After walking through a hill to see the Gujora Fortress, a fortress built during the Chosun time period in Korea to protect against foreign invaders, I definitely needed some refreshment!
Tip: bring comfortable shoes if you are going to visit the fortress, as the path is very rocky!
After the hike, my friends and I were relieved to see Oedo Nursery café, located close by the fortress. It was only about a 10 minute walk away.
This nursery themed café was one of my favorites from my trip to Geoje island! You instantly feel like you are entering a secret garden when you enter the walkway to Oedo Nursery café surrounded by tall trees. The building is made of clear glass with green structures.
The head chef pâtissière is Kim Jisu, who trained under Paul Bocuse (a Michelin star chef) at the Institut Paul Bocuse.
They have displays of their desserts and pictures of each drink. Their desserts ranged from madeleines to various shiny and colorful cakes.
Since we were parched from walking in the heat, we ended up just getting some drinks. The drinks were pricey, ranging from 7,000-8,500 Korean won (about $6.5-8 USD), as is expected for a tourist location by the beach. They are worth it if you want that gorgeous aesthetic!
Once you order, you are given a buzzer to alert you when your drink is ready.
Gujora Ade was definitely beautiful, combining the tart taste of yuja citrus ade with lavender tea. Since the lavender tea comes separately in a small bottle, when you pour the lavender tea into the ade, it creates a magnificent color meant to symbolize the sunset on Gujora beach.
The Brewing Tropical Ice Tea was delicious with brewed tropical crimson tea and a jelly-like green grape syrup on the bottom. Make sure you mix this drink together to get the full conglomeration of flavors.
If you like tart drinks, the Raspberry Mojito is also a great choice with lime and apple-mint flavors mixed with raspberry. This drink is non-alcoholic, so it is perfect for any age!
The interior was definitely full of people but did not feel overly crowded because of the very high ceilings and the sunshine shining in through the windows. Being surrounded by plants also created a sense of peace in the midst of everything.
Since the weather was sunny, sitting outside in the back was a must, as you can get a very nice view of the Gujora beach. I just wish they had more shade as it did a bit hot after an extended time, but I still enjoyed the peacefulness of looking at the water while sipping my drink!
They also have a small nursery and garden in the back, where they host private events.
I definitely recommend Oedo Nursery if you are looking for a place by Gujora beach to sit and enjoy drinks with friends or with a loved one!
Location: 21 Gujora-ro 4-gil, Irun-myeon, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea
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