Floating Coffee & City Views – Our Starbucks Experience on the Han River

BFF and I love our Starbucks coffee date. So we decided to check-out a unique Starbucks Cafe back on our Seoul holiday together in April, 2023. It’s not every day you get to sip your coffee while floating on a river AND that’s exactly what we did at Starbucks Seoul Wave Art Center! Located at Hangang Park, this isn’t your ordinary Starbucks. From the outside, the café looks like a sleek, modern cruise ship docked by the Han River. You’d never guess it’s part of a coffee chain. We took a bus there and through a scenic walk, strolling through tree-lined paths and following the flow of the river until we reached a long wooden boardwalk leading to the floating structure. As we stepped inside, it immediately felt different. Light streamed through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, reflecting off the water. The interior was minimalistic and stylish, yet it had a calming, almost meditative vibe. The café stretches across two levels where the ground floor is where most of the crowd gathers, while the upper level offers quieter seating, cozy corners, and outlets for those wanting to get work done or just escape for a while. We ordered our drinks! It was April, the Cherry Blossom season still cold and 11 degrees out there, had to order my favorite Hot Mocha! Got ourselves a corner seat by the glass gave us a good sea view… with soft music played over the hum of conversations in the cafe. It was one of those rare moments of perfect stillness… coffee in hand, sunbeams warming your face, and not a worry in sight. Our visit to Starbucks Seoul Wave Art Center turned out to be more than just a coffee run. It was a memorable riverside escape in the heart of Seoul, floating on calm waters, watching the city pass by, and enjoying simple moments in an extraordinary setting. This marks our BFF milestone clocked together this trip! #floatingstarbuckscafe #starbuckshangangriver