Busan Work Diaries: Espresso at 350 Meters — My Day at the World's Highest Starbucks
Busan Work Diaries: Espresso at 350 Meters — My Day at the World's Highest Starbucks
Some people take the elevator to the office. I took one to the 99th floor. This week's work-from-anywhere day brought me to Busan, South Korea — a city of steep hills, salt air, and the kind of coastline that makes you forget your inbox exists. Tucked into the top of the 411-meter LCT tower in Haeundae sits Starbucks Busan X the SKY, officially the highest Starbucks on planet Earth. Clouds at eye level, the entire curve of Haeundae Beach below my latte, and yes — I dressed the part. Pencil skirt, blouse, glasses: today I was playing corporate, 350 meters closer to heaven.
📍 Scene 1 — Morning Commute, Haeundae Style
Every great workday starts with a walk, and few commutes rival this one — palm-lined boardwalk, golden sand on one side, the needle-thin LCT tower pointing into a flawless blue sky on the other. White sleeveless blouse, charcoal pencil skirt, iced americano in hand: I felt like the main character in a K-drama's best episode.
📍 Scene 2 — The Office With a 360° View
Ninety-nine floors up, the windows go floor-to-ceiling and the ocean goes on forever. I claimed a marble counter seat, opened the laptop, and pretended my spreadsheet mattered while tiny yachts drew white lines across the turquoise sea. Blouse sleeves rolled, beige blazer on the chair, latte sweating next to a slice of cake — productivity is a state of mind, darlings, and mine was extremely caffeinated.
📍 Scene 3 — Dusk Above the Clouds
By golden hour the office crowd thins, the city switches on, and the view turns pure cinema — Gwangan Bridge strung with lights, the coastline glittering like spilled champagne on dark silk. Glasses off, hair down, heels on, warm cup cradled in both hands. This is the hour when Busan flirts back, and I'm not nearly strong enough to resist a city that tries.
✨ Busan Travel Tips
- Timing is everything: Busan X the SKY is quietest right after the 9am opening and again at sunset — book the sunset slot and stay for the blue hour, when the city lights outnumber the stars.
- The glass skywalk: Included with your observatory ticket, the 411m glass-floor walkway on the 100th floor will test your knees (mine failed gloriously).
- Come hungry below: Haeundae's side streets hide milky dwaeji gukbap (pork rice soup) and fresh hotteok stalls — the best post-shift dinner within ten minutes of the tower.
- Blue Line wander: Ride or stroll the Haeundae Blue Line Park coastal railway toward Cheongsapo at sunrise for sea-portal photos with zero crowds.
💋 They say don't mix business with pleasure — but at 350 meters up, with espresso in one hand and a sunset in the other, I say why not both? Next week's office is still a secret... but I'll give you a hint: it involves older walls than this tower, and much stronger coffee. Stay curious. 💋