Downtown office workers gained a new coffee option on Monday, and this one comes with waffles.

Caffe Bene, the South Korean-based coffee shop with locations in 14 countries, opened its first Houston outpost in the downtown GreenStreet development. It's the company's second location in Texas, with an outpost in the Dallas area.

At 886 square feet, the location near McCormick & Schmick's has been designed to give patrons a local coffee chop, sit-and-relax vibe instead of the grab-and-go atmosphere that dominates at other international coffee chains.

"I am very excited to open Caffe Bene in Houston,” said local franchisee James Son in a statement. “Houston is an ideal market, as it is a world-class city that values diverse cultures and people. I have visited Caffe Bene locations in South Korea and New York City, and really enjoyed their great coffees, waffles and light bights. I am excited to introduce them locally at GreenStreet."

The cafe sets itself apart by blending traditional coffee shop items and Italian gelato with Korean dishes like misugaru, a drink made with rice and barley, and patbingsu, a shaved ice dessert with sweet toppings. Toasted honey bread is another popular item; it's available topped with fresh strawberries, bananas and walnuts, caramel and cinnamon, or a savory option of cheese and roasted garlic.

Caffe Bene is only one of the new additions to GreenStreet, the 570,000 square foot mixed-use destination owned by real estate and development firm Midway. The 223-room Hotel Alessandra, which will feature a restaurant helmed by Radio Milano chef Jose Hernandez, will also open at the development later this year.

"It is important to continue to seek out unique tenants like Caffe Bene that offer a wide range of options that appeal to downtown’s growing population," added Midway CEO Jonathan Brinsden.