Want the autumn mountain views without the hike? Same here. Hiking up a mountain only to walk back down has never been my idea of fun, but I still wanted to see Bukhansan in full fall color. The answer was Starbucks The Bukhansan. Grab a coffee, sit by the window, and the whole mountain is right in front of you. It also turned out to be an easy outing with our toddler.
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| Bukhansan right in front of you, no hiking required |
Quick facts
- Address: 24-11 Daeseomun-gil, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul
- Hours: 8:00 am–9:00 pm (from 7:00 am Friday to Sunday)
- Nearest subway: Gupabal Station (Line 3), then a 12-minute bus ride
- Parking: yes, but on weekends use the public lot just below (details below)
- Best seats: the outdoor rooftop on the 3rd and 4th floors
- Best time: late afternoon, for the mountain view and then the sunset
- Autumn leaves: usually late October to early November
How to get there by public transport
- Take Line 3 to Gupabal Station and leave through Exit 1.
- Make a U-turn. The bus stop is about 20 m ahead.
- Take bus 34, 704 or 8772 to the Bukhansanseong (Bukhansan Fortress) stop, about 12 minutes.
- Walk in the direction the bus was going, turn right onto Daeseomun-gil, and follow it for about 6 minutes. The Starbucks is on your left.
A taxi from Gupabal Station takes about 10 minutes and is a good option with a stroller or tired little legs.
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| The building from the street. The step-free ramp is to the left of the entrance |
With a stroller, follow the wheelchair sign at the entrance. There's a ramp on the left side so you don't have to use the steps.
Driving? Use the public parking lot
When we went on a weekend, there was already a line of cars waiting at the Starbucks parking lot entrance. We skipped it and parked at the Bukhansanseong public parking lot just below. It's a 2-minute walk, and it's cheap:
- First hour: 1,100 won
- After that: 250 won per 10 minutes on weekdays, 300 won on weekends
- 2 hours on a weekend: 2,900 won
For reference, the Starbucks lot itself gives 30 minutes free, then 1 hour free with a purchase of 10,000 won or more, or 2 hours with 20,000 won or more (up to 2 hours a day). After that it's 300 won per 10 minutes. If you order through the Siren Order app, scan the barcode at the bottom of your e-receipt (in the app under Other) to validate parking. On weekends, though, the public lot saves you the wait.
1st and 2nd floors: mountain views through glass
The 1st and 2nd floors are indoors, and they're already impressive. One whole wall is floor-to-ceiling glass, so the mountain is in view from almost every seat. On weekends, competition for the window seats is fierce, so come early or be patient.
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| The whole wall is glass, facing the mountain |
The 1st floor also has long tables facing the garden, where the trees were just starting to turn when we visited.
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| 1st floor seats facing the garden |
3rd and 4th floors: the rooftop is the real highlight
The 3rd and 4th floors are outdoors, and this is where you'll want to be on a clear, cool autumn day. The view of Bukhansan's granite peaks and fall colors is honestly hard to capture in photos.
There's also a photo spot with white gravel, which was perfect for taking pictures of our little one.
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| The rooftop view of Bukhansan's granite peaks |
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| Looking down over the garden toward the mountain |
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| The photo spot by the Starbucks sign |
Stay until late afternoon and you'll also get the sunset on the other side. Our tip: arrive around 3 or 4 pm, enjoy the mountain, then watch the sky change color.
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| The view on the other side as the sun goes down |
Menu items you can only get here
This branch has its own exclusive bakes:
- Milk-filled chocolate bread: 9,900 won
- Chocolate Mountain Baumkuchen: 7,900 won
The mountain-shaped baumkuchen is worth trying while you're here.
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| Look for the orange 'The Bukhansan ONLY' labels |
We went with an iced Americano, a latte and a slice of Mont Blanc cheesecake, and took them up to the rooftop.
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| Coffee and cake with a view |
Visiting with kids
- The rooftop has open space and a gravel photo spot that kids enjoy.
- Keep a close eye on little ones on the outdoor floors.
- Weekends are busy, so a weekday or a late-afternoon visit is easier with a toddler.
- Pack a layer. The rooftop gets breezy and cool in late autumn.
Is Starbucks The Bukhansan worth it?
- Great if you want autumn mountain views without hiking
- On weekends, park at the public lot just below (2-minute walk)
- On a clear day, head straight to the 3rd and 4th floor rooftop
- Go in the late afternoon for the sunset too
On a crisp, blue-sky autumn day, it's one of the easiest ways to enjoy Seoul's mountains with a coffee in hand and a toddler in tow.
Looking for more autumn color in Seoul? See our guide to Namsan autumn leaves with a toddler.
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