Anguk brunch bistro with a two-tier gravlax tray: Debbie's

What is Debbie's, the brunch spot near Anguk Station?

Debbie's is a brunch restaurant at 45 Changdeokgung-gil, near Anguk Station in Seoul. Walk along the quiet wall of Changdeokgung palace and you'll find this very special space.

Debbie's is a brunch restaurant and bistro run directly by Debbie, one half of the designer couple behind the fashion brand Andy & Debb! It was converted from a 60-year-old Western-style house, and as you'd expect from a designer's space, the taste is really something else, from the entrance to every little prop inside!

Rather than the glamour of a professional chef, Debbie's aims for the warm feel of "Debbie's kitchen," serving the Western home cooking she has long made for family and friends. Maybe that's why I felt so happy the whole time, as if I'd been invited to a stylish European home and looked after :)

Debbie's opening hours and closing days

• Location: 45 Changdeokgung-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (near Anguk Station)
• Wed–Sat: 11:00–21:30, break time 15:00–18:00
• Sun: 11:00–16:30, last order 15:30
• Closed every Monday and Tuesday

What are the second-floor hall and terrace seats like?

You can visit Debbie's with a Naver reservation, and I booked a 1 p.m. brunch! When I arrived, I was shown to the second floor.

The second floor has the main dining hall, and there's a terrace outside too! On a nice day like we're having lately, eating on the open-air terrace and feeling the air of the old palace would be wonderful 🤎

What did we order at Debbie's? Menu and prices

We ordered Debbie's Mimosa (non-alcoholic) for ₩10,000, the Afternoon Gravlax (two-tier tray) for ₩38,000 and Debbie's Benedict for ₩25,000. It was listed in the Blue Ribbon Survey right after opening, so both taste and atmosphere are proven, and my expectations were high. Let me go through them one by one!

• Debbie's Mimosa (non-alcoholic) ₩10,000
• Afternoon Gravlax (two-tier tray) ₩38,000
• Debbie's Benedict ₩25,000

Debbie's Mimosa (non-alcoholic)

I picked the non-alcoholic Debbie's Mimosa as a drink to wake up my taste buds before the meal. You don't miss the alcohol at all: a fresh citrus aroma fills your mouth, and it tasted bright, zesty orange. Perfect for lifting your mood!!

When I finished the mimosa, a staff member said I could add cider or sparkling water, so I asked for sparkling water and they brought me a whole bottle 🤎 The staff were so attentive, even refilling empty water glasses, which made the space more comfortable to use!! I also loved seeing a staff member walk up on their own to take photos for some middle-aged ladies who were about to take pictures on the terrace after their meal. It was so heartwarming and made it a lovely day!

Debbie's Benedict

Debbie's Benedict was a perfect dish, worthy of being called "brunch done right"! The moment you cut in with a knife, the poached egg yolk flows like a waterfall and soaks the fluffy English muffin. That rich, deep savoriness was superb. The balance of comforting yet refined flavors was excellent.

Afternoon Gravlax (two-tier tray)

The Afternoon Gravlax is a salmon dish served on a two-tier tray, and the look alone is overwhelming! The elegant tray, reminiscent of an afternoon tea set, turned our table into a little party in no time 🎉 It comes with Scandinavian-style cold-cured salmon, crispy baguette, dill Greek yogurt and a tomato salad.

Pile fragrant dill Greek yogurt generously on the baguette, layer on the salty salmon and fresh tomato salad, and pop it all in one bite: the layers of flavor come alive in three dimensions and it's a festival in your mouth!!!

Can you see Changdeokgung from the window seats at Debbie's?

Debbie's biggest draw is, without a doubt, the view of Changdeokgung looking down through the big second-floor windows! The old palace's tiled roofs and the trees that change clothes with every season made a scene like a painting. I understood right away why the window seats are so popular 🤎

Debbie's women's restroom

Even the women's restroom at Debbie's has a really upscale feel.

What's on the first floor of Debbie's?

The first floor has an open kitchen, a display area with stylish lifestyle items, and four tables for dining. The space I saw on the way down from the second floor also held the four seasons of Changdeokgung beautifully.

Who would I recommend Debbie's to?

Thanks to the vintage tableware and the tiled roofs outside the window, every photo you take at Debbie's turns out to be a keeper. I strongly recommend it if you want a relaxed meal with stylish interiors in a quiet Wonseo-dong alley! I can't think of a better place for a date or a get-together with someone dear!

Why not spend a special afternoon in this hidden gem next to Changdeokgung? I'm planning to go back to Debbie's soon to try other dishes! Be sure to stop by yourself.