Gwangalli dessert café for a two-hour laptop stay: Deokmi Atelier

25 Gwangnam-ro 172beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan A café near Gwangalli Beach Fri–Sun 10:30–21:00 Mon–Thu 12:00–21:00

Deokmi Atelier Gwang-an Branch: how did it win everyone's heart?

I went to Deokmi Atelier (덕미 아틀리에) Gwang-an Branch, a café that I figured out right away how it wins people over. Haeundae, Gijang, and now Gwangalli. Whenever I searched for cafés at Busan landmarks, a café called "Deokmi" kept popping up in a few places, and I wondered, "Is this a local brand?" The name sounds like a person's name, which is unusual, and the reviews were all praise, so I went to find out what the charm was. And the moment I arrived, I realized how it wins people over, especially women, as soon as I walked in.

A converted-house interior and a resident cat

Deokmi Atelier in Gwangalli is a café converted from a house, and the outside looks like an old family home. Walking through the gate felt like going over to a childhood friend's house. Inside, the wood tones were warm and neat, which I loved. But that's not all. When I saw a photo of the resident cat posted in front of the counter, I thought, "Of course, a cat is what completes an interior."

Of course, the cat isn't everything. The interior seemed to take its motif from a house in the European countryside, especially the English suburbs, and it felt warm. Illustrations, palettes and other things here and there evoke the word "atelier," so it felt almost like peeking into someone's private space. The place felt wonderfully secure.

Menu and prices: choosing from dessert models

Deokmi Atelier was known as a café with especially good desserts in Gwangalli. There were various cakes, led by the eye-catching fresh mango tiramisu, and even waffle-pudding-style cakes, which are trendy these days. Dessert models sit in front of the counter so you can see at a glance what each item is, which makes ordering easy even for foreigners.

Fresh mango tiramisu ₩12,000 Crème brûlée French toast ₩13,000 Iced Americano ₩5,500 Iced decaf Americano ₩5,500 Mango ade ₩7,000

The drinks and desserts at Deokmi Atelier were really pretty. You can sense greenery through the window, and the plates and cups harmonized with the wood-tone interior. How to put it, in the most overused word, the plating had "vibes." The iced Americano served in a mug rather than a glass was special, and the powdered sugar sprinkled over the fresh mango tiramisu felt anything but careless. The mango ade, loaded with fruit pulp, was a refreshing summer drink in itself! I couldn't think of prettier desserts and drinks to brighten my time in Gwangalli, Busan. I was very satisfied.

Americano, decaf and mango ade

The iced Americano used beans with little acidity and a nutty flavor, and it wasn't dull, so I thought it was ordinary but good. My friend who drank the iced decaf, though, was enthusiastic. I rarely drink decaf so I can't tell, but she said, "It's not easy for decaf to be this good." The mango ade was low on sweetness, and with sparkling water and a mango purée with a stronger natural flavor, its freshness stood out. I can't handle very sweet drinks or food, so I was happy with it.

Fresh mango tiramisu ₩12,000

True to the name, fresh mango dice sat on top of the tiramisu. The sponge and cream were soft, and it didn't feel like the parts were separate in my mouth, perhaps because they used dairy cream. The mango dice had a decent sweetness, and the light dusting of powdered sugar on top added a subtle bit more. Texture and sweetness were both just right, so I'd recommend it to anyone who likes mango.

Crème brûlée French toast ₩13,000

The crème brûlée French toast at Deokmi in Gwangalli seemed to be well-baked brioche toast cooked with plenty of egg wash and milk. On top was cream made the crème brûlée way (I think with egg whites or similar), topped with syrup and cinnamon powder, so the sweet, moist taste stood out. This French toast sits somewhere between a brunch bread and a dessert. It doesn't have the traditional crème brûlée "crack," but the flavor is similar, so I guess that's why they gave it that name.

A mood comfortable enough for two hours

I rarely sit in cafés for long. But that day, the cozy, comfortable space at Deokmi Atelier kept me there for almost two hours, talking and even squeezing in some laptop work. I looked around thinking, "Have I been here too long?" and everyone seemed to be sitting a long time, chatting comfortably.

There were also many people dressed up and taking photos in the garden or indoors. With the gray brick building's faint old-world charm and the green garden, I could see the photos coming out well. It wasn't just one or two people, so I'd guess this place is pretty hot on Instagram and the like.

The friendly cat sleeping by the gate

The little guy who was being cute indoors and demanding (?) pets was sound asleep by the gate when I left. He was sprawled out so comfortably that he kept pretending to sleep despite my rough hands. My own cat would have run away long ago! If you visit Deokmi Atelier, the Gwangalli dessert café, please go pet this friendly cat once. He's seriously hilarious, haha.

Overall verdict

On the things people value in a café (space, drinks, desserts), I was mostly satisfied. It billed itself as an atelier, and it felt like stepping into someone's private space. The inside is small and cozy, and oddly it's easy to focus on conversation, which I liked too. As someone with the affliction of wanting to touch every cat I see, the cat was a huge selling point for me.