Yangyang café boat coffee on Namdaecheon: Cafe Dunchi

Can you drink coffee while boating in Yangyang?

Cafe Dunchi (카페 둔치), which I found during my Yangyang trip, was a place where I could enjoy tea and desserts while looking out over Namdaecheon River and also try water leisure activities. My experience of drinking coffee on an electric boat is what I remember most.

On the boat, my group could drink our beverages while feeling the river breeze. Connecting and listening to music we liked made it a different kind of enjoyment from spending time inside the café.

Where is Cafe Dunchi, and is parking convenient?

The café is on Namdaecheon River, which connects Yangyang town and the sea. Its address is 295 Ilchul-ro, Yangyang-eup. It was easy to reach from town, and nearby were Namdaecheon Salmon Ecological Park and places to walk.

A parking lot ran along the river, and there was another directly in front of the café. It was spacious and free, so parking was convenient.

When the original post was written, café hours were 10:00–21:00 and boat hours were 10:00–18:00, with no regular closing day. I was told that boats might not operate depending on weather conditions, such as rain.

What are the entrance and indoor seats like?

When I arrived, I saw a sign for the Namdaecheon Water Sports Center Café.

Because the café is on the water, I crossed a bridge to enter.

The first floor was the boat boarding area, while the café was on the second floor.

I went up the stairs to the café.

The interior felt as if I had stepped into a log cabin. It was bright thanks to windows overlooking the scenery outside, and plants were placed throughout.

There were group tables, and the chairs were comfortable.

By the window, there were seats where I could drink coffee while looking at Namdaecheon River.

In particular, the tables by the riverside had floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto the view. I thought it would be nice to enjoy a drink and dessert there even without taking a boat.

What drinks did I order, and can you take them on the boat?

The menu had coffee, juice, and tea. Considering the atmosphere, the drink prices did not feel expensive. When I said I was taking a boat, the drinks were served in takeaway cups.

There were also several desserts to enjoy with drinks.

We ordered an iced Americano and peach iced tea.

How much are the boats, and how long is the ride?

There were two types of boats: electric boats and hwangpo sailboats. The fares and ride times listed when I visited were as follows.

• Electric boat: four-person ₩30,000; six-person ₩35,000; 30 minutes
• Hwangpo sailboat: children ₩6,000; teenagers ₩8,000; adults ₩10,000; 20 minutes

We chose a four-person electric boat. I liked that we could move it ourselves and stop to drink coffee. I did not try the hwangpo sailboat.

What were boarding preparation and the wait like?

Before boarding, every passenger had to wear a life jacket. The jackets came in different sizes, so I chose one that fit my body.

On the day I visited, there were several groups of families, couples, and friends. We waited briefly while drinking our beverages.

I saw people returning on boats, and there were enough visitors that nearly all the waiting boats were going out. At the time, the boats rotated, so we did not wait long.

A staff member helped us board and explained how to operate the electric boat.

What was steering the electric boat and drinking coffee on the water like?

I found the controls easy. I turned on the forward switch and used the steering wheel to set the direction; to stop, I turned the switch off. The speed was not fast.

We could move within the area marked by blue buoys. The permitted area felt quite large, so 30 minutes was not enough time to see all of it. As we slowly moved away from the dock while drinking coffee, it tasted better than usual.

We also connected to the boat's built-in Bluetooth and listened to music. I listened to my favorite musical, “Finding Mr. Destiny,” as we moved. I enjoyed feeling the river breeze and steering in the direction I wanted.

As we slowly headed toward Naksan Bridge, the dock gradually grew farther away.

I could also see a deck path along Namdaecheon River. Next time, I would like to walk around the area.

Other boats were spending time apart from one another, and I could hear children laughing from a boat carrying children. As my group enjoyed the scenery and music, 30 minutes passed in no time.

What was the best part, and what was disappointing?

The best part was being able to drink coffee and listen to music we liked with my group amid the Namdaecheon scenery. However, I was disappointed that it was time to return so soon. As I steered the boat back to the dock and returned it, it remained one of the most enjoyable experiences of this Yangyang trip.