Ulsan family café with weekend bubbles: MUG

On a weekend day trip to Ulsan with my child and grandmother, I stopped by MUG (카페 먹). It was a place where the adults could enjoy coffee and bread in a spacious setting while my child played with the bubbles at the entrance.

Where is MUG, and what is the space like?

MUG is at 90 Hyangsan-dagae-ro, Sangbuk-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, South Korea. It is a gallery café made by erecting charred wood that survived a wildfire on the site, and is said to be a space themed around renewal and comfort. The ceiling is 9 meters high, and outside there is an area where the clear sky is reflected like a mirror.

The hours posted during my visit were 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with last orders at 7:30 PM. I used the dedicated parking lot comfortably, as there was plenty of space. The café was listed as having high chairs and allowing pets and wheelchair access.

What bakery items and cinnamon rolls are available?

There was a wide variety of bakery items, including ciabatta, pepperoni pizza bread, cakes, and cookies. Their signature item is said to be cinnamon rolls baked daily. There were apple, blueberry, and lemon cinnamon rolls combining cream cheese and fruit.

The tiramisu cinnamon roll was listed as available only on weekends and public holidays. I wanted to try it, but it was sold out when I visited, which was disappointing.

How were the cinnamon rolls and coffee I tried?

I ordered a MUG Black Latte and an apple cinnamon roll, along with an iced Americano. With my child and parents' tastes in mind, I also chose a chestnut cheesecake and a MUG pie. Only the signature drinks are said to be served in glass cups.

The Americano was not overly acidic, and the MUG Black Latte was not too sweet, so both went well with the bakery items. The apple cinnamon roll was the most memorable, with moist bread, cream cheese, and fruit coming together nicely. I kept thinking about it after returning home and regretted not packing one to go.

Was there plenty of indoor and outdoor seating?

The indoor space was large, with plenty of seating. Chargers were available to use, and there were also many outdoor seats. However, it was difficult to get a window seat with a view of the outdoors.

Because it was a cool September day, there were many people using the outdoor area too. I saw visitors with dogs, people visiting alone, and people enjoying the outdoor space, while the indoor area was also busy.

Was there something for children to enjoy?

The café says it fills the entrance with bubbles every Saturday and Sunday. Bubbles were floating around on the day I visited, and my child enjoyed playing with them. My child, who usually gets bored easily at cafés, happily spent time there instead of using the bubble toy we had brought along.

I was satisfied that the adults could enjoy coffee and bread while spending time with my child. Leftover bakery items could be packed up personally.