Riverview café near Hopo Station, Yangsan: Choi Main Branch

So many of you must be wondering where to take the kids for a weekend drive. I was in the same boat this weekend, looking for somewhere the whole family could relax. When I heard about a café near Hopo Station with a great view of the Nakdong River, I didn't hesitate and just drove straight over. It's the new Choi location that took over the old Haewoldang spot.

Location, parking and hours at Choi Main Branch

It's located at 83 Yangsan-daero, Dong-myeon, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, so it's really easy to find. It's only a 5-minute walk from Exit 3 of Hopo Station, so it's convenient even by public transport. As soon as we arrived, we were relieved to find plenty of parking — the space in front of the store and the adjacent lot were both generous, so we didn't have to worry at all.

It's open every day from 9am to 9:50pm, so the hours are pretty relaxed too. This is Choi, a Blue Ribbon-listed café near Yangsan and Busan, at Hopo.

The 1st-floor bakery cases: what's on offer

As soon as we opened the door on the 1st floor, the smell of fresh bread welcomed us. The display cases were split into three sections, which made it easy to browse slowly.

From garlic bread to green onion salt bread and sandwiches, the variety was really impressive. True to its reputation as a well-known Yangsan café, they clearly didn't skimp on ingredients.

There's also a neat self-service packing station upstairs on the 2nd floor for any leftover bread you want to take home.

The bread was laid out so beautifully and in such variety, you'd think this was a proper standalone bakery.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call this place a bread paradise — the variety is that good. This is Choi, the Blue Ribbon café near Busan's Hopo area.

If you're looking for a nice-atmosphere café near Busan for a weekend outing, this is the place.

2nd-floor window seats with a full Nakdong River view

We picked out our bread and headed up to the 2nd floor, and I was honestly stunned by the view. Every wall is a huge floor-to-ceiling window, so the Nakdong River is fully visible at a glance.

You order drinks on the 1st floor and pick them up on the 2nd floor.

The sofa seats were soft and roomy, so they were comfortable to sit in for a long time. The rooftop, run as a no-kids zone, was perfect for catching a cool breeze. It's rare to find a café near Hopo this good for enjoying some quality family downtime.

Tasting the signature Choi bread, tiramisu and coffee

We tried the signature Choi bread along with tiramisu and coffee. The Choi bread was filled with soft cream along with bits of chestnut and red bean, and it was genuinely delicious.

The coffee had a strong aroma too, which paired wonderfully with the sweet bread. Being able to pick up and return drinks right there on the 2nd floor was convenient. And watching the sunset in person, I'd honestly call this a sunset destination.

Visiting tips from personal experience

• ✅ Plenty of parking available
• ✅ Elevator makes it easy to bring a stroller
• ✅ Hearty, fresh meal-replacement salads
• ✅ A gorgeous sunset view at dusk

During weekend peak hours, the popular window seats fill up fast. If you want to fully enjoy that gorgeous river view, I'd recommend going a bit earlier.

If you're looking for a café near Hopo where you can enjoy an open river view and great bread all at once, I'd highly recommend Choi. Take the family for a nice drive and enjoy the day. How about visiting Choi this weekend for a bit of a mood reset?