Mercure Ambassador Ulsan Opus Afternoon Tea

Embarking on a journey to Ulsan in search of afternoon tea. Starting from Paju, I took a bus, subway, airplane, and another bus transfer, leaving home around 7 AM and arriving at the hotel by noon. Honestly, traveling such a long distance just for afternoon tea might not have been easy. However, the hotel package included afternoon tea, offered stunning views, and even had a charming ocean-view Starbucks right next to the hotel! With all these enticing factors, I couldn’t resist. Since there was some time before the afternoon tea, I first visited Starbucks to relax and then headed to the hotel next door. After checking in, I went to enjoy the afternoon tea. There isn’t a separate lounge for the tea; it’s served at Opus, the venue for breakfast and dinner buffets. Afternoon tea can be enjoyed either in a designated room inside or on the outdoor terrace. I had initially expected the Healing Garden on the 4th floor, but it seems the location changes depending on the situation. I visited the area the next day, and it resembled the outdoor terrace. Both locations offer ocean-view outdoor spaces, allowing you to enjoy afternoon tea with a healing view. The shaded terrace at Opus seemed preferable as it was less hot. Despite the scorching weather exceeding 30°C, the cool breeze made it bearable. I managed to stay outdoors for about two hours. The menu included ham and cheese sandwiches, plain scones, and five types of sweets: four kinds of cookies, egg tarts, financiers, three types of macarons, and yogurt red velvet cake. Rather than the typical afternoon tea items, the selection felt more like a collection of bakery bestsellers. The scones were quite good, and the croissant in the sandwich was delicious. Since this was the first launch and demand is still low, the offerings felt somewhat lacking. However, with gradual improvements and a focus on creating unique signatures and details, this place could become a popular spot in the Ulsan area. For drinks, you could choose from three types of tea bags. However, since some people prefer coffee or other beverages over tea, offering more variety would be a good idea. If they effectively utilize the concept of afternoon tea on a terrace with an ocean view, this place could become a nationwide tourist attraction. Thank you.