My Starbucks is Not This Festive: Starbucks Gingerbread House

I don't know how big Christmas is in Hong Kong, but having been there around the holidays, I do know that Christmas decorations are big around the city.

There are amazingly elaborate holiday displays at a lot of the many shopping centers and all along the waterfront (including lights on many of the high-rises facing the water).

My Starbucks is Not This Retro: Duddell St. Starbucks in Hong Kong

Starbucks has this neat concept store out in Hong Kong on Duddell St. where half the store is the typical Starbucks design and the other half is crafted to look like a bing sutt (literally "ice house" or "ice chamber").

A bing sutt is a type of Hong Kong cafe/diner popularized around 1950 to 1970, highlighting the convergence of East and West. They exist to this day, though in lesser numbers, and have traditionally served Hong Kong versions of Western comfort food as well as iced drinks, coffee, and tea.

My Starbucks is Not This Nice: A Starbucks in Brazil

I thought this was a neat looking Starbucks that recently opened in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Between the wave-like ceiling and the blue lighting, there's a nice ocean motif going on that makes me think it's near the sea. So, I looked it up and yup, it's near the ocean. Makes sense, no?

I think it's supposed to feel like you're underneath the ocean maybe?

My Starbucks is Not This Swanky: Vigo Street Starbucks in London

In terms of look and feel Starbucks stores are generally pretty nice and cozy, which makes sense since more than coffee (which is often fairly average), Starbucks sells service and the idea of affordable luxury. I've read that in a survey of customers in China, a majority preferred the taste of competitors, but still went to Starbucks for the service.

There are some Starbucks locations that are more than just "pretty nice and cozy" though. That make you step back and think "This is Starbucks?!" Take this Starbucks location on Vigo Street in the West End of London: