Korea has some of the best cafes, and even the Starbucks locations are not an exception. Recently, this new 1960s-theatre-themed Starbucks has been all over social media! We made a visit here on a weekday morning and there were still a good amount of people! If you're coming to Korea in 2023, we highly recommend you add this to your list; it's definitely worth a visit!
Here in South Korea, especially in Seoul, you can find a Starbucks on nearly every block! We made a visit to the newest notable location, Starbucks THE Bukhansan, located at the base of Bukhansan Mountain in Eunpyeong-gu! This branch is located away from the bustling city center so if you're looking to spend the day in the serene nature of outer Seoul, this place is for you!
Information
Address: 서울특별시 은평구 대서문길 24-11
24-11 Daeseomun-gil, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul
Hours: Every day 07:00 - 22:00
About Starbucks THE Bukhansan
Starbucks THE Bukhansan offers a unique experience for busy modern urbanites in Seoul to enjoy a cup of coffee and commune with nature while appreciating the magnificent view of Bukhansan mountain. Spanning about 300 square meters across the first and second floors and rooftop, the branch boasts 253 seats to provide a comfortable space for customers to enjoy their coffee.
But the real highlight is the rooftop terrace, where you can soak up panoramic views of Bukhansan Mountain while snapping photos against the stunning backdrop.
Over the past few years, Starbucks has been opening stores that reflect customers' diverse lifestyles and showcasing new Starbucks stores that are more than just a cup of coffee but rather an experience. Other recent openings include THE Bukhangang R Branch and The Yangpyeong DTR Branch which has a beautiful natural landscape and easy accessibility. Yoon Kyung-il, head of Starbucks Korea's interior design team, said, "We hope that Starbucks THE Bukhansan becomes a healing and memorable space in customers' busy daily lives" and that they will continue to introduce stores that reflect customers' lifestyles and various tastes in the future.
In addition, Starbucks Korea just opened the Starbucks Kyungdong 1960 Branch in January 2023, which remodeled a closed theater from the 1960s into a modern space with a nostalgic feel. Read more about the Kyungdong 1960 Branch in the link below!
Our Visit
After hearing about the opening of Starbucks THE Bukhansan, we were excited to visit this new Starbucks location as it kept popping up all over social media. We were in awe of the view and grandeur of the space, as well as the extensive brunch and bakery menu that is exclusive to this location. To be honest, Starbucks THE Bukhansan is not somewhere you can briefly stop by during your trip. It is located right by the Gyeonggido/Seoul border in northern Eunpyeong-gu. However, it was surprisingly easy to find, as it is just a subway and bus ride away from the city center. (Go to the end of this blog for directions!)
As soon as you walk through the doors, you'll be welcome with an array of Starbucks merchandise, some of which are exclusive to THE Bukhansan Branch. There are more camping-related products than in other Starbucks locations, probably due to the fact that there are several camping sites nearby.
The first floor has several seats, but if you're here for the view, you're going to want to head to the 2nd and 3rd floors.
Walk deeper into the space to find the counter. It may still look like your average Starbucks from this view, but just wait until you see what's behind the wall on the left.
Starbucks usually does not have much variety when it comes to baked goods, but they went all out here at THE Bukhansan Branch. Don't those Onion Cream Basil Rolls look incredible?! There are some items that are exclusive to this location only like the Apple Pie & Organic Ice cream and the Marscapone Cream Mont Blanc.
They have several brunch options as well! We decided to order the Brioche Brunch Set and Marscapone Cream Mont Blanc.
Most of the seats on the second floor face Bukhansan Mountain. We went in the morning and the sun was shining brightly directly into the room. We could tell that Starbucks wanted to emphasize the branding of this location as a natural oasis in the city, as the decor was greener than your usual Starbucks. The plants played a big part in bringing a bit of nature as well as the obvious view of Bukhansan.
If you don't feel comfortable sitting right in front of the blazing sun, there are plenty of other comfortable seats on the 2nd floor. As mentioned before, there is a whopping number of 253 seats in the entire building but don't be fooled! These seats were all filled by 10 AM on a weekday, so if you're unlucky, you may need to wait for a good seat.
The rooftop has a clear view of the nature that surrounds the cafe. These seats will probably fill up first once the weather becomes warmer!
There is also a photo spot on the rooftop where you can take pictures next to the Starbucks plaque, with Bukhansan in the background! This shot will definitely help you gain some Instagram likes as it is currently hot on the app!
We ordered the Iced Brown Sugar Oat Shaken Espresso (6,400 KRW), which is on the current seasonal menu, and the Green Mugwort Cream Latte (7,000 KRW), which is exclusively sold at 5 Starbucks locations including this one.
The first thing you taste when you take a sip of the Iced Brown Sugar Oat Shaken Espresso is cinnamon! The light sprinkle of ground cinnamon gives the drink an extra depth of flavor. As you discover the other flavors of the drink, a pleasant scent of burnt sugar from the generous amount of brown sugar syrup meets your tastebuds.
Mugwort may sound unfamiliar to some, but it is a commonly used herb in Korean cuisine, mostly found in rice cakes and desserts! The Green Mugwort Cream Latte is exclusively sold at only 5 Starbucks locations. The greenness of the drink reflects the brand's efforts to become closer to nature. The cream on the top layer of the drink makes your first sip super creamy and thick. The drink has a slight herby aroma and pairs well with the espresso so if you're into earthy flavors, you'll definitely like this one!
One thing that attracted us to visit this location was obviously the view of Bukhansan and the extensive brunch menu as well. As much as we wanted to try out everything on the menu, we made the difficult decision of choosing the Brioche Brunch Set (13,500 KRW), as the brioche slice looked too fluffy to pass. The sausage had a good bite and was a good savory alternative to the sweet, maple syrup-soaked brioche slice. The side of veggies was a great addition as well to what could've been a heavy plate.
We couldn't come all the way here and not try out the exclusive bakery menu! We ordered the Marscapone Cream Mont Blanc (7,900 KRW) which is a massive pastry filled with cream and topped with blueberry compote. The buttery pastry and generous amount of cream could've been too rich but the blueberry compote helped cut the heaviness and harmonized each bite.
Though it was quite a long journey to get to, Starbucks THE Bukhansan's view of the grand Bukhansan mountain and its exclusive menu was more than enough to convince us to come again. We recommend that you plan a day to spend around this area, which actually has lots to offer! You can go hiking before or after your visit to this Starbucks location, as the main trail up to Bukhansan Mountain is located a couple of minutes away. You could also visit the Eunpyeong Hanok Village, which is what we did! We took a 10-minute bike ride on the Seoul City Bike (Ddaereungi) to the hanok village and spent the rest of the hour of rental cycling around the serene village. Click on the link below to take a look at what Eunpyeong Hanok Village has to offer!
How to Get There
The best way to get there is to take the Seoul metro to Gupabal Station and take the bus from there. If you're coming from a neighborhood that Line 6 runs through, take Line 6 and get off at Yeonsinae Station, and ride bus 704 to Bukhansan Entrance Bus stop(refer to the directions below to see how to get from the bus stop to the Starbucks). If you're going to Gupabal Station refer to the directions below:
Exit Gupabal Station from Exit 2 and take a U-turn towards the back of the exit.
Walk towards the bus stop in the red circle pictured in the image above.
At the Gupabal Station Exit 2 Bus Stop, take either Bus #34 or #704.
Get off the bus at Bukhansanseong Bus Stop, and turn left.
Follow the sidewalk and turn right.
Walk straight for approximately 5 minutes.
Make a right turn once you see this Starbucks sign.
Walk straight and cross the road...
...and you've arrived!
Like this review? We hope we've helped convince you to visit this Starbucks location! Read our collection of unique Starbucks branches in Seoul in the link below!
Unique Starbucks Locations in Seoul
We hope that you can enjoy a trip to Eunpyeonggu to visit Starbucks THE Bukhansan! If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below or send us an email at help@creatrip.com! You can follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook to stay updated on all things Korea!
