If you’re looking for a truly unique Starbucks in Seoul, South Korea, Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 in Cheongnyangni is one of the most memorable ones I’ve visited with a baby.
One of Starbucks Korea’s top 10 standout stores, set inside a remodeled theater
Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960
When it first opened in 2023, this spot inside Gyeongdong Market in Cheongnyangni created a huge buzz. This is Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960.
Even three years later, I’d heard it still gets so busy on weekends that seats are hard to find, so I stopped by on a weekday afternoon with my baby to check it out for myself.
Basic Info
Address: 3 Gosanja-ro 36-gil, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul
Hours: Daily 9 AM–10 PM
Contact: 1522-3232
Parking
Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 doesn’t have its own parking lot, so you’ll need to use a nearby public lot. Since it’s market parking, the rates are pretty reasonable.
I used the Yakryeongsi Public Parking Lot nearby, and it was only about a 3- to 4-minute walk to Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960. It was surprisingly clean and comfortable, which I honestly wasn’t expecting.
There are a few outdoor spaces on the first floor at Yakryeongsi Public Parking Lot, but the basement levels B1 and B2 are much larger, so I’d recommend heading downstairs.
Because it’s attached to a traditional market, I assumed it would be cramped and outdated, but it actually felt modern and well maintained.
How to Get There
If you’re visiting without a car, Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 is about a 5-minute walk from Exit 2 of Jegi-dong Station on Seoul Subway Line 1, so it’s an easy trip by public transportation too.
If you’re coming from the Yakryeongsi parking lot, walk out and turn right. In the distance, you’ll see a building with a huge Korean flag. Head that way, then make one left turn.
You’ll soon spot Gwangseong Shopping Center Gate 4 at Gyeongdong Market.
Cross the street and go in through Gate 4. Not far inside, you’ll see the Starbucks sign on your right, although the signs for CheongKwanJang and Geumseong Radio are actually more noticeable.
Go up the flashy staircase
and you’ll come to the first door.
But when you open it, you’re not in Starbucks just yet. On the day I visited, there was some kind of exhibition happening in that front space.
Then farther inside, there’s another door for Starbucks, and that’s the actual café entrance.
One of Starbucks Korea’s Top 10 StoresIt was selected as one of Starbucks Korea’s top 10 stores, and the full list is below. I definitely want to check out the other locations around the Seoul metro area too.
Inside the Café
A 1960s abandoned theater, beautifully remodeled The moment you walk in, the soaring ceiling and wide-open layout give Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 that airy, dramatic feeling you only really get in an old theater.
They kept the original tiered seating structure from the theater, so the seats are arranged in steps, which makes the whole place feel especially distinctive.
If you sit in the higher seats at the back, you get a full view of Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 from above, which almost gives it an indoor “view spot” feel.
With exposed wooden beams and vintage-style lighting, the space keeps its retro character while still feeling cozy and warm. Honestly, it’s exactly my kind of place.
There are plenty of comfortable sofa-style seats, plus a few larger tables for groups.
True to Starbucks form, there are lots of power outlets throughout Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960, so it’s also a solid place to bring a laptop and get some work done. When I visited, there were already plenty of people doing exactly that.
There’s also a row of seats along one wall on the upper level, and those looked like pretty good spots too.
Your order number or nickname gets projected large onto the wall with a beam projector, which is such a fun detail and really plays into the old-theater concept.
What I Ordered
In addition to the standard menu you’ll find at a regular Starbucks, Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 also has bakery items you can only try at this location.
A lot of the bread and pastries are baked in-house, and there were definitely more bakery options than at the average neighborhood Starbucks near me.
I’d heard the old-fashioned twisted doughnut was exclusive to this branch, so I ordered one. For coffee, I kept it simple with an iced Americano.
The doughnut took quite a while to come out, so I’m guessing they make it to order. Still, it arrived warm, fresh, and pleasantly chewy—the kind of nostalgic snack that’s simple but really satisfying.
Visiting with a Baby
Since I go pretty much everywhere with my baby these days, I always check in advance whether a place is baby-friendly. Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 is definitely not what I’d call especially kid-friendly.
The seats themselves are comfortable, but there are lots of stairs and plenty of hard furniture edges, so if you have an active toddler like my daughter, you’ll need to keep a close eye on them.
I did spot two high chairs, but because of all the stairs, carrying a high chair up and down isn’t exactly convenient, so the areas where you can comfortably sit with a baby feel a bit limited.
Personally, I wouldn’t sit in the high back section with a baby because I’d be too nervous.
Still, we had a great time for about an hour. My daughter is at that stage where she loves going up and down stairs, so weirdly enough, a café full of stairs worked in our favor.
The staff were also really sweet—they greeted my daughter and were so kind to her, which made the visit feel even nicer.
Right outside Starbucks, down one short flight of stairs, there’s a Vietnamese restaurant called Banh Mi Xin Chao. I looked it up out of curiosity, and the reviews were excellent, so if I go back, I definitely want to try the banh mi and banh xeo.
If you visit Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960, go try Banh Mi Xin Chao for me too. 🙂