Twosome Brings Korean Sensibility of a “Place That Can Make Your Ordinary Days Sweet”
Alexandria VA A new international coffee and dessert brand is preparing to make its U.S. debut in Alexandria, bringing a popular South Korean café concept to Old Town. Twosome Place, one of South Korea’s largest coffee-and-dessert chains, plans to open its first American location at 404 King Street. The company announced Sept. 3 that the Alexandria café is expected to open in mid-October 2026, marking the beginning of its broader U.S. expansion.
The approximately 2,604-square-foot café will have 78 seats, including outdoor seating, according to the company. Additional U.S. locations are also planned as Twosome Place begins expanding in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia region.
From Seoul To Old Town
Twosome Place opened its first café in Seoul’s Sinchon neighborhood in 2002. Over the past nearly 25 years, the company has grown into a major South Korean coffee-and-dessert brand with approximately 1,750 locations nationwide. The company’s concept revolves around a simple pairing: coffee and cake. Its official brand story describes the relationship as one in which coffee is completed by a slice of cake, reflecting the company’s emphasis on turning an ordinary coffee break into a more memorable experience. That philosophy is reflected in the brand’s Korean tagline, which translates to the idea of being “a place that can make your ordinary days sweet.”
Cakes Are A Big Part Of The Experience
While coffee is central to the concept, Twosome Place has built much of its reputation around elaborate cakes and desserts. Among the brand’s best-known offerings are its Strawberry Chocolate Cream Cake and Ice Box Cake, a spoonable dessert featuring layers of cookies and cream. The company says the Ice Box Cake first appeared in 2015 and has remained one of its signature offerings. The South Korean menu also includes beverages beyond traditional coffee, including tea and matcha-based drinks, while savory choices such as sandwiches and other café foods complement the dessert offerings.
Twosome Place has not yet released the complete menu for its Alexandria location. The company has said that its U.S. cafés will combine its experience with coffee-and-dessert pairings with Korean flavors and preferences of American customers.
A New Neighbor, Twosome Place on King Street
The arrival of Twosome Place will add another food-and-beverage destination to the 400 block of King Street. The café will join Van Leeuwen Ice Cream at 402 King Street and Life Alive Organic Cafe nearby, adding another dessert-and-coffee option to the increasingly food-focused stretch. The Alexandria location is particularly notable it represents the first step in Twosome Place’s U.S. expansion. Company officials say the DMV will serve as the starting point for a larger American expansion, with plans to move into additional major U.S. cities after establishing the brand in the region. CEO Young Joo Moon called the opening the beginning of a new chapter for Twosome Place’s global journey.
Would you make a trip to Old Town specifically to try a Korean coffee-and-dessert café, and which Twosome Place cake or drink would you want to see on the Alexandria menu?
