Gwangalli café to escape the midday summer heat: Deokmi Atelier

Escaping the midday summer heat at a Gwangalli dessert café

Deokmi Atelier Gwang-an Branch is a Gwangalli dessert café I visited after lunch to get away from the midday heat on a summer trip to Busan. The sun was so hot at midday that walking around outdoors was tough. So after lunch I looked for somewhere cool to have a coffee, and went to a Gwangalli café I had saved on my map for a while. Gwangalli has so many atmospheric cafés, but this one satisfied me on both mood and desserts, so I want to introduce it :)

The Gwangalli dessert café I went to is Deokmi Atelier Gwang-an Branch. You can have brunch, dessert and coffee here, and it's known for its European-feeling interior and French toast made in-house.

When I actually visited, the atmosphere was really good, so it suits a date, and it's such a pretty space for photos that you end up staying a long time.

What is the atmosphere at Deokmi Atelier like?

From the outside, Deokmi Atelier looks like a small café on a European side street, and inside, the high ceiling and brick arches are the focus. I felt that European-alley vibe from the outside already, and when I opened the door it was much better than I'd expected.

It's good for quiet conversation and pretty for photos, so I could see right away why couples come here so often for dates. It's also close to Gwangalli Beach, so it's a perfect stop after a walk by the sea.

Once inside, the first things you notice are the high ceiling and brick arches. Wood-toned furniture, warm lighting and vintage props blend together naturally, so it felt like visiting a small café in Europe.

The big solid-wood table in the middle was impressive too. It felt comfortable whether you come alone, chat with a friend or come on a date.

With natural light coming in through the windows, photos turn out pretty from any seat. There are so many atmospheric details that I kept taking photos even while waiting for my drink.

Deokmi Atelier menu and coffee bean choices

For brunch, Deokmi Atelier sells sandwiches and several kinds of French toast, and it also has lots of house-made cakes and desserts. They have a wide variety of sandwiches and French toast, and plenty of special homemade cakes and desserts.

Everything looked so good that choosing was a happy dilemma :)

When you order coffee at Deokmi Atelier, you can pick one of three beans: the seasonal fruity bean with a bright fruity acidity, the nutty bean with deep, toasty nut flavor, or decaf, which you can switch to for free. It's nice to choose by your own taste.

• Seasonal fruity: bright fruity acidity
• Nutty: deep, toasty nut flavor
• Decaf: free to switch

After ordering I looked around the café, and it's full of atmospheric props, so pretty! If you like cozy aesthetic cafés, you'll definitely love this place.

How was the crème brûlée French toast?

The crème brûlée French toast at Deokmi Atelier has its surface torched to make a crisp caramel layer, and it was the item I was most looking forward to on this visit. It looked really appetizing, with the top torched by hand to make that crackly crème brûlée caramel layer.

The texture is great: slightly crisp outside and moist inside. The bread was soaked through nicely and the cream on top was smooth, and from the first bite I thought, so this is why it's famous as a Gwangalli French toast spot. If you usually like French toast, you really have to try this one!

The fresh mango tiramisu we ordered with it

The fresh mango tiramisu at Deokmi Atelier is a dessert topped generously with fresh mango, with cream and tiramisu layered inside. The fresh mango tiramisu we ordered alongside was really good too. Fresh mango was piled on top without holding back, and inside were layers of soft cream and tiramisu. The soft texture of tiramisu and the sweetness of the mango went together well, and I enjoyed it.

If you're looking for a good date café or a dessert café with a nice mood in Gwangalli, I hope you'll visit Deokmi Atelier Gwang-an Branch!