Family-friendly bakery café in Ulju, Ulsan: MUG

Where is MUG bakery café?

I stopped by MUG (카페 먹) while taking a weekend drive to Ulsan with my baby. Its address is 90 Hyangsan Dagae-ro, Sangbuk-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, South Korea, and the hours listed in the original post are 10 AM to 8 PM daily.

I heard this site had been used to grow landscaping trees for more than 20 years. After the trees were lost in a wildfire, new trees were planted and paths were made, transforming it into a café. The deep black charred wood used in the space was also chosen to remember traces of the wildfire.

Surrounded by mountains, it had a different feel from a city café. A large outdoor yard, dirt walking paths, and a lawn connect together, making it nice for a short walk. It is also a pet-friendly café with an outdoor yard where dogs can run around.

Was parking easy when visiting with a baby on the weekend?

When I am out with my baby, parking and the size of the space are the first things I look at. At MUG, there was plenty of parking even on a weekend afternoon, so I parked comfortably. It was less stressful to unload our things and look after my baby, and there was no wait to enter.

What are the interior and window views like?

The high ceiling was the first thing I noticed indoors. The concrete-like ceiling and wood-toned furniture created a calm atmosphere.

The space was large, so it felt less cramped even with people inside.

Large floor-to-ceiling windows showed the trees and mountains right outside. I liked being able to sit indoors and take a break while looking at the scenery.

There were tables outside as well. I thought it would be nice to enjoy the surrounding nature from the outdoor seating when the weather is good.

However, there were so many visitors on the weekend afternoon that the large indoor space was full. I would like to come back on a weekday next time.

Are there high chairs, and is it suitable for staying with a child?

High chairs were available, and I saw many families with babies around their first birthday or younger.

I could seat my baby without bringing a chair of my own. Babies cannot always sit still for long, so I sometimes worry about those around us at cafés, but the spacious setting here made it relatively comfortable to spend time there.

When is the outdoor bubble event held?

According to the original post, an outdoor bubble machine runs for 30 minutes each at 1 PM and 3 PM on weekends and public holidays. It may change or be cancelled depending on the weather and on-site conditions. On the day I visited, rain began to fall, so the 3 PM bubble event was stopped.

Was the bakery selection varied, and did I try the cinnamon rolls?

There was a varied selection of baked goods. I heard that the lineup, including cinnamon rolls, changes with the season and ingredients.

I heard the cinnamon rolls were popular, but they had all sold out when I visited, so I could not try one. That was the disappointing part of this visit.

What were the drinks and corn bread like?

That day, I ordered an avocado smoothie, MUG lemonade, corn bread, and manju (a small filled pastry).

The avocado smoothie was pale green and rose into a rounded peak at the top. Unlike a typical fruit smoothie, it felt smooth and substantial, and I found its nutty flavor pleasant.

The MUG lemonade was refreshing and went well with the sweet bread. It was a good pairing when I was eating several kinds of baked goods.

The corn bread was long, with a whole ear of corn set into its center. The outside was baked golden brown, and eating it with the corn brought out its distinctive sweetness.

Its shape caught my eye among the breads, so I chose it. Its unusual form also made it good to photograph.

There were many visitors because it was the weekend, but parking and entry were easy, and the high chair made it comfortable to stay with my baby. Next time, I would like to return to try the cinnamon roll I missed that day and other breads.