks Korea headquarters is located. It's said that this year marks the 22nd anniversary of Starbucks entering Korea.

The name Byeoldabang is quite unique, right? Well, it's actually a name that a lot of locals use to call Starbucks in Korea. 

A dabang is a Korean-style cafe and teahouse that existed before Western-style cafes settled in Korea. They had a wide variety of coffee, tea, and other non-alcoholic beverages although there was a lack of beverage expertise. 

As Western-style cafes began to settle in Korea, Koreans began to enjoy espresso-based coffee more and these dabangs slowly disappeared. 

Byeoldabang is a word created by combining "star" ("byeol" in Korean) from Starbucks and "dabang".

It is said that the Starbucks headquarters decided to open this store and name it Byeoldabang as a way of showing appreciation for Korean consumers that love their brand.

All Starbucks locations in Korea use the name of the buildings or areas to name their stores but this is the first time that they gave their cafe a special name.

Starbucks Byeoldabang is not only special because of its name, both the interior and the concept are very special.

Let's go have a closer look!

Our Visit

Come out of Myeongdong Station exit 4 and walk straight. 

Just a short walk and you'll find the State Tower Namsan building on your left. You can easily find the Starbucks by walking through the doors and looking to the right. 

This is the entrance to Starbucks Byeoldabang. Isn't it so luxurious? 

The top part of the entrance is very unique so I took a closer shot! 

It is said to be in the shape of a historic roof tile that was used to cover homes in Korea in the past. It was amazing to see the tiles become modernized in this way and become a sophisticated design element.

One more interesting thing was that there was a pickup counter for Siren Orders at the entrance. There are so many companies around Starbucks Byeoldabang, which means that there are a lot of office workers that frequent this place.

It is said that it was created to reduce the cafe being overly crowded by allowing busy office workers to quickly pick up their drinks. My friend who works for a company in this building says he uses this store mainly for Siren Orders!

When you first walk in, you will see this beautiful interior in front of you! It felt much wider inside than what I saw from the outside. It is said to be about 413m² wide! 

The bright wood-tone interior looks so luxurious. Besides, it was really beautiful because the walls and ceilings were arched.

When designing this place, they said the curves of the walls were intentionally emphasized to give it more of a traditional Korean feel!

This is what it looks like when looking at the store from the other entrance. 

When I went, the lighting was softly dimmed. It is said that the internal brightness control system automatically adjusts the lighting according to the amount of sunlight coming in. 

When there are no customers, the lights are automatically shut off, which helps to save energy. 

The first thing you will see when you enter the cafe is this large LED wall. It boasts a tremendous size, measuring 8m wide and 4m long.

It is said to be the world's first Starbucks digital art wall installed.

Apparently, digital artworks related to Starbucks will be released on this wall. It's really nice to be able to enjoy large artworks at Starbucks with your coffee without going to the museum, right?

When I went, the work of Korean artist Lee Kyutae was on display. Apparently, it represents the appearance of Hacienda Alsacia, a Starbucks coffee farm. 

The work shining in various colors was so cool and beautiful. 

Behind the art, this wall was the most popular space at Starbucks Byeoldabang. 

It's a little darker than the other spaces, which adds a very cozy vibe. There was even a huge fireplace in the middle!

There are long sofas and chairs placed around the fireplace, so it feels like you're just chilling with your friends at home. 

Apparently, this area was designed in the style of a home cafe.

At first, I thought that the fire in the fireplace was just digital, but when I looked closer, it was a real fire!

When I stood still and watched the fire burning for a while, I felt so calm and at peace. So recently, it's become popular to go to this Starbucks and just watch the fire and space out for a bit.

I can't go camping every time I want to stare at a fireplace, so it would be nice to come to the Starbucks Byeoldabang to relieve my exhausted mind! 

There was also a peculiar space on the left of the fireplace. It was a space in the form of small arches.

The interior looked so luxurious! This area captured the beauty of the curves really well.

This is a space where you can sit down and enjoy a drink while engaging in small conversation. 

On the other side, there are several tables by the large window. 

Unlike the seats I previously introduced, the desks are large, making it a great place to study or work. 

There are wood partitions in between seats. The partitions helped separate each area without it feeling stuffy.

On a sunny day, it would be so nice to sit by the window and enjoy a drink while soaking in the warm sunlight. 

Let's take a look at the menu now!

You can make your order just at the left of the entrance. 

At Starbucks Byeoldabang, you can find all the menus you can enjoy at Starbucks!

The menus at Starbucks Reserve and Starbucks Teavana are prepared. 

The Teavana menu is made by hand at the bar in the middle of the store. If you want to enjoy a variety of teas and tea-based beverages, be sure to order their Teavana menu!

Also, unlike the other stores, I was surprised to find that there are so many baked goods!

All of the special menus sold only at Starbucks Yangpyeong DTR, the largest Starbucks store in Korea, and the Cheongdam Star, the 1000th Starbucks store in Korea were all there! 

We ordered the Cheongdam Custard Mascarpone Cake and Forest Cold Brew. 

Cheongdam Custard Mascarpone Cake
9,600 KRW

This is the Cheongdam Custard Mascarpone Cake sold at the Cheongdam Starbucks branch. I really like custard and mascarpone cream so I ordered it right away.

The thick custard and mascarpone cream tasted delicious together with the sponge cake.

I like cream so I enjoyed it a lot, but I wouldn't recommend it for those that aren't very fond of cream.

Forest Cold Brew (tall)
5,900 KRW

Forest Cold Brew is one of the seasonal menus that Starbucks launched only for the summer season.

Forest Cold Brew is a drink that represents the summer forest with the healthy and organic taste of matcha tea. The dolce syrup also adds a sweet taste to it!

Green tea latte is a milk-based drink, so it might taste a bit bitter, but this Forest Cold Brew has a very smooth sweetness!

Plus, it's not overly sweet so those that don't enjoy sweet drinks can enjoy it!

Starbucks Byeolbadang is a special store only in Korea! It's so unique and beautiful, right?

In addition, Byeolbadang is a space that implements both eco-friendly and equal employment, which is aligned with Starbucks' core values. 

This cafe was made with materials that aren't harmful to the environment, and it is said that in the future, they will actively recruit vulnerable groups such as the disabled, middle-aged, and career-disrupted women!

Starbucks Byeoldabang, a special cafe that not only boasts a beautiful interior but also beautiful values. I hope you get to visit the next time you're in Korea!

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