Gangneung café for souvenir snacks and rooftop photos: Gangneung Sand

On the way back from a golf trip to Gangneung with my husband, I stopped at Gangneung Sand Main Branch (강릉샌드 본점) to choose snacks as gifts. I went to buy the sand cookies, but also looked around the stairs and rooftop and took some photos.

Which Gangneung Sand Main Branch should you visit?

The location I visited is the store at 31 Seonggogyang-gil 5beonan-gil in Gangneung. When I visited, Naver showed two locations as the main branch, so I initially went to the Seongnam-dong store by mistake. It is better to check the address before setting out instead of relying only on the matching business name.

The store has dedicated parking, so I parked and looked around comfortably. It was also easy to stop by by car after finishing our trip.

The hours listed in the original post are 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with the last order at 6:30 p.m. The store may close early if it runs out of stock.

Where can you take souvenir photos?

When I arrived, the building’s exterior caught my eye first. Since it felt like a shame to buy snacks and leave immediately, I took my time looking around.

The stairs, with white walls and blue accents, reminded me of a Mediterranean resort. When I stood on the stairs for photos, the building’s colors made a backdrop.

The arched stairs and rooftop view stayed with me especially. Beyond the terrace and rooftop, blue scenery and a cozy rural village stretched out, so I took several photos.

Is there space to rest or stay with children?

The interior was clean and bright. A photo spot on the wall evoked Santorini, and it was a nice place to sit briefly, chat, or take a souvenir photo.

Awards and certificates were displayed on one wall.

There were also places to rest on the third floor and rooftop. The third floor had plenty of toys so children could spend time playing in the sand.

After going up to the rooftop, I took photos with the open view behind me. I liked that I could take a short break there in addition to choosing gifts.

What did the souvenir sand cookies taste like?

The sand cookies come in several flavors, including coffee, dried persimmon, Chodang corn, black sesame, purple sweet potato, and strawberry. When I opened the box, the sand cookies were arranged neatly inside.

The words “Gangneung Sand” were embossed on the cookie surfaces. I felt their neat shape and packaging suited them well as travel gifts.

The cookies had a buttery flavor and were crisp and nutty. The smooth cream and filling came together well, and to my taste, they were not overly sweet. The coffee sand cookie stood out especially for its subtle coffee aroma.

How should you store and gift the sand cookies?

The storage periods listed in the original post are 14 days at room temperature, 30 days refrigerated, and 90 days frozen. There is also a tip to chill them lightly in the freezer before eating so you can enjoy the chewy texture of the buttercream together with the cookies’ crispness.

You can combine several flavors in a gift set packed in a cherry-blossom package box. Along with the sand cookies’ neat shape, it was packaging worth considering for a gift.

This visit became a relaxing end to the trip: I chose travel gifts, enjoyed the scenery, and took a break. Going to the wrong address at first was disappointing, but tasting the sand cookies and taking photos on the stairs and rooftop made the final part of the journey feel unhurried.