Bakery café in Yangju with French flour sacks and wide tables: Doasis

Whenever I go to a café with my kid, I end up worrying about the next table first. So many places make it nerve-wracking to even pull a chair back. So I went looking for somewhere roomy, and among the bakery cafés in Yangju I picked Doasis. From parking to coffee, here's everything just as I felt it sitting there.

Is parking easy at Doasis?

The whole area in front of the building is a parking lot, with plenty of spaces and no time limit, so I could sit as long as I liked without worrying. That matters more than you'd think. I can't count how many times I've kept checking my phone in a café to watch the parking clock. At Doasis I didn't think about it at all and just settled in.

It's easy to find, with a big slogan on the outer wall that reads "an oasis in the city." You'll see the DOASIS sign at the entrance of the brick building, and once you walk past the clothing shop on the 1st floor and go inside, the main café appears.

What's the atmosphere and table spacing like inside Doasis?

Inside, Doasis is a jungle-like space with high ceilings, palm trees and potted plants everywhere, and the tables are generously spaced. The moment you open the door the ceiling shoots up and palms and plants spread out in front of you. There's even a stone statue sitting in the big central planter, so it felt more like a botanical garden than a café. It's much bigger in person than in photos.

A big abstract painting hangs on the wall, and on one wall a video of palm shadows sways, which quietly builds the mood. There are sofa seats too, so you can pick where to sit. What I liked best was how wide the gaps between tables are. I could barely hear the conversation next to us, so it's perfect for chatting with friends or opening a laptop to work.

The tiered seating has a giant teddy bear and a duck doll sitting on it. If my kid had seen it, they wouldn't have come down from there for ages.

What breads does Doasis have?

The bread display at Doasis has cream cheese brioche, green tea coconut, cream cheese mocha bun, and even savory loaves like the pollock roe baguette (myeongran baguette). I figured a bakery café would just have a few breads, but the display case was far longer than I expected. I stood there for a good while. Every bread has a name tag, so there's no wandering around not knowing what's what.

What's different about bread made with good ingredients?

Next to the bread display, Doasis has piled up the ingredients it bakes with, sacks and all: French flour, Japanese flour, even Callebaut chocolate, just as they are. Fun thing to find beside a bread case. They apparently pair good flour with good salt. I don't know much about it myself, but a place with good ingredients tastes different, and the difference after eating is even clearer. I ate several breads and my stomach didn't feel heavy at all.

Checking out at Doasis with an AI bread scanner

The Doasis counter has an AI bread scanner. You just put your tray down, and the screen recognizes each bread and totals the price on its own. It actually works! Staff don't have to scan each item, so the line shrinks fast too.

My takeaway bread came in a box printed with palm trees and a tiger, and it's pretty enough that I'd happily bring it as a gift. So cute.

How does the coffee at Doasis taste?

The coffee at Doasis is a blend of Brazilian, Colombian and Ethiopian beans, rich and nutty, so it goes well with bread. Better than I expected, and I was very happy with it. A bean notice board in the shop lists smoky, dark chocolate and hazelnut notes.

Even the mint-colored mugs have the DOASIS logo. It's a small thing, but details like that put me in a good mood.

What I found disappointing at Doasis

• You have to take your shoes off to climb onto the tiered seating at Doasis. Taking a kid's shoes off and putting them back on is a real chore, so I'd only sit there briefly.
• Bread prices are on the higher side compared to a neighborhood bakery. For me, seeing the ingredients up close made it make sense.

FAQ

Where do you park at Doasis?

Park near the entrance and just climb the stairs to reach the café. The route is short, which looked handy even on days with lots of bags.

Is this a good Yangju bakery café to visit with kids?

The aisles at Doasis are wide, so kids running back and forth seemed unlikely to bump into anything. Kids will spot the seats with the dolls first.

Can you bring a laptop and work at Doasis?

I didn't check where the outlets are. The seats are spaced generously, though, so it was good for sitting a long time.

Next time: brunch at Doasis

Whether you're meeting friends, bringing a laptop or heading out as a family, I'd confidently recommend Doasis to anyone looking for a spacious bakery café in Yangju. This time I only had bread and coffee. Next time I'm going to try the brunch.