Yangyang café date with quiet river views: Cafe Dunchi

On this Yangyang trip, the time I spent on Namdaecheon stayed with me. I had coffee at Cafe Dunchi (카페 둔치), then enjoyed the river scenery while driving an electric boat myself with coffee in hand.

Where is Cafe Dunchi, and was parking easy?

Cafe Dunchi is run alongside the Namdaecheon Water Leisure Sports Center on Ilchul-ro in Yangyang-eup. As I approached the building, the river and sky came into view, and I could see the electric boats at the entrance.

The calm river, reeds, and forest in the distance created a quiet atmosphere. Parking was not difficult when I visited, so it was convenient to come by car.

What were the indoor seats overlooking Namdaecheon like?

The interior was more spacious and pleasant than I expected. The high ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows stood out first, while the wood-toned decor and plants throughout made it feel comfortable.

From a window seat, Namdaecheon stretched out before me. When I visited, many couples were sitting side by side at the windows with coffee.

It was quiet, so our conversation naturally lasted longer. Looking out at the calm river and reeds made it a good place to pause for a while.

What drinks and desserts were available?

Besides coffee, there were ades, lattes, and teas. Decaf coffee was also available to order.

They also sold bakery items and cake, so it was easy to pair a dessert with coffee.

Gangneung coffee bread and Yangyang local specialties were also for sale. I could browse travel souvenirs at the same time.

How much was the electric boat, and how long was the ride?

After getting my drink, I tried the electric boat I had been looking forward to. It added time on the river to my break at the café.

Before boarding, I put on a life jacket. A staff member explained how to drive, so getting ready was not difficult even though it was my first time.

At the time of my visit, the electric boat cost ₩30,000 for four people and ₩35,000 for six people, with a 30-minute riding time.

They also operated a hwangpo dotbae (traditional yellow-sailed boat). If visiting with parents, I thought it could be another activity to consider.

Was the electric boat difficult to drive for the first time?

I expected it to be difficult at first, but I quickly got used to the steering wheel and forward-and-reverse buttons. It was not fast, so I could take in the surrounding scenery slowly.

My favorite moment was moving slowly over the river with coffee in hand. Drinking coffee in the breeze felt like a brief, relaxed pause during the trip.

The view from the river differed from the one at the café window. There were hardly any tall buildings in sight, so it felt like slowly looking around in nature, and it was also nice to take photos along the way.

Was it better suited to a couple's date or a family visit?

There were families with children too, but the atmosphere felt more suited to a couple's date. I saw many couples looking at the view side by side at the window, driving the boat together, and taking photos.

What stayed with me was having an activity to do together after coffee. Even on a family visit, you could consider spending time on the electric boat or hwangpo dotbae together.