After an early lunch at Andongjip inside Gyeongdong Market, I walked through the market in search of one of Seoul’s most unusual Starbucks locations.
Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 is not a typical street-side café. It is hidden inside a traditional market and occupies a former theater built in the 1960s. From the entrance to the tiered seating and performance stage, many details still reflect the building’s original purpose.
I had saved both Andongjip and this Starbucks while traveling around Southeast Asia. After returning to Seoul, I finally visited them together as part of a half-day trip to Gyeongdong Market.
If you plan to eat at the market first, read my review of Andongjip, a restaurant featured on Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars.
Finding Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960
Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 is located inside Gyeongdong Market in Jegi-dong, eastern Seoul.
The café is not immediately visible from the main street. I had already spent time looking for Andongjip inside the market, but I still wandered around before finding the Starbucks entrance.
Rather than looking only for the familiar green Starbucks logo, watch for signs marked “Gyeongdong 1960.” The entrance is set inside the market building, which makes the café feel hidden even though it is a large and popular location.
The dark double doors also look more like the entrance to an old cinema than a coffee shop. Walking through them felt like entering a completely different space from the busy traditional market outside.
Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 location
- Korean name: 스타벅스 경동1960점
- Address: 3 Gosanja-ro 36-gil, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul
- Korean address: 서울특별시 동대문구 고산자로36길 3
- Nearest subway station: Jegi-dong Station, Seoul Subway Line 1
- Location: Inside the Gyeongdong Market building
View Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 on Google Maps
A Starbucks Inside a Former Seoul Theater
Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 opened in December 2022 after the former Gyeongdong Theater was renovated.
The theater was built in the 1960s but had been unused for many years. Instead of removing every trace of the old building, the renovation preserved much of its original character.
The café was created across the third and fourth floors of the Gyeongdong Market building. At the time of opening, it was introduced as a space with approximately 200 seats.
The large scale is impressive, but the size is not what makes this Starbucks memorable. Its worn concrete walls, exposed ceiling, steel structures and tiered floor reveal that this was once a very different type of public space.
Many renovated buildings are made to look completely new. Here, the marks of age were left visible. The contrast between the unfinished walls and the warm wooden furniture gives the café a distinctive atmosphere.
It does not feel like a theater-themed Starbucks created from scratch. It feels like an old theater that has found a second life as a café.
Tiered Seating Inspired by the Original Auditorium
The best way to understand the layout is to stand near the upper level and look down.
The seating descends toward the lower part of the café, just as theater seats once faced the screen or stage. From above, I could see the counter, tables and different seating areas spread across the former auditorium.
Most Starbucks stores are arranged on one flat level. Here, the view changes depending on where you sit. The upper seats offer a wide view of the entire café, while the lower section brings you closer to the stage and the original theater walls.
The high ceiling also makes the café feel more spacious than an ordinary coffee shop. Exposed beams, lighting equipment and sections of the old structure remain visible overhead.
I especially liked that the renovation did not try to hide the building’s age. The rough walls and worn surfaces give the café more personality than a newly constructed interior.
For me, the space itself was more memorable than the coffee.
An Actual Performance Stage Inside the Café
Near the lower seating area, I found a small stage with microphones, speakers, music stands and chairs.
At first, I assumed it was simply part of the theater-inspired interior. However, it is a working performance space rather than a decorative display.
Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 is designated as a Community Store. The location works with the market and local organizations on community programs, while its stage is used for cultural performances by local artists and university students.
That detail makes the preservation of the old theater more meaningful. The building is no longer used to screen films, but people can still gather here to watch live performances.
Even when no event is taking place, the stage gives the café a different identity from other Starbucks stores in Seoul. It feels closer to a small cultural venue where coffee happens to be served.
Ordering Coffee in the Former Theater
The ordering counter is located at the lower end of the café.
From the upper seats, it resembles the focal point of the old auditorium. The bright display case and modern coffee equipment stand out against the unfinished walls and exposed structure.
I ordered a decaffeinated latte and found a place where I could sit for a while after lunch. There were foreign tourists, local market visitors and several people working on laptops.
Despite being part of a global coffee chain, the café did not feel disconnected from Gyeongdong Market. Reaching it required walking through market streets filled with food vendors, herbal medicine shops and local shoppers. That approach made the visit feel like part of exploring the neighborhood rather than simply stopping at another Starbucks.
Is Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 Good for Laptop Work?
The café is spacious and offers several types of seating, including individual chairs, sofas and tables for groups.
However, not every seat is convenient for laptop work. Many of the tables are low and better suited to drinking coffee or talking with friends. If you need to type for a long time, look for a standard-height table before settling down.
I saw one visitor working with two laptops, so it is certainly possible to work here. Still, I would not travel across Seoul solely to use it as a workspace.
This Starbucks is more appealing as an architectural attraction and a place to rest while exploring Gyeongdong Market. The unusual interior is the main reason to visit.
The Atmosphere on a Weekday Morning
I arrived shortly after 11 a.m. on a weekday. There were not many people yet, so I could walk around, take photographs and choose a seat without difficulty.
Several international visitors were exploring the interior, and many people paused at the upper level to photograph the view. Unlike a neighborhood Starbucks where customers often order quickly and sit down, visitors here spent time looking around the building.
The atmosphere may be different during busy weekends and afternoons. For visitors who want to appreciate the architecture and take photographs, a weekday morning is likely to be more comfortable.
Even with people talking and moving around, the high ceiling and wide seating areas kept the café from feeling cramped. Compared with some crowded Starbucks stores near my home in Sillim, this one felt much more relaxed.
Combining the Café With Gyeongdong Market
Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 is worth seeing, but I would not recommend visiting the market only for the café.
Gyeongdong Market is one of Seoul’s largest traditional markets and is particularly known for Korean medicinal herbs, dried ingredients, produce and local food. Walking through the market before entering the café creates an interesting contrast between old Seoul and a modern global brand.
My route was:
Jegi-dong Station → Gyeongdong Market → lunch at Andongjip → Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960
This worked well as a half-day Seoul itinerary. I ate handmade noodles and boiled pork at Andongjip, explored the market and then rested with a coffee inside the renovated theater.
Travelers interested in other local markets can also read my guide to the five best traditional markets in Seoul for Korean food.
For another market combined with a historic Seoul neighborhood, see my Tongin Market gireum tteokbokki review.
Plan Another Fun Day in Seoul
After exploring Gyeongdong Market and Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960, you may want to experience a different side of the city.
Lotte World is one of Seoul’s most popular attractions, combining a large indoor theme park with outdoor rides. The indoor area also makes it a convenient option on rainy, very hot or cold days.
You can check available ticket options, current prices and reservation details through Klook.
Check Lotte World Seoul tickets on Klook
Affiliate disclosure: This section contains an affiliate link. If you book through this link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Ticket options, prices and operating information may change, so please check the booking page before purchasing.
Is Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 Worth Visiting?
Yes, especially if you enjoy unusual architecture, restored buildings or distinctive Starbucks locations.
It may not be the best choice if you simply want a quiet place to work all day. Many tables are low, and visitors often walk around taking photographs. The café can also attract crowds because of its unusual design.
However, as part of a Gyeongdong Market trip, it is well worth visiting. The original theater layout, high ceiling, exposed walls and working stage give the café a character that cannot be recreated inside a standard commercial building.
I live about an hour and a half away, so it is not somewhere I would visit regularly. Still, combining Andongjip, the market and Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 made for a satisfying half-day trip in Seoul.
The experience was not only about drinking coffee. It was about seeing how an abandoned neighborhood theater had been transformed without erasing its past.
For travelers searching for a unique café in Seoul, Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 offers something rare: a familiar coffee shop inside a place that still feels unmistakably connected to the city’s history.