he existential coffee shops by day elevated to cocktail-swigging barrooms by night were common fixtures that lured thirsty and jaded locals in droves. With The Embassy, resourceful club-kid owners, Anthony Aarts and Dave and Lucy Brandon, have revisited some of that turf.

This bright, little cafe/bar has become a big hit in Kensington Market, having stolen the heart of many locals. While the area's latest possession may not compete with clubland or King Street West, this easygoing and multiform bar seems to have enough engaging magnetism to generate citywide interest.

A twisted pretzel of DIY-ness and a low-key location that seems on the verge of exploding into an inferno of gunfire, The Embassy strives to be the end-all, be-all of underachiever café-bars and comes so close to achieving its goal that one feels petty for registering any complaints. Instead of setting up the standard café template, the young owners have tried to turn any expectations on their head, throwing in a mix of nightly entertainment from the get-go and letting the locals create the place’s personality.

“We just wanted something fun and less mainstream,” says David Brandon. “We didn’t have a clear vision at the beginning, but as area residents, we wanted something that Kensington regulars could help create.”

“The bar is growing up very organically,” echoes Lucy, “The place took such a long time to develop, that the whole vision has been pretty erratic. Also, we were fairly naive at the beginning.”