Converted bathhouse café in Yangju: hot bath, fairy bath signs, Doasis

The weather has been cool lately, and I wanted a change of mood, so I finally took Mom out on a pretty café date. I was wondering where to go, and heard about a bakery café in Yangju with a lush green botanical-garden vibe and a really unique concept. That's where we went: 'Doasis' (도아시스)!

Mom and I both love healing spaces full of green plants, and when we actually got there, it was much bigger than I expected, with so much to see and eat. We had a really satisfying time.

Is parking easy at Doasis in Yangju?

As soon as we arrived, a huge parking lot spread out in front of us, so parking was super easy. Wow... a parking lot this big is something you only see on the outskirts of Yangju, Pocheon and Uijeongbu, and I love it!

I only end up going places where parking is convenient. So it's a pass on this point already!

First impression: a large café that feels like a botanical garden

Doasis is a unique, atmospheric space converted from a bathhouse, and my first impression the moment I walked in was, "Wow, it's really big!" The whole space is filled with lush plants, so it almost felt like stepping into a giant botanical garden or greenhouse in the middle of the city.

What traces of the bathhouse remain at Doasis?

The real charm of Doasis is that it's a regenerated-architecture café, made by renovating a building that used to be a bathhouse! As you look around the café, traces of the old bathhouse remain as unique interior elements.

• Onttang (온탕, hot bath)
• Seonnyeotang (선녀탕, "fairy bath")

The names and sections of the old baths are still there, so Mom and I had a lot of fun going "Oh my, this really was a bathhouse!" as we looked around.

"This must have been the hot bath, full of hot water, back in the day?" "Seonnyeotang, what a charming name!"

Chatting like this, we recalled old memories with Mom and imagined what this place used to look like, which was a small joy. The traces of time blend beautifully with the modern botanical-garden interior, creating an atmosphere that's both unusual and sentimental.

Doasis bakery: how are the breads and what's the variety?

Doasis isn't only about atmosphere, the bakery quality was top-notch too! With big cafés, sometimes the mood is great but the bread and drinks are just so-so. Here, the long bakery counter in the middle of the shop was packed with all kinds of breads and desserts.

The smell of toasty bread filled the whole shop, and the moment I picked up a tray I was in a happy dilemma about what to choose. There were savory, filling meal breads, sweet and showy desserts, and crispy pastries, a really wide variety.

The breads we chose were crisp outside and moist inside, a perfect match with coffee. Mom said the bread wasn't too sweet and was nicely savory, and she enjoyed it, so I really felt it was worth bringing her! Take a look at the breads we picked!

Bakery lineup (we went late so not much was left, but the variety is huge)

Is it OK for a family outing with kids?

The interior of Doasis is so spacious and the tables are so far apart that even when lots of customers crowd in on weekends, it doesn't seem like it would feel stuffy at all. The plants keep the air fresh, and there are plenty of bathhouse structures and plants that kids will find fascinating, so I strongly recommend it as a family outing course for the whole family with kids on weekends.

Doasis has a nursing room (수유시설, Suyu facilities) and baby chairs, so it's easy for moms with babies, and there are even horses and dolls that little kids get curious about!!! There's floor seating too, so I could tell without even looking that on weekends here... the competition for seats must be fierce.

Café date with Mom: overall review of Doasis

I got some healing time with Mom at Doasis, an unusual and pretty brunch and bakery café in Yangju. In a fresh, botanical-garden atmosphere we enjoyed tasty bread and coffee, hunted for the odd traces of the old bathhouse, and made fun memories. That's 'Doasis'!

If you're looking for a large café near Yangju with a great atmosphere and easy parking, do visit once. Whether you come with family, a partner or your parents, I think you'll have a satisfying time!