Family bakery café in Ulju, Ulsan with weekend bubble events: MUG

I visited MUG in Sangbuk-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan with my child on a weekend. What stayed with me was seeing the children happily watch the bubbles while we ate bread and drank our drinks. There was also an art space and outdoor seating, so we looked around both inside and outside the café.

What are the parking and opening hours?

MUG is in Sangbuk-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan. The attached map lists its address as 90 Hyangsan Dagae-ro. According to the original information, it is open daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with last orders at 7:30 PM. The parking area was spacious, too.

When is the bubble event that children enjoyed?

The information available during our visit said that bubble events were held for about 30 minutes at 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM on weekends and public holidays. The children watched the bubbles drifting over the water for quite a while. We sat where we could see them well from indoors, so they could pass the time without tablets, while we took a brief rest and kept an eye on them.

What were the baby facilities and weekend seats like?

MUG is a kids’ care zone where guardians need to actively supervise their children. There were many high chairs, and the nursing room was clean. I also saw many parents visiting with babies.

The interior was spacious, but it was not easy to find a seat on the weekend. When we visited, some guests left because there were no seats. Luckily, someone was leaving, and we got a window seat.

What can you see in the art space and outdoors?

As you enter, you come across an art space before the café itself. Since I do not often get chances to see artworks while raising a child, I found it memorable to pause and look at several pieces on the way into the café.

I heard that the building’s architecture also holds the story of this place. To preserve the memory of a large wildfire that burned 10 hectares of forest several years ago, it was finished with blackened, carbonized wood, set against the green forest now being restored. The intention, I was told, is to share healing from pain and a new sense of renewal.

Outside, there was outdoor seating that looked good for nice weather. There was also a photo-friendly space covered entirely in mirrors. Further uphill, a path continued past an ecological pond and trees, so we could take in nature as well.

What kinds of bread are available, and what did we eat with our child?

There was a wide selection of baked goods, which made choosing fun. Chocolate salt bread, cinnamon bun balls, and sweet pumpkin bread were among the items that caught my eye, and I saw guests packing bread to take away as they left.

We had an injeolmi roll (roasted soybean powder rice cake roll) and soboro bread (sweet crumb-topped bread), which our child chose. The children liked the nutty smell of the freshly baked bread and finished it quickly. It was good when we were a little hungry but did not want a full meal.

What were the prices and flavors of the drinks we ordered?

There was a broad range of drinks, including coffee, tea, smoothies, seasonal items, and ades. Items marked with a star on the menu were introduced as drinks available only at MUG.

We ordered the MUG Black Latte and an avocado smoothie.

The MUG Black Latte was ₩7,500 and was served only iced. Cold brew added to a condensed milk base made it sweet and smooth. The clean character of the cold brew kept it from feeling heavy, and it went down smoothly. If you like sweet drinks as I do, it may suit your taste.

The avocado smoothie was ₩8,000. It felt fresh alongside the surrounding forest scenery, with the rich, buttery nuttiness characteristic of ripe avocado. I thought it would suit someone who does not drink coffee or finds overly sweet, artificial flavors overwhelming.