Where was the Starbucks Summer Refreshers commercia

Every summer, Starbucks unveils a new lineup of Refreshers that captures the season's vibrant energy. But the 2025-2026 campaign did something different. It wasn't just about the drinks—it was about the feeling of summer, brought to life through stunning visuals filmed in one of Latin America's most beautiful cities.

The primary filming location for the Starbucks Summer Refreshers campaign was Mexico City, specifically the charming neighborhoods of Roma Norte and La Condesa. These areas provided the perfect backdrop of tree-lined streets, classic architecture, and urban energy that makes the commercials so visually appealing.

🎬 The Commercials: A Visual Tour of Mexico City

Commercial "Summer Is Ready" (Summer-Berry Refresher)

The main commercial of the campaign, titled "Summer Is Ready," showcases the vibrant colors of the Summer-Berry Refresher against the beautiful backdrop of Mexico City.

Watch the "Summer Is Ready" commercial here:

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This video, which has garnered over 11,000 views since May 2025, captures the essence of summer in the city. The bright pink and purple hues of the Summer-Berry Refresher pop against the muted tones of historic buildings and the lush green of park foliage.

Commercial "A Summer of Refresh" (Locations in CDMX)

A second commercial, titled "A Summer of Refresh," offers even clearer views of the filming locations. This video specifically highlights the tree-lined streets and classic architecture of the Roma neighborhood.

Watch "A Summer of Refresh" here (video currently unavailable):

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According to the description, this spot was designed to showcase the natural beauty of Roma Norte. The dappled sunlight filtering through ancient trees, the elegant facades of early 20th-century buildings, and the overall sense of peaceful urban life all contribute to the commercial's appeal.

Refreshers Remix (Social Media Version)

For social media platforms, Starbucks created a faster-paced version called "Refreshers Remix." This edit features quick cuts of urban scenes, with a particular focus on the parks of La Condesa.

Watch the "Refreshers Remix" here (video currently unavailable):

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This version was optimized for platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where shorter attention spans require more dynamic editing. The urban energy of La Condesa—with its cyclists, dog walkers, and café culture—provides the perfect visual rhythm.

🏙️ The Neighborhoods: Roma Norte and La Condesa

Roma Norte

Roma Norte has become one of Mexico City's most beloved neighborhoods, known for its:

Tree-lined streets: Ancient trees create natural tunnels of shade, perfect for filming golden hour scenes.
Porfirian architecture: Beautiful early 20th-century buildings with ornate details provide a timeless backdrop.
Creative energy: As a hub for artists, designers, and foodies, the neighborhood pulses with the kind of creative energy Starbucks wants to associate with its brand.

La Condesa

Adjacent to Roma, La Condesa offers its own unique charm:

Parks and green spaces: The neighborhood's numerous parks, particularly Parque México and Parque España, provide lush natural settings.
Art Deco influence: The architecture here leans more toward Art Deco, offering visual variety within the campaign.
Sidewalk cafés: The famous café culture of La Condesa aligns perfectly with Starbucks' identity.

🌳 Why Mexico City Was the Perfect Choice

Starbucks' decision to film in Mexico City wasn't accidental. The location offers several advantages that make it ideal for a summer campaign:

1. Visual Contrast

The bright, artificial colors of the Refreshers stand out beautifully against the natural greens and earthy tones of Mexico City's architecture and foliage. This contrast makes the drinks pop on screen.

2. Golden Hour Light

Mexico City's elevation and latitude create stunning golden hour light—that warm, soft light just after sunrise and before sunset that makes everything look magical. The commercials clearly take advantage of this natural asset.

3. Urban Summer Vibe

Unlike beach or countryside settings, an urban location suggests that summer magic can happen anywhere—even in the middle of a bustling city. This makes the campaign more relatable to the millions of people who spend their summers in urban environments.

4. Cultural Authenticity

By filming in an actual, lived-in neighborhood rather than a studio set, Starbucks gains authenticity. These aren't generic "city" backdrops; they're real places with real character.

🎨 The Aesthetic: More Than Just a Backdrop

What makes the Starbucks Summer Refreshers campaign so effective is that the location isn't just a backdrop—it's an integral part of the storytelling. The neighborhoods of Roma Norte and La Condesa contribute specific qualities to the ads:

Warmth: The aged buildings and mature trees convey a sense of history and comfort.
Energy: The urban activity—people walking, cycling, gathering—creates a feeling of community.
Refreshment: The green spaces and shade offer visual relief from summer heat, mirroring what the drinks promise.

📸 Behind the Scenes: Filming in Public Spaces

Filming a major commercial in public neighborhoods like Roma Norte and La Condesa requires careful planning. The production team likely:

Secured necessary permits from Mexico City authorities
Coordinated with local businesses to minimize disruption
Chose filming times to capture the best light while avoiding peak crowds
Worked with local fixers who know the neighborhoods intimately

The result is footage that feels spontaneous and authentic, even though every frame was carefully planned.

☀️ The Drinks: Summer-Berry Refresher

At the center of the campaign is the Summer-Berry Refresher, a vibrant drink that combines fruit flavors with Starbucks' signature green coffee extract for a gentle caffeine boost.

The drink's bright colors were clearly a factor in choosing Mexico City as a location. Against the warm terracottas, deep greens, and weathered stones of Roma and Condesa, the pink and purple of the Summer-Berry Refresher become even more vivid.

🌎 The Global Appeal

While the commercials were filmed in Mexico City, their appeal is intentionally universal. The neighborhoods of Roma Norte and La Condesa share qualities with beloved urban areas around the world:

They resemble parts of Barcelona's Gràcia neighborhood
They echo the tree-lined streets of Paris's Marais district
They share the creative energy of Brooklyn's brownstone neighborhoods

This familiarity allows viewers everywhere to project their own experiences onto the scenes, even as they're specifically rooted in Mexico City.

📱 Social Media Impact

The "Refreshers Remix" version, optimized for social media, has been particularly effective at showcasing the locations. Short, dynamic clips of La Condesa's parks have inspired viewers to visit these neighborhoods themselves.

Social media comments on the campaign often mention the locations:

"Where is this? I need to go there!"
"Those streets look just like Roma, I love that neighborhood."
"Adding Mexico City to my summer travel list after watching this."

This travel inspiration is an unexpected but welcome side effect of the campaign.

🌟 Why Location Matters in Advertising

The Starbucks Summer Refreshers campaign demonstrates why location scouting is crucial in advertising. The right location:

Creates emotional resonance
Adds visual interest
Communicates brand values without words
Makes products more desirable through association

By choosing Roma Norte and La Condesa, Starbucks associated its Summer Refreshers with creativity, culture, and natural beauty—qualities that make the drinks themselves more appealing.

Final Thoughts

The Starbucks Summer Refreshers commercials were filmed in Mexico City's Roma Norte and La Condesa neighborhoods. These locations provide the perfect backdrop of tree-lined streets, classic architecture, and urban energy that makes the campaign so visually striking.

Whether you're watching the main "Summer Is Ready" commercial, the "A Summer of Refresh" spot, or the social media "Refreshers Remix," you're seeing real places with real character. And if you ever find yourself in Mexico City, you can visit these neighborhoods yourself—maybe with a Summer-Berry Refresher in hand.