Yangyang riverside café with omija tea: Cafe Dunchi

During my trip to Yangyang, I stopped by Cafe Dunchi, which sits on the surface of the Namdaecheon River. I drank iced omija tea and found it a nice place to spend quiet time by the window looking out at the river.

Where is Cafe Dunchi?

Cafe Dunchi is on the surface of the lower Namdaecheon River, where the river meets the sea. The building was easy to spot even from a distance. Its address is 295 Ilchul-ro, Yangyang-eup, Yangyang-gun.

Where are the best seats for the Namdaecheon River view?

When I entered the second-floor café, the space opened up broadly. I could see the Namdaecheon River from every seat, and the open view toward the water felt refreshing.

I sat by a window that framed the Namdaecheon River like a picture. Although the temperature outside rose above 32°C, watching the grasses move in the breeze from indoors made the scenery itself feel cool. I spent a quiet while looking at the calm river.

What did the iced omija tea taste like?

Instead of coffee, I ordered iced omija tea, a chilled drink made with five-flavor berry syrup. I chose it because the café said it makes its own fruit syrups, and it was sweet, tart, and refreshing.

The café says it receives coffee beans frequently in small batches from a roastery in Gangneung. Since I did not drink coffee, though, I could not judge its taste. Handmade yanggaeng (sweet bean jelly), cookies, and almond tuiles were also available.

Can you try an electric boat ride at the café?

The Namdaecheon Water Leisure Experience Center also operates on the first floor of the café building. You can take an electric boat ride on the Namdaecheon River there.

The experience center says drinks are allowed on its boats. The idea of spending time on the river with coffee or another drink caught my attention.

I hesitated over whether to ride, but decided not to because the sun looked too intense. People who returned from the boats said it was not as hot as they had expected, which left me disappointed that I had missed it. Since I did not ride, I could not assess the comfort or how hot it felt onboard.

Is there somewhere to walk near the café?

The café is connected to Namdaecheon Salmon Ecological Park. With a boardwalk and an observatory among reeds and silver grass, it is a pleasant setup for a walk before or after visiting the café. You can also take in the wide-open views in every direction.

On this visit, I looked out over the green river scenery of summer. I still wished I had taken the boat, but the time I spent by the window with a drink, watching the Namdaecheon River, stayed with me.

What are the café and boat hours?

According to the original post, the café was open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM with no regular closing day. Boat hours were listed as 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. This information was current when the original post was written.