Chilean Starbucks operator Alsea has opened a Starbucks Bandera store in central Santiago, introducing the Starbucks Smart Lounge format to Latin America and the Caribbean market.
According to the company, the new venue combines a conventional café with spaces tailored for work and meetings.
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Starbucks Latin America and the Caribbean president and Global Coffee & Tea senior vice-president Ricardo Arias-Nath said: “Our Starbucks Smart Lounge concept reflects how we continue evolving the Starbucks Experience to meet the unique rhythms of Latin America and the Caribbean.
“As our first Starbucks Smart Lounge coffeehouse in the region, it builds on the strong legacy we’ve created as a trusted ‘third place’ between home and work – bringing together coffee, inspiration, and thoughtfully designed spaces for every moment of the day, whether that’s focused work, a collaborative meeting, or an intimate conversation with friends.”
The lower floor of the site houses a standard Starbucks café, serving Arabica coffee, handcrafted beverages and an extended food menu.
The upper level of the restaurant features shared worktables, private meeting rooms and individual focus areas.
Customers can book solo or group workspaces at the store through Cisco Spaces.
Alsea South America Starbucks marketing manager Soledad Fantuzzi said: “Great ideas don’t always start with big announcements.
“They often begin with something small: a conversation, a meeting, an open notebook, or a pause with a cup of coffee. Starbucks itself was born from that same spark—an idea about creating a place where coffee could bring people together.
”Our Starbucks Smart Lounge was created with that conviction—to offer a space where coffee connects people and where new stories can emerge.”
The Smart Lounge concept was initially introduced in Japan in March 2020.
Earlier this month, Starbucks Chile opened its maiden coffeehouse in Puerto Varas. The site was opened in partnership with Alsea.
