Unique Starbucks One-Off Cafes

Fukuoka, Japan

"A curiosity about the culture, the materials, and the people. That becomes the basis of any good design." Kengo Kuma replied when asked what inspired him to create the design of this cafe. The neighborhood this cafe is located in is famous for its historical shrine. Infusing Starbucks spirit with respect for the local artisan, the architect used a diagonally woven cedar wood lattice to create an incredible and intense environment within so that a visitor can truly feel the hand-made quality, a quality deeply rooted in this neighborhood.

Galleries Lafayette, Paris

Not to distract from the exquisite atrium of the legendary department store - Galeries Lafayette. This Starbucks cafe keeps a very simple idea of repeating white cups as the main theme and encases some of coffee beans as showpiece merchandise. Visitors sit facing the atrium to enjoy the incredible views of this dramatic space and of course, the famous dome.

Mexico City, Mexico

This Starbucks cafe is intentionally hidden inside the largest park in Latin America called Bosque de Chapultepec in order for visitors to feel as if they had stumbled into a hidden gem. This cafe boasts inside out design, integrating the nature that surrounds it seamlessly. Louvered ceilings that cover the interior portion of the cafe allow natural light in, further enhancing the experience of being outside. Outside louvered canopy provides shading for a portion of the outdoor seating while the cafe being semi-open naturally allows for cross ventilation.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The cafe is all about re-purposing existing materials that was once a bank. The designers retained the original concrete vault and marble floor from the 1920s. More than 35 artisans worked with local sustainable materials such as antique Delft tiles, bicycle inner tubes for wall cladding, wooden gingerbread biscuit molds and coffee burlap bags to create an artsy and quirky cafe in the cellar level. All the furniture such as benches, tables and the feature ceiling are all re-purposed in Dutch oak.

New Orleans

Located in the historic French Quarter, this cafe celebrates the artistic spirit of this town. The concept was to go back in time, back to the 1900s where floor to ceiling shelves can be found at the front room such as a typical apothecary store would have been back then, while customizing certain pieces such as the chandelier made of old wrought iron gates and trumpets to honor both the musical roots and the local materials. The backroom is dark and moody to call on the jazz roots of New Orleans with warm communal table made from wind-fallen trees.

Starbucks Drive Through

This drive-through and walk up store is entirely made from 4 refurbished shipping containers. The concept entirely makes sense since the coffee and tea goods are imported in shipping containers and are simply sold in shipping containers. This idea eradicates waste in material, an aim of Starbuck's goal in reducing environmental footprint in all their stores.