Craving a cup of joe but yearning for an adventure beyond the predictable green and white interior? Maybe you want to sip a cappuccino on a balcony in Milan or watch surfers catch the next wave in South Africa while enjoying a Starbucks cold brew.
Look no further than Starbucks’ extraordinary international locations!
Dispersed across the globe, these cafes transcend the status of a mere coffee shop, transforming into captivating cultural experiences. Imagine sipping a latte amidst the serene beauty of a Japanese garden or savouring a Frappuccino while the sails of a Dutch windmill gently turn overhead.
Intrigued? Buckle up for a virtual expedition as we explore 25 of the most unusual Starbucks stores around the world. Our journey will take us on a whirlwind tour, showcasing how diverse cultures creatively integrate their local flavour into the familiar aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
This summer, ten lucky members of the Starbucks Rewards program will win big in this year’s Starbucks Summer Game – The Starbucks Adventure of a Lifetime – a five-night, all-expenses-paid trip for two to the city that hosts the unique Starbucks ever. Stores all over the world. Where do you book your tickets?
However, each unique location boasts its distinctive charm, from repurposed historical landmarks to architecturally stunning modern marvels. Prepare to be surprised by hidden gems tucked away in bustling city centers or breathtaking escapes nestled amidst serene landscapes.
So, whether you’re a die-hard Starbucks fan or simply a curious adventurer, get ready to discover a world of coffee experiences unlike any you’ve ever encountered before! Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Hop on the new Starbucks train for a cup of coffee. The first official coffee train journey was between Geneva Airport and St. Gallen.
This espresso bar is the smallest the company has ever designed; therefore, we recommend replacing your Venti with the long-lost Short or, if necessary, the Alto.
I’m unsure if the Swiss love holiday blonde coffee – they invented Nescafé, a close cousin of the real burnt coffee.
Weirdest Starbucks Stores In The World: On a train in Switzerland
As if cruise ships hadn’t jumped on the trend of becoming a mega-mall on the water, Royal Caribbean International took it to the next level with the launch of its favorite corner café aboard Allure of the Seas.
Frequently commuting between Fort Lauderdale, Haiti, Jamaica, and Cozumel, even if you don’t have to, you’ll have to find a place to drink cream so the sea of coffee doesn’t spill all over your vacation clothes.
Haiti and Jamaica are famous for coffee beans, and Mexico is the world’s eighth-largest coffee producer. This is worth keeping in mind when considering Pike Place Roast.
Weirdest Starbucks Stores In The World: Middle of Cibrean Sea
Beat your caffeine addiction without decompression; at California’s Squaw Valley Resort, there’s a Java ski lodge halfway up the Gold Coast resort at about 8,000 feet above sea level.
Cut off the caffeine and head to Heavenly Way, which offers blackjack and cocktails.
Weirdest Starbucks Stores In The World: On the slope
With Disneyland’s first Starbucks opening in Anaheim’s Magic Kingdom, struggling parents can spend a day at Disney.
The store has a turn-of-the-century grocery store theme (including baristas in very cheerful outfits) and serves up Disney cupcakes to keep things cool. Mickey Mocha and Pluto Pumpkin Spice are not intended for adult men.
Weirdest Starbucks Stores In The World: At the Disney Land
If you spend your money here whenever you buy a latte: SB has opened its largest European branch inside The Bank on Rembrandtplein in Amsterdam.
Although located underground, bank history buffs may be disappointed as only the original exposed concrete walls and 1920s marble floors remain in the vault.
Starbucks, you should probably do some more research.
Weirdest Starbucks Stores In The World: Inside the Bank Vault
Inspired by the busy port outside its Seattle headquarters overlooking Puget Sound, Starbucks decided to use one of its 450-square-foot recycled shipping containers to house its first green-certified store in Tukwila, Washington. In the end, Starbucks is the locals’ choice.
Splurge on the Venti Caramel Macchiato, and you’ve got it.
Weirdest Starbucks Stores In The World: In A Shipping Container
The South African village of Masonburg is located on the coast of Cape Town. Customers can enjoy the relaxed, small-town vibe of the Muizenberg store while watching the sunset over the beach through the glass storefront and artwork and a marine-inspired bar.
Unique Starbucks Stores Around the World
The Carter Road store in Mumbai, India, has all seating outside, providing a great al fresco drinking environment. Located in the coastal suburb of Bandra, this cafe is surrounded by lush vegetation and palm trees.
It’s the perfect place to enjoy the Arabian Sea breeze and people-watch on the nearby promenade.
Unique Starbucks Stores Around the World: Cater Road Mumbai
The Starbucks Divata Coffee Experience in Bali, Indonesia, allows you to explore the world of Indonesian coffee with a unique look at Asia and the Pacific coffee-growing regions.
Directly through the front door is a terrace planted with Arabica coffee trees. This leads to interconnected spaces inviting visitors to rake coffee beans during harvest time or experience coffee bean pulping and washing.
First opened in 2019, this immersive coffee haven features a new coffee experience center where customers can learn about the art and science behind coffee sourcing, roasting, and brewing — the entire coffee journey from bean to cup.
Unique Starbucks Stores Around the World: Bali, Indonesia
Located in the outer gardens of the Tokyo Imperial Palace, the Wadakura Fountain Park store is a center for testing and rolling out new sustainability strategies.
Here, old is new – recycled materials celebrate circularity, from artwork created using recycled canvas and fishing nets to coffee grounds floor tiles.
Unique Starbucks Stores Around the World: Tokyo, Japan
Located in Bangkok, Thailand, Starbucks Reserve® Chao Phraya Riverfront offers small-batch Starbucks Reserve coffee and Thailand’s native Muan Jai blend.
The store, the largest Starbucks in Thailand, has beautifully crafted lanterns hanging from its half-ceiling in homage to the city’s Loy Krathong festival, which celebrates Thai culture.
The crown jewel is the outdoor terrace, which offers panoramic views of the Bangkok skyline and the roaring Chao Phraya River (also known as the “River of Kings”).
Unique Starbucks Stores Around the World: Bangkok, Thailand
The 240-hectare farm in San Luis, Sawanilla, Alajuela, backed by the slopes of the Boas Volcano, is now Starbucks’ global agronomy headquarters.
Arabica beans were first introduced to Costa Rica in the 18th century, and today, coffee is an important part of the country’s economy. To help secure the future of coffee, Hacienda Alsacia’s mission is clear:
Tickets to the Experience Alsacia Estate Visitor Center include a 90-minute guided tour, coffee tasting, parking, and a fast food bandana.
Unique Starbucks Stores Around the World: Costa Rica
The first Starbucks in Punta Cana, located in Blue Mall Punta Cana, pays homage to the “Pearl of the Caribbean” by combining high-quality Arabica coffee, a relaxed atmosphere inspired by local culture, and comfortable Starbucks service.
The store features a mural by local artist Ivana Candelier about Starbucks’ connection to the Dominican land, its people, and the magic of the coffee bean.
Unique Starbucks Stores Around the World: Dominica Republic
The Grand Turks Cruise Terminal maintains an authentic Caribbean feel, with a pink exterior and light interior tones for a tropical feel. The back of the store features a mural, hand-painted by Remedios art firm
María Camila Bernal Toro, depicting Starbucks’ iconic siren, Siren, with her twin tails hidden underwater.
The artist recreated the nymph to evoke the peace and joy that many travellers in the past sought her out in the sea.
Unique Starbucks Stores Around the World: Turks and Caicos
The Boulevard des Capucines department store in central Paris has undergone extensive design work to restore some of the building’s historic features.
The original building and courtyard date back to the 17th century, and two decades later, it became a major shop selling fabrics and textiles.
Ideally located near the beautiful Opéra Garnier in the heart of Paris, it is one of the most coveted locations in Paris, having first opened as a Starbucks in June 2006.
Unique Starbucks Stores Around the World: Paris France
In Milan, one of the fashion and design capitals of the world, near the famous Milan Cathedral is the Starbucks Reserve Milan Roastery.
Here, you can immerse yourself in the world of coffee, watch the master roaster roast a small batch of the coffee that Starbucks Reserve® is famous for, and pick some beans from the spoon bar to take home.
Finish your visit with a cappuccino at the bronze birdcage coffee table on the terrace or an aperitif at the marble-topped Arriviamo bar.
Unique Starbucks Stores Around the World: Milan, Italy
The vibrant store, the first Starbucks in Rome, overlooks Piazza Montecitorio, the historical and political center of the “Eternal City.”
Designed in the travertine and tuff marble typical of traditional Roman architecture, the store’s palette reflects that of Piazza Montetorio.
It also features vibrant artwork and a coffee bar that invites customers to sit down and experience the coffee culture rooted in Rome.
Unique Starbucks Stores Around the World: Rome, Italy
Malta’s capital, Valletta, is famous for its colourful city gates, which served as a beacon for maritime merchants travelling across the Mediterranean for centuries. Behind Lime Green is the Valletta Waterfront store in Floriana, the first Starbucks store on the island of Malta. Reflecting Valletta’s heritage as a commercial center, the store’s design features timber, marble, and dark, sophisticated finishes that contrast with the light-coloured stone facade of the city’s famous waterfront.
Unique Starbucks Stores Around the World: Valletta, Malta
In London, the Tower Place store has been thoughtfully designed to celebrate artisanal coffee and barista culture. It includes the innovative Reserve Bar café, where customers can try the UK’s first Black Eagle coffee machine.
Art machines offer customers advanced customization options, such as adjusting bean ratios, brew times, and water temperatures, all operated by skilled baristas.
Unique Starbucks Stores Around the World: London UK
Starbucks Reserve® Bluewaters Island, located in Dubai on the coast of the Arabian Gulf in the United Arab Emirates, is the 1,000th Starbucks store in the Middle East and North Africa region.
With an attractive interior and great outdoor seating, the venue welcomes visitors aboard the Observation Wheel in nearby Al Ain Dubai.
Unique Starbucks Stores Around the World: Dubai, UAE
There is a Starbucks on Rosemary Square in West Palm Beach, Florida. The store features a bright, airy palette, with overall lighting overlaid with subtle coral detailing on the columns outside the courtyard. A mural of the Starbucks Siren is front and center, providing customers with a luxurious respite.
Unique Starbucks Stores Around the World: Florida
The largest Starbucks in the world is located on the famous Michigan Avenue – Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Chicago. Here, burlap bags of green (unroasted) Starbucks Reserve coffee beans are roasted and piped to the coffee bar on each floor, where the beverage is made.
At the heart of the roaster is a 56-foot-tall steel vat (the company’s tallest), a sculptural fusion of form and function in which coffee beans rest and degas after roasting.
The design celebrates coffee as an agricultural product, drawing inspiration from the misty green hills of coffee trees and the sunlight that radiates outward.
Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Chicago will exceed expectations in many ways, including delicious, eye-catching, Instagram-worthy beverages prepared and served on all five building floors.
Unique Starbucks Stores Around the World: Chicago, IL
It is “the most famous building in the world” and has been a memorable part of the New York skyline for nearly a century. Nothing exemplifies the glamour of New York quite like the Empire State Building.
Seen from the bustling sidewalks of Fifth Avenue, the Starbucks Reserve® Empire State Building® seems to have been there from the start. Instead of the familiar green siren logo, it has an Art Deco front with “Starbucks Reserve” written in vintage aluminum letters.
Spread over three floors, this unique coffee shop pays 23,000 square feet in homage to the heritage of the Empire State Building and the history of Starbucks New York.
Unique Starbucks Stores Around the World: New York
In December 2014, Starbucks opened its first Starbucks Reserve® Roastery near Seattle’s Capitol Hill. Located just nine blocks from the former Pike Place store, the Seattle Roastery is an immersive expression of coffee passion, inviting customers to experience the journey from bean to cup.
It’s the realization of a decade’s dream: a tribute to Starbucks’ relentless pursuit of coffee innovation, creating an immersive sensory showcase of how Starbucks sources, roasts, and brews the world’s best coffee.
Unique Starbucks Stores Around the World: Washington
The first thing people notice at the La Lucila store in bustling Buenos Aires is the lovely outdoor artwork depicting two iconic Argentine birds, the tree cutter and the house sparrow, flying over a coffee plantation.
The coral tree, Argentina’s national flower, is also depicted in a mural by Fio Silva.
Another great thing about street art is that customers can still enjoy it by ordering their favourite drink on the go.
La Lucila is the first drive-thru store in Argentina, serving the porteños crowd living in the bustling city of Buenos Aires.
Unique Starbucks Stores Around the World: Argentina
The Santos Dumont store is located inside the airport of the same name in Rio de Janeiro.
Unlike other airport stores that incorporate the architectural style of the building in which they are located, this Starbucks store stands out with its simple and beautiful design.
The artwork on the windows pays homage to the mermaid, while Ipanema’s famous pier inspires the bar’s woodwork.
The warm colours of the walls and finishes recall Rio’s beautiful sunsets and sunrises, and the terrazzo floors recall the city’s beaches.
With over 19,000 stores in more than 60 countries and territories, Starbucks continues spreading like a serious STD. Even now, when you think you’re safe from green alerts, there’s a good chance there’s a smiling barista around the corner waiting to misspell your name.
Get ready to scream, “Orange Mocha Frappuccino!” Excitedly travel the world with your kids and head to these six most unusual places for a latte.
Unique Starbucks Stores Around the World: Brazil
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Since 2017, Saba Ghani has been serving as the talented and dedicated chief content writer for Pakistan Tour and Travel & EMHI Solutions. With her exceptional writing skills and in-depth knowledge of the travel industry, she has been instrumental in crafting engaging and informative content that captivates the audience. You can catch her at [email protected] or Twitter
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