If you happen to stroll past the shop windows of Brera and come across a space immersed in a soft pastel pink cloud, know that it is not just a simple bar. At Via Mercato 28, on the corner of Fiori Chiari, beauty and taste come together in a unique project: Yepoda Café has opened, the first physical space in the world for the beloved Korean skincare brand that has gone viral on social media.
Here, the classic Milanese coffee break is transformed into a mini trip to Korea: between a Matcha Latte and an artisan dessert, you can discover the rituals of K-Beauty and try for yourself the serums that have conquered the web.
Designed by the architectural firm 23bassi, Yepoda Haus is an Instagram-worthy gem that invites you to indulge in gluttony and vanity.
Matcha Latte and viral serums: what it’s like in the world’s first “beauty bar”
Photo: instagram / @yepoda.it
Yepoda is currently the most popular K-Beauty brand: a global economic sector that generates billions of euros every year and continues to grow thanks to its extraordinary viral power on social media and its ability to persuade and engage the public.
Stepping into Yepoda Haus means immersing yourself in K-culture, not only beauty but also food and beverage. A counter full of Yepoda products awaits you for deep skincare, from cleansers, serums, creams, masks, and patches. In short, even those who don’t know where to start with skincare can find the perfect product for themselves to begin taking care of their face. And right after shopping, you can sit down at the counter and order one of the most viral drinks, such as Matcha Latte, Ashotchu, Matcha Cloud, or Korean Ade. And for those with a sweet tooth, there are also desserts.
The café is completely vegan: from the cakes to the ingredients used throughout the café.
Yepoda: the Korean phenomenon that has conquered Europe
Behind the delicate pastel aesthetic of Via Mercato lies a success story that began in 2020 thanks to the intuition of Veronika Strotmann and Sander van Bladel. Although its operational heart is in Berlin, the soul of the brand remains entirely Korean: every product is formulated and manufactured in South Korea, the global cradle of cosmetic innovation.
What makes it so popular? Yepoda’s strength lies in the concept of “K-Beauty Made Easy”: the famous 10 steps of the Korean routine have been simplified into a few essential steps, with natural ingredients such as green tea, centella asiatica, and ginseng. And that’s not all: behind the commercial success lies a strong ethical commitment. The brand maintains its vegan and cruelty-free philosophy and donates 1% of every purchase to environmental projects.
The Milan store is therefore not just a simple shop, but the first physical space in the world where the philosophy of slow beauty meets Italian taste, transforming into reality a success that until now has mainly been experienced on Instagram and TikTok.
To visit the store and drink a Matcha while trying out a serum or the legendary porefect cleansing pads, head to Brera in Via Mercato, 28.