Paju café for kids on a rainy day: Dubai chocolate cake at Barirus

Every weekend I agonize over where to take the kids. This time we finally went to Barirus in Paju, a place I'd wanted to visit for a long time.

What kind of café is Barirus?

Barirus is a large café on Bongseosan-ro in Paju-eup where you can enjoy brunch, bakery items and coffee all in one place. It has been featured on TV several times, so my expectations were high, and after visiting I understood why so many people come. It's well known as a Paju food spot, but it also works nicely for family outings, dates and meetups.

How are the parking and EV charging at Barirus?

The parking lot is big, so parking was relatively easy even on a weekend, and there are 4 EV chargers you can use. The huge lot was the first thing I liked, and it's convenient for electric car drivers too.

The sunset media art and clothing shop at the entrance

The building is so big that I felt overwhelmed the moment I walked in. The first thing that caught my eye at the entrance was the sunset media art. The emotional colors made it feel like stepping into an exhibition space.

On the left of the entrance there's also a space selling clothes, so you can shop inside the café too, which was a fun, different touch.

Can you bring a stroller to Barirus?

The interior is wide and the aisles are roomy, so getting around with a stroller was easy, but there is a section where you have to lift the stroller for a moment to go upstairs. We came with the kids and used a stroller, so just keep this in mind if you visit.

2nd-floor floor seating that works well with kids

Seating comes in many forms: regular tables, group seating, window seats and relaxing lounge-style spots, so you can choose the mood you want. Our family used the 2nd-floor floor seating, and it was really comfortable to sit there with the kids.

You take your shoes off in this area, so the kids could move around freely, and it was much more relaxing for us parents too.

What to eat at the Barirus bakery: white roll and Dubai chocolate cake

The breads we picked at Barirus were the signature white roll, Dubai chocolate cake, yellow cheese financier and cinnamon roll. Choosing from the bakery is probably the hardest part of coming here.

The display has such a wide variety of breads that I stood there for ages deciding. After much thought, we chose the Dubai chocolate cake, yellow cheese financier, cinnamon roll, and Barirus's signature white roll.

• Dubai chocolate cake: The sweetness of rich chocolate was appealing.
• Yellow cheese financier (a small butter almond cake): Nutty and a little salty, with plenty of flavor.
• Cinnamon roll: The subtle cinnamon scent wasn't overpowering, and I enjoyed it.
• Signature white roll: Soft and moist, so I could tell why it's the signature item, haha

Strawberry latte is a good drink for kids

For drinks we ordered a strawberry latte, and as expected the kids loved it.

My two kids nearly finished it. It's sweet yet smooth, so I'd recommend it if you visit with children.

There are brunch and Western dishes too

Barirus also sells a wide range of brunch and Western-style dishes, so I wanted to come back next time and have a proper meal too.

It's not just a café: you can have a meal and dessert in one go, which made it even more satisfying.

Is there something for kids to do on a rainy day?

Barirus has an outdoor tent zone and a space where kids can run around, and indoors there are bubble toys and board games. It was raining, so we couldn't use the outdoor area for long, but with the tent zone it looks like it would be really lovely on a nice day. The space where kids can run around was also good for getting a bit of fresh air.

Above all, the thoughtful care for kids stood out. Thanks to the bubble toys and board games, the kids were never bored. Parents can relax with coffee while the kids have fun, so I could see why so many families come.

Celebrity autographs, restrooms and an art exhibition space

As you'd expect from a place featured on TV many times, one side of the café is full of celebrity autographs on display. It was fun to look around, and I could feel why so many people come.

Another thing I liked was the restrooms. As a large café, the restrooms are spacious and kept clean, and there's even a diaper-changing table, which should be really handy for families with babies and toddlers.

Looking around the café, I also found an art exhibition space, which made the place feel even more special.

Barirus hours and its late-night café service

Barirus is open Mon–Thu 10:00–21:00 and Fri–Sun 11:00 until 02:00 the next day. Daytime is great for a relaxed time with family, and from Friday to Sunday it runs as a late-night café, which suits an atmospheric evening too.

I'd recommend this large café to people looking for a Paju food spot, people wanting a late-night café where they can stay late, and anyone who needs a place for a family gathering or any kind of meetup.

Next time I'd like to come back on a nice day and spend a relaxed time in the tent zone.

• Address: 245 Bongseosan-ro, Paju-eup, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (2nd floor)
• Hours: Mon–Thu 10:00–21:00 / Fri–Sun 11:00–02:00 the next day