Bakery café in Ulju, Ulsan with mountain views: MUG (카페 먹)

After having bulgogi (marinated grilled beef) in Eonyang with my mom, we drove about five minutes to MUG (카페 먹). It was a large bakery café where we could enjoy bread and coffee while looking out at the mountains. After eating, we spent some time exploring the plant tunnel and flowers beside the building.

Where is MUG, and how is the parking?

The address is 90 Hyangsandagae-ro, Sangbuk-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, South Korea (울산 울주군 상북면 향산다개로 90). The original post lists the hours as 10:00–20:00, with last orders at 19:30.

As we drove up the mountain road, there was a moment when I wondered whether we were going the right way. The navigation system wasn’t recognizing the road properly, so we followed the signs for MUG. When we arrived and stepped out of the car, the mountain view opened up in front of us, and the parking lot was very spacious. There were plenty of visitors even at lunchtime on a weekday, though.

What is there to see around the building and entrance?

The whole building was a deep ink-black color. There was a fountain out front, but it wasn’t running during my weekday lunchtime visit. The wall on the left side of the building was mirrored, making it a good spot for photos.

Opening the entrance, which looked like a wall of metal doors, revealed a small gallery. Being able to have a quick look around before entering the café felt like an unusual touch.

There was also a smartphone photo printer. I thought it would be nice to print photos taken at the café right there.

What is the seating with mountain views like?

The interior was spacious, and there were tables outside too. Sitting outdoors would be pleasant on a cool day, but it was windy when we visited, so we chose a table inside. Guests who had brought their dogs were sitting outdoors.

Soft background music played indoors, and some people had brought laptops to spend time there. I felt relaxed just sitting and looking at the mountains.

How much were the breads and drinks, and what tasted best?

There were so many kinds of bread that choosing took a while. At the time of my visit, prices ranged from the ₩3,000s to the ₩7,000s.

My mom chose an injeolmi (soybean-coated rice cake) roll, and I picked the Gorgonzola ciabatta. We also ordered a mocha bun, which we both wanted to try.

• Injeolmi roll: ₩6,400
• Gorgonzola ciabatta: ₩4,800
• Mocha bun: ₩4,500
• Hot Americano: ₩5,500
• Omija ade (five-flavor berry soda): ₩7,000

The drink prices felt reasonable compared with other large cafés I’d visited. Once our bread and drinks were ready, we enjoyed them while looking at the mountains.

The injeolmi roll had injeolmi cream inside and a generous coating of soybean powder outside, giving it a nutty flavor. The salty cheese powder on the Gorgonzola ciabatta balanced its sweetness, and it went well with coffee.

The mocha bun was my favorite of the three. It was crisp outside and moist inside, and I tore through it in no time.

Are there baby facilities and somewhere to pack leftover bread?

MUG was designated a kids care zone and had high chairs. The restroom also had a baby changing table and a space to wash babies’ bottoms, so it looked convenient for a visit with a baby.

There was a self-service area for packing leftover bread, so I packed ours to take home. A microwave was also available on one side of the café for warming bread.

Where can you walk around the café?

The brochure I received introduced an ecological pond, walking paths, a metasequoia-lined path and an observation deck behind the café. From the guide, there seemed to be more to explore than I’d expected.

Beside the building, we looked around a tunnel with bottle gourds, loofahs and pumpkins growing on it, along with flowers in bloom. Even after finishing our bread and coffee, we could take our time exploring the surroundings.