Hanok annex café in Gijang, Busan: fig tiramisu, parking — Deokmi

Today I'm introducing Deokmi Gijang Branch, a café on the Gijang coast famous for its wide-open ocean view and handmade tiramisu that changes with the seasons. The sea is right in front of the café, and it connects directly to the Ananti Hilton walking trail, making it a perfect stop on a Gijang drive course.

Deokmi Gijang Branch hours and where to park

Deokmi Gijang Branch is open 11:00–21:30 on weekdays and 10:30–21:30 on weekends. There's parking for about 15 cars right beside the café.

On weekends or weekday evenings, though, it can get crowded with visitors to the Ananti coastal walking trail as well. If the lot is full, I'd recommend parking near the Dongam Haenyeo Welfare Center, which is within walking distance.

Right out front is a wide-open view of the Gijang sea. You can also see Haedong Yonggungsa temple clearly in the distance.

Main building or hanok annex: which seats to pick at Deokmi

Deokmi Gijang Branch runs two spaces, the main building and the annex. Order at the counter in the main building, then grab whichever seat you like.

Main building: the floor-to-ceiling windows open right onto the Gijang sea. Even on days when the waves are rough, it's really nice to watch the water from inside. You can also browse the display case of handmade cakes and tiramisu samples and pick your own.

The ocean view from the main building. The waves were rough that day, which made watching the sea through the window all the more satisfying.

Annex: the interior leans into the warmth of a traditional hanok (Korean traditional house), so if you prefer a cozy, old-fashioned atmosphere, this is the spot to pick.

Deokmi Gijang Branch drink menu and the free decaf swap

Here's the drink menu at Deokmi Gijang Branch. There are the usual basic coffee drinks, and the decaf swap comes with no extra charge. Cream lattes and milk tea are also on offer.

Deokmi always rolls out menu items using seasonal ingredients, and since it was mid-September, figs were in season, so there were fig ade and fig lattes too. We ordered a decaf americano and a rose the neuve milk tea.

Seasonal fig tiramisu and Oreo cheesecake at Deokmi

Deokmi Gijang Branch is also very well known for its handmade cakes and tiramisu. In particular, the tiramisu comes out in seasonal versions — fig, mango, strawberry, peach, and more — so there's something new to try each season.

We chose the fig tiramisu and the Oreo cheesecake. There's plenty of seating inside the main building, and you can browse the tiramisu and cake samples before deciding.

While we were taking in the view, the desserts and coffee arrived. The presentation alone made it impossible for this not to taste good.

First, the Oreo cheesecake was a basic cheesecake with crunchy Oreo bits mixed in. The rich, dense cream cheese base gets extra texture from the crunchy Oreo cookies. It's not overly sharp or sweet, so it's easy to enjoy, and it pairs especially well with an americano.

Next is this season's headliner, the fig tiramisu. True to a shop that really knows tiramisu, they always use top-quality ingredients. As you'd expect from a place known for its fruit tiramisu, it's piled high with glossy, fresh, in-season figs. The cross-section reveals three carefully stacked layers, where the fig's gentle sweetness blends with fragrant Earl Grey cream for a deep, rich flavor.

Rose Thé Noir milk tea and decaf americano

Next we tried the rose the neuve milk tea. Behind the pleasant sweetness, a subtle rose fragrance lingers, giving dessert time a touch of luxury.

The decaf americano wasn't one of those flat, flavor-stripped decafs either — the nutty aroma of the beans came through clearly, and we enjoyed it alongside the desserts. After a pleasant tea time at Deokmi, we wrapped things up with a walk around Ananti.

Is Deokmi Gijang Branch worth the drive?

Deokmi Gijang Branch delivered on both fronts — a wide-open ocean view and beautifully executed seasonal desserts. The tiramisu made with in-season fruit was impressive enough that I'd want to come back every season, and small touches like the free decaf swap showed real thoughtfulness. Since the Ananti coastal walking trail connects right after the café, it's a café that's more than worthy of a Gijang drive date course.