Do you want to relax and unwind at a café?
Is there a time when you feel that way?
It's great to enjoy conversations with friends, or to have a cozy time alone.
It's so comfortable that you end up staying longer than planned.
In a café, the menu, as well as the space and atmosphere, are important, don't you think?
For those who want to spend time in a relaxing space, I recommend the café "mug" located in Tamashima, Kurashiki City.
The display at mug is not just for decoration; it is designed to create a healing space.
Now, let me introduce the healing café "mug" in Tamashima.
It closed in December 2021.
The information provided below is from when it was in operation.
Open the door and feel your heart flutter! The healing space of mug
mug is a glass-fronted store located along Prefectural Route 60.
You can catch a glimpse of the interior from outside, and it conveys a relaxing atmosphere.
With excitement in my heart, I opened the wooden door to find a healing space.
The floor has five tables, with plenty of space between them.
If you feel a bit uneasy about sitting alone at a large table, I recommend the corner seat by the window.
By the way, if you want to take beautiful photos, the corner seat by the window is recommended!
The lunch photos taken for this article were also taken at the window seat.
The staff also say that this is the seat they always use for menu photography.
The corner seat by the window is a sofa seat that is one step higher than the floor.
It creates a bit of a private space, so you don't have to worry about being watched.
I think it allows for a more relaxed experience.
There is also a counter, so you can easily visit even if you are alone.
It is a space surrounded by walls on all sides.
It has a slightly bar-like atmosphere, and this seat is also very calming.
Trying mug's popular hamburger lunch!
Now, let me introduce the lunch.
The "Today's Rice" menu changes irregularly. On the day I visited for the interview, the lunch was Japanese-style gapao rice.
The lunch menu also includes sandwiches, and the ingredients and menu items change.
What I had was the popular hamburger lunch.
It includes the main hamburger, side dishes, salad, soup, and a drink for 1,050 yen (tax included).
The hamburger lunch is offered as a fixed menu.
Of course, I want you to enjoy not only the main hamburger but also the side dishes.
The roasted duck is firm, and the flavor spreads in your mouth with each bite.
The fried lotus root with sweet sauce shines and becomes even crispier when fried.
The soup changes with the seasons, and the soup I had during the interview in September 2020 was cabbage potage.
You might think "cabbage should be in consomme soup," but potage works too!
It was a gentle potage with the aroma of cabbage.
The main hamburger has grated daikon, so you might think it's Japanese-style, but it seems different. The sauce is sweet and not soy sauce.
There are small onions in the sauce. I see! The sweetness comes from the onions being cooked slowly until they turn amber.
Looking at the entire lunch menu, it is colorfully rich.
The hamburger is surprisingly fluffy. The sweet sauce is well absorbed throughout.
There is rice under the hamburger, which is a perfect combination! I enjoy it with the sauce thoroughly mixed with the rice.
Also, there was cream cheese sandwiched between the thick hamburger.
It adds a creaminess to the flavor, giving it more depth.
A variety of set drinks for lunch. If in doubt, ask for recommendations
The drinks that come with lunch can be chosen, and there are many types, making it hard to decide.
The drinks for lunch come in four types: those included in the set, and those with an additional charge of 100 yen, 200 yen, or 300 yen.
▼ Drinks with no additional charge
- Espresso
- Americano (ICE/HOT)
- Milk (ICE/HOT)
- Earl Grey (ICE/HOT)
- Darjeeling (HOT)
- Ginger Ale
- Tonic Water
- Calpis
- Orange Juice
- Grapefruit Juice
▼ Drinks with an additional charge of 100 yen
- Café Latte (ICE/HOT)
- Flavored Milk (ICE/HOT)
(Caramel/Vanilla/Hazelnut) - Ginger Ale (Spicy)
- Calpis Soda
▼ Drinks with an additional charge of 200 yen
- Flavored Soda
(Cassis/Peach/Mango/Pineapple/Green Apple)
▼ Drinks with an additional charge of 300 yen
- Draft Beer (Carlsberg)
- Wine (Red/White)
▼ While I was wondering which to choose, I was recommended, "It looks beautiful and is great for photos," so I chose the green apple flavored soda.
Wow! I couldn't help but exclaim.
The refreshing, clear green is beautiful. The orange color of the citrus is also an accent.
When I drink it, it is fizzy and refreshing, with the aroma of green apple.
I want to enjoy sweets along with lunch
Since I was there, I also ordered some sweets.
The daily sweets that come with lunch can be added for an extra 400 yen.
By the way, the homemade limited-quantity sweets can be ordered as single items starting from 9 AM.
Among options like gateau chocolat and Takahashi black tea crème brûlée, I was torn but decided on the blueberry crumble cheesecake.
The moist cheesecake is firmly sweet and rich.
It pairs perfectly with blueberries.
In contrast, the whipped cream is lightly sweetened, creating a perfect balance with the sweetness of the cake.
This dessert also offers a delightful texture with its crunchy crumble.
Limited Time "Kurashiki Afternoon Tea" Menu is Also Recommended
A brief introduction related to sweets.
mug participates in an event called "Kurashiki Afternoon Tea", which is held twice a year in Kurashiki City.
The summer menu of 2020 was also luxurious, featuring quiches, scones, and a variety of sweets.
Surprisingly, the above photo is for one person.
I was worried about whether I could finish it, but it was so delicious that I cleaned my plate.
During the event period, you can enjoy special dishes that are different from the usual menu, specifically for the Kurashiki Afternoon Tea.
The quiche with cheese and zucchini from Ushimado was also a special menu item.
There are plenty of sweets! It's great that you can enjoy them all at once.
I savored the summer peach tart, which was full of juice, and the rich chocolate gateau.
The Kurashiki Afternoon Tea is perfect for those who want to thoroughly enjoy both meals and sweets.
It heals and satisfies both the heart and the stomach.
The stylish café in Tamashima, mug offers a full range of meals, sweets, and drinks. I interviewed the manager, Chiba Kenta.
Data of mug (マグ)
| Name | mug (マグ) |
|---|---|
| Address | 439-3 Tsuzaki, Tamashima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, 1F Shin-Kurashiki Inoue Building |
| Contact | 086-523-5150 |
| Parking | Available Shared parking for 5 cars |
| Business Hours | 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Last order at 5:00 PM) *Nighttime operations are only for private events and concerts |
| Regular Holidays | Thursday Every Thursday and the third Wednesday |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted |
| Seating | 18 seats: 1 sofa, 4 counters, 5 tables |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
| Website | mug: Facebook |
