India, July 22 -- We're yet to meet a traveller who doesn't find comfort in a well-stocked 7-Eleven store. A fresh fruit smoothie to get through a humid morning in Japan. Shaved ice and rose tteokbokki from the glowing aisles of a Seoul branch. The first time I visited Pattaya in Thailand, I was excited to cruise along the coastline, stopping to surf and sunbathe on popular beaches. But what I vividly remember is ducking into a slick, glassy 7-Eleven in Bang Lamung District, its wooden shelves curved like the hull of a boat.

And when it comes to some of these standout stores, "beautiful" isn't an exaggeration. We have been spotting them for years on social media, particularly for aesthetic photo spots and Instagrammable places. These sto...