When you visit Gangneung, there is a cafe on Gangmun Beach that you’ll want to visit at least once. It’s like a religious ritual for me to enjoy an iced Americano while gazing at Gangmun Beach, and I’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember.
This Starbucks cafe, spanning from the 1st to the 3rd floor, offers an amazing ocean view of Gangneung Gangmun Beach, making it a bonus feature. What’s more, it has both rear and front parking lots, which adds to its convenience.
The cafe operates until 10 PM every day, opening at 7:30 AM on weekends, offering slightly different operating hours compared to regular urban Starbucks locations.
I once tried the Mandarin Verbena Fizzio before and found it to be a beverage worth trying again. However, in the morning, an iced Americano is always my go-to choice.
There are seats on the 1st floor with a view of the sea, but compared to the 2nd and 3rd floors, the view here seems less impressive.
Between the 1st and 2nd floors, this is what you can see from the stairs:
They offer a variety of mini cakes, such as cream cake, lemon cake, and ganache cake, making them perfect for enjoying something sweet alongside your coffee.
It might have been early in the morning, but the showcase had a variety of sandwiches, tempting a hungry patron like me to explore its offerings.
While waiting for your coffee to be served, as is the usual routine, you can browse through Starbucks’ various merchandise, such as tumblers, mugs, and other goodies. It’s a bit disappointing that there are no new tumbler styles available.
Since I had already had breakfast nearby Gangmun Beach in the early morning, I didn’t order any separate sweet cakes or sandwiches. However, there were plenty of snacks on display, making it a good place to quickly grab a meal.
Due to the nature of the East Coast in Gangneung, with the sun rising in the east, it’s possible that ocean view seats aren’t as popular in the morning. Instead, after noon, when the sun is higher, the window seats become the most sought after.
The ocean view of the East Sea from Gangmun Beach Starbucks is breathtaking. The distance from the building to the sandy beach is short, and the sea’s colors in the distance are beautifully varied with shades of blue and other colors.
It’s like a painting itself. On a hot summer morning, sipping on an iced Americano and taking in the breathtaking views of the cobalt East Sea is a moment of relaxation.
It’s a time to start your day and think about ideas. Indeed, the ocean view cafe in Gangneung Gangmun Beach needs to be at this level so that you can proudly say you had a proper cup of coffee while enjoying a sea view anywhere else.
With large windows that provide an excellent view of the brilliant cobalt East Sea, you can enjoy the fantastic scenery no matter where you sit.
[Personal Review]
✔ Since it’s a famous place, the best ocean view seats get taken early in the morning. (However, even from the rear seats, you can still enjoy the warm sunlight.)
✔ There is a private parking lot at the back of the building, but when it’s full, you can use the Gangmun Beach public parking lot for added convenience.
✔ The view is better on the 3rd floor than the 2nd floor, but it’s a bit disappointing that there’s no separate elevator. (You’ll have to walk to the 3rd floor, but it’s not a big deal… haha)
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