From Bangkok to NYC: 5 of the coolest Apple stores around the world

Since the first Apple store opened in Virginia in 2001, Apple has opened more than 500 brick-and-mortar retail locations across 25 countries.

The settings for those stores can vary greatly, from shopping malls to Manhattan's trendy SoHo shopping district. But in several cases, the tech giant co-founded by Steve Jobs (who always placed an emphasis on pleasing aesthetic designs) has aimed to ensure that the look of the store is just as appealing to customers as the company hopes the products inside will be.

In fact, Jobs reportedly once turned to billionaire Bernard Arnault, chairman of LVMH (which owns luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Dior) for advice before opening the first Apple stores. And Jobs was eventually behind the push to hire award-winning architects like the firms Bohlin Cywinski Jackson and Foster + Partners to design Apple's stores around the world.

As a result, several Apple stores around the world now stand out as much for their architectural features (think waterfalls and a floating sphere) as for the products they sell. Here are five of the coolest-looking Apple stores around the world:

Singapore, Apple Marina Bay Sands

Apple opened its "floating sphere" store in Singapore's Marina Bay in September 2020.

Source: Apple

One of the newest Apple store locations made waves when it opened its doors in September. That's because Apple's third store to open in Singapore is built inside a "floating sphere" that sits on the water in the city's Marina Bay.

The all-glass dome building is 100 feet in diameter and is fitted with sunshade rings around the dome to regulate the light that comes in. And, as it is surrounded by water, the store itself is accessible by a nearly 150-foot underground tunnel.

New York City, Apple Fifth Avenue

Apple Fifth Avenue's famous "Cube" reopened in 2019 after a two-year renovation.

Source: Apple

Source: Apple

One of Apple's flagship retail stores, the location on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan opened in 2006 and has become a city landmark, drawing tourists and shoppers to the store's entrance: a 32-foot glass cube. It's also the only Apple store that remains open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Bangkok, Apple Central World

Apple Central World opened in Bangkok in 2020.

Source: Apple

Another recent addition, Apple opened its second retail store in Thailand's capital city in July. Located in Bangkok's Ratchaprasong shopping district, Apple Central World features a distinctive design, with a two-story, circular glass enclosure with a "cantilevered Tree Canopy roof" that rests on a wooden pillar at the heart of the building.

Milan, Apple Piazza Liberty

Apple's Milan store features a rectangular glass entrance with its own waterfall.

Source: Apple

Opened in 2018, Apple built this store in the middle of a public plaza in the heart of Milan. Similar to the Fifth Avenue location in New York, this Milan location's most striking element is an all-glass entrance. In this case, though, the entrance is a glass rectangle with its own waterfall.

Dubai, Apple Dubai Mall

Apple's store at the Dubai Mall opened in 2017 and it features motorized "Solar Wings" that respond to the weather.

Source: Apple

Opened in April 2017, Apple's second Dubai store sports a 186-foot curved balcony that offers impressive views of both the Dubai Fountain and the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper. The balcony even features 37.5-foot-high motorized "Solar Wings," designed by Foster + Partners, which open and close depending on the weather.

Read More