Starbucks Smart Lounge makes its Latin America debut in Chile

Starbucks – operated by Alsea in Chile – continues to reimagine the coffeehouse experience with the opening of Starbucks Bandera in Santiago, a new Starbucks Smart Lounge store format designed to elevate connection, inspiration, and idea creation.

Located in downtown Santiago near Plaza de La Constitución, the Starbucks Smart Lounge blends world-class coffee with flexible, reservable workspaces, empowering customers to seamlessly transition between social connection and focused productivity – offering a premium “third place” optimised for modern ways of working.

“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. With this new format, we’re creating an environment that truly fits the way people live and connect across our region,” said Ricardo Arias-Nath, svp of Global Coffee & Tea and president, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The coffeehouse welcomes customers with a familiar experience – enhanced to offer even more. On the lower level, customers will enjoy the classic Starbucks café, complete with high-quality Arabica coffee, handcrafted beverages made by baristas, and a broad selection of food offerings. Upstairs, the environment shifts to one designed for connection and inspiration, featuring communal work tables, private meeting rooms, individual focus areas, and cosy nooks for one-on-one conversations.

“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,” said Soledad Fantuzzi, marketing manager for Starbucks at Alsea South America. ”Our Starbucks Smart Lounge was created with that conviction – to offer a space where coffee connects people and where new stories can emerge.”

The Starbucks Smart Lounge concept was first introduced in Japan in March 2020, when Starbucks launched new store formats designed for work, focus, and collaboration.  With it’s debut in Santiago, the company brings the Starbucks Smart Lounge experience to Latin America and the Caribbean for the first time.

“We chose to introduce the Starbucks Smart Lounge in Chile, and specifically in this location, because it sits at the heart of Santiago’s financial district – a vibrant professional hub where people are looking for flexible spaces to work, meet, and connect. The early response has been very encouraging, and we’re already exploring opportunities to bring another Starbucks Smart Lounge to the region,” added Jose Pozo, director of Starbucks LAC Store Development & Design.

The location in downtown Santiago also aims to contribute to the revitalisation of the historic city centre, promoting spaces that encourage people to return, reconnect, and develop new ideas in the city.