Project Seoul is a spacious new Korean cafe and coffee shop in Kensington Market. Bright and airy, with the bonus of an outdoor seating area, it serves up specialty drinks and desserts, with everything from sweet yam lattes to icy strawberry bingsu. 

A student study haven, the cafe is thoughtfully designed with ample seating, cozy nooks, and yes, even computer outlets.

Minimalistic with pops of matcha green and plenty of plants, the calming space is conducive to both conversations with friends and settling into a productive workflow.

For owner Martin Park, creating a spacious and comforting cafe inspired by those you might find in Seoul was always the goal. 

"Cafes in Korea are very spacious," Park shared with blogTO. "As we are located near the UofT campus, we knew that a lot of the traffic would be students looking to study and catch up with friends, and we wanted to create a comfortable vibe for people!" 

Whether you choose one of the bar seats overlooking Spadina Avenue or a roomy table tucked inside, there's a spot for everyone. 

My favourite place is toward the back of the cafe, where a wall-to-wall folding window opens in warmer months, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor flow.

Outside are a few coveted seats on what feels like a hidden garden balcony.

The cafe menu features a range of hot and iced beverages, including your everyday espresso and cappuccino, as well as more unique Korean-inspired offerings. 

Take the Iced Corn Cream Latte ($7.49), for instance. This popular Korean drink combines the rich, bitter flavour of espresso with the natural sweetness of corn. 

"In Korea, there's a lot of sweet corn," Park explained. "We don't have the same kind of corn here, so I wanted to find a way to imitate that specific taste. We use canned corn, blend it, strain the juices, and put some sugar to try and make it as tasty as possible."

Creamy, frothy, and subtly sweet, this latte is a must-try. 

Another signature on the menu is the Iced Strawberry Matcha Latte ($7.49). Fruity and refreshing, this highly praised customer favourite balances the earthy bitterness of ceremonial-grade matcha with the sweetness of fresh strawberries. 

To eat, there's a selection of bingsu, croffles, baked goods like scones and matcha cookies, and generous slabs of black sesame, strawberry, mango, and blueberry cake. 

The Brown Cheese Croffle ($9.99) is a buttery croissant-turned-waffle, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a generous dusting of specialty cheese with a distinct caramel-like flavour. Sweet and slightly savoury, this is one waffle where you won't miss the maple syrup. 

To share, I'd recommend any of the bingsu, a refreshing Korean shaved ice dessert. 

The Strawberry Bingsu ($16.99) starts with Project Seoul's secret fluffy ice blend, made from condensed and regular milk. Inside the snowy mound is a homemade strawberry compote, and the top is decorated with big, bright, fresh strawberries. 

Considering the price for a case of strawberries these days, the strawberry bingsu is well worth it as a summertime treat to cool off. It comes with a side of condensed milk to adjust the sweetness.

The Matcha Bingsu ($16.99) is similar, except instead of strawberries, you get the pleasant sweet-bitter taste of matcha. On the side is a traditional sweet red bean sauce.

Already buzzing with regulars less than two months since opening, Project Seoul is a welcome addition to the neighbourhood. 

Project Seoul is located at 355 Spadina Avenue on the second floor above Daldongnae.