This is one of the best dining experiences I've had in a long while. The vibe and atmosphere was fantastic. Chill and intimate but also upbeat and unique with a great music selection. The food from the appetizers to the entrees were so flavorful I thoroughly enjoyed each bite. Great drinks as well and price point was just right. Highly recommend. read more

My friends and I went here for a birthday dinner and the service was subpar to say the least. The server herself was nice at first, but would stay focused on the bar and disappear from us for 15-20 minutes at a time. We would ask her questions about the menu and she looked like she didn't want to answer them. It also seemed as though she was rushing us through our order. My friend wasn't done telling her the specifics about her order when she turned to me and asked me for mine. I had to redirect her back to my friend so she could finish taking her order. The food was okay-ish. The noodles I got were hard to chew and the grilled chicken add on ($8 extra btw) was hard and grilled too crispy. We paid our bill in full and left no tip because the service left something to be desired and the attitude of the servers were more focused on other people. As soon as we go downstairs...another patron comes downstairs with OUR bill (that had our signatures on it bc it was a split bill) to harass us about not tipping the waitress. She mentioned that she used to work there and that she was given the bill and followed us downstairs. We were ordering our ride and she sat downstairs to wait for us to leave and said she wasn't leaving until we got our ride. We begin to go back and forth so that she can leave us alone, when one of my friends goes upstairs to find a manager (who wasn't there). A couple of minutes later, one of the bartenders comes downstairs (She has blonde ends and lip filler) and instead of trying to apologize for her friend's rude behavior just looks at her and says "It's fine" and tries to get her to go back upstairs. No apology was given nor did she try to make us feel like she was sorry it happened. I don't know what kind of establishment gives the bill of customers to other patrons, but I did not appreciate being harassed for something that wasn't her business in the first place. Overall, the lack of remorse and apologies has left a bad taste in my mouth and I will not be returning. read more

After going to The Loft more times than I can count, it's officially my go-to spot when I'm out with my closest friends. The vibe is always on point, the energy is fun, and it never disappoints. The blonde bartender is hands down one of my favorites -- she's attentive, welcoming, and always makes sure we're taken care of from the first drink to last call. That kind of service makes all the difference. As for the food, I genuinely haven't had a single disappointing meal or appetizer. Everything we've tried has been solid. My favorite drink on the menu is the Espresso Martini, perfect every time. They also have a great variety of drinks, so there's something for everyone. If you're looking for a fun night out with great food, amazing drinks, and a place to actually enjoy time with your friends, this is the place. They also host a ton of events, so definitely check out their Facebook page ahead of time so you can plan your night accordingly. read more

I had the pleasure of hosting my wife's 30th birthday party at the Loft and I cannot fully express how wonderful the evening was. From the beautiful space to the delicious food and drinks-everything was perfect. Mary and the whole team are some of the best in the Capital Region and are the definition of exemplary hospitality. I can't recommend them enough for a nice date night or a private party, no matter the occasion they'll make it memorable. read more

This restaurant is one of my absolute favorite, extra spicy drunken noodles and a glass of wine is to die for! The ladies that work there are always so kind and attentive. Going in there is like an nyc speakeasy experience. Love the vibes food and service!! 10/10 experience read more

came here Friday night after my best friend's birthday dinner to grab a couple of drinks, and unfortunately the experience was really disappointing. We ordered four espresso martinis, a Tito's soda, and a Corona. The Tito's soda and Corona came out, but our espresso martinis never did. We waited about 40 minutes with no updates, no check-in, and basically felt ignored the entire time. When we finally decided to leave, the server was apologetic, but it was frustrating to watch her doing other tasks behind the bar that (as someone who bartends myself) didn't seem urgent while people were clearly waiting on drinks. A little communication or prioritization would have made a big difference. read more

I recently had the absolute pleasure of dining at the loft, and I can confidently say it was one of the most memorable restaurant experiences I have ever had. From the moment we walked in the atmosphere was warm, stylish,inviting, perfect lighting, and an energy that felt both upscale and comfortable. The food was incredible. But the real star of the night was the blonde bartender. I have to give a huge shout out to the genius behind the bar. Not only were the cocktails, expertly, crafted, balanced, bold and absolutely delicious but the bartender's personality evaluate the entire evening. She was knowledgeable, attentive, and charming. I would highly recommend trying out the loft. read more

My group and I didn't like the food, the service was subpar, we waited minutes to be seated despite us making a reservation, we were seated in the smack middle of a speed dating event (which we were completely unaware of until we we sat down), and we were chased down for tip by someone who was previously employed there (I could provide a name if necessary). She was holding our bill that was given to her by our server with our signatures, while demanding that we should tip. She proceeded to say "she didn't know we were black" and she stayed with my party in the downstairs area while our ride came to pick us up. It seems like the behavior was condoned by every employee who was present, because not a sliver of remorse or even a beginning of an apology was expressed to us. read more

My wife and I recently tried The Loft 205 for the first time and had a great experience. I really like bourbon and couldn't decide, so I went with the bartender's choice. Jen our bartender/server recommended a ny whiskey sour. I've never heard of it before, but it tasted great and the presentation was cool. My wife loved her cherry tequila drink. We asked for some recommendations since it was our first time and Jen really knew the menu inside and out. She recommended the short rib croquettes and lamb lollipops. Both were fantastic. For our entrees, my wife had salmon while I got the vodka chicken parm and had plenty of leftovers. We didn't save enough room for dessert but if we did we would have gotten the fried ice cream. Super attentive and friendly service and we loved the ambiance here. I wish we knew about this spot sooner. Can't wait to come back for the pasta night special!! read more

LOVED IT.....you can't go wrong with the LOFT 205!!! Great good & cocktails are CAPITAL!!

This spot just isn't for me, but it might fit your vibe more. The Loft upstairs comes across (to me) as more of an intimate date spot verse a go hang out and have a drink spot. There is nothing wrong with that, it just isn't going to give you what you need if you want to just chill at the bar. Based on some of the reviews, I think i'm lucky at the time of day (615ish) as the music was not loud, and it was not overly crowded, as some reviews mention rather loud music etc. That was not the case while I was there. There is an okay whiskey selection if you're looking for some good stuff. read more

The Loft is embracing a dining concept that is few and far between in this area, amazing crafted cocktails and tapas. They are also totally delivering on a big city vibe, you absolutely feel like you've left Albany. I've been perusing the menu and wanting to check this place out for a few months. Now I'm just upset I waited this long. As a frequent diner of various places, I really started appreciating excellent service, and The Loft really served tonight. The Loft is a small space with few tables, and very well staffed. We felt catered to, drinks came quickly even though they were excellently crafted, food came at perfect times and were served beautifully. Tonight we indulged on several cocktails and small plates. I saw they were making cocktails with Empress Gin, which I've had my eye on. At our request, our server/bartender made us three unique cocktails highlighting the Empress Gin, which were not on their menu. Those were all perfectly balanced and the liquor quality was sky high. I can't wait to purchase a bottle now that I have experienced that. We also ordered a few cocktails off the menu. Every drink we ordered made us crave another. It was simply perfect. This is the place to go if you want to lush out and feel bougie. I was really blown away with the food. From simple dishes, to unique finds, they nailed on flavor and presentation far past my expectations. First round was my choice, escargot and avocado fries. This was not our first time having escargot but, it had been a while. The meat was so soft and tender, mildly earthy, the flavor was buttery and garlic forward. They were fantastic. Don't fear the snails. The avo-fries were technically perfect. Crispy and creamy. The sauces were the perfect compliment. The second round of small plates were my friends choice, Crispy Rice Bombs and Pork Belly Bao buns. The crispy rice bombs were a perfect bite, fresh spicy tuna on top of crispy rice. I love spicy tuna and they delivered. Lastly, we had the pork belly bao buns. These were great as well, nice pillowy buns and tender meat inside. We do wish the cucumber was sliced slightly thinner but that was so minor. It was such an excellent night and I definitely have a new go to spot. I can't wait to come and try more drinks and more of the menu. read more

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Loft was the type of place I eagerly anticipated opening because the pictures made it look absolutely fabulous. They originally were meant to be a special venue for private events, but sounds like they adapted (like so many of us had to) with the covid pandemic to be a hybrid events space-restaurant. It's easy to see why this would be a great space for an event. Upon walking in, the soft lighting, twinkle lights, and wood paneling give off such a warm yet down-to-earth vibe. We started with drinks, which were exquisitely made. I particularly loved the lychee martini- just the right balance of flavors and not overly sweet. The chocolate martini is also to die for- who says you can't have dessert first?? The food was good, but much smaller portions than we had hoped for. This being an excuse to try several things off the menu, we ordered three dishes to try. The jumbo bang bang shrimp were the star of the show to me, which was surprising because they weren't my selection, but they were amazing. Meatballs were okay, perfectly cooked and moist, but lacked any real "wow" factor that made me feel like they were something above what I'd make for myself at home. The beef short ribs were also perfectly cooked, though again didn't bring anything unique that I couldn't have made myself. wanted to love this place, because everything about the setting and the menus reminded me of LA or NYC. Unfortunately, they fall just a tiny bit short of a true 5-star experience for me. Additionally, my friends and I ended up grabbing a slice of pizza an hour later because we didn't feel like the portions had really done much for us. That being said, if you don't mind splurging a little, it's a great place to escape Lark street and enjoy a truly lovely ambience and first-rate cocktails. The chocolate martini could be a meal on its own (and maybe should be...). read more

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I'm glad we are neighbors, literally our buildings touch. I can smell their food sometimes in my apartment. Love the sound track... Miami lounge vibe, punctuated by the energetic sounds of the bar patrons. Despite the small group the acoustics make it energetic. Curious how It will be on a Saturday night. The food. Great! I had 2 apps for dinner, he had pasta and of course 2 desserts. Each bite delicious and well presented. Try a cocktail! Yes, get the escargot. Just the right amount of garlic, butter and bread. Followed by the rice bomb, spicy, crunchy and good little bite of tuna. Penne alla vodka met his comfort food quotient. Carrot cake was large but we crushed that along with the flourless chocolate cake. The portions are just the right size to allow for having so many tasty morsels. We will be back. read more

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Be careful parking here. I received a $55 ticket for double parking. I parked between two cars, obviously picked the wrong spot. The lines are not easy to see. They were barely visible. Those lines need to be re-painted and visible. read more

Great drinks and food. Nice quiet little place in the city. The service was good and the atmosphere was top tier.

A fun night out, cool atmosphere, but food wasn't anything to write home about. For apps, we got the avocado fries (MVP of the night, fried to perfection with a yummy sauce to dip), meatballs (meh), and vegetarian spring rolls (average, lacked a distinctive flavor). For main course, my s/o got the drunken noodles-- he took advantage of the vegan prep option. They were okay, but nothing special here. Perhaps with a tofu option, the dish would have been more substantial. I got the rigatoni alla vodka-- which was good, but I really wish our server would have checked in during the meal rather than immediately after the food was delivered before we even had a chance to take our first bite. By the time we were acknowledged, it was too late to ask for any Parmesan cheese or anything to make the drunken noodles better. Cocktails were good. I tried the peachy basil mule and the creamy espresso martini. I'd recommend both. Overall a decent meal, but probably wouldn't go out of our way to return. read more

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best plate EVER. prime rib with triple garlic mash & broccoli. Atmosphere is so calming and trendy read more

The Loft 205 - prime rib in a teriyaki sauce - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Albany, New York

Drinks were strong but food was subpar. It felt like it was going for some sort of ambiance but didn't quite get there. I bet on the weekend it's better but it was only my friend and I for about 30 min and the bartender (only one in the area) would disappear for 5-10 minutes at a time. Then another group showed up as we were close to being done and it took about 20 min for our check to arrive even though the other group had all the things. It was strange. I liked the drinks but probably wouldn't go back. read more

My girlfriend and I decided to do an early dinner because we did not have a res and heard this spot gets very busy. We grabbed two seats at the bar and wait a long time to be asked for drink selections. The two bartenders did appear to be very busy however returning from the dining appear to make service tickets and prepare craft cocktails. My Aperol Spritz was excellent and my gf ordered a gin cocktail N/A. I am surprised there is not a mocktial menu. I had my heart set on a glass of wine but after researching the red options that I was unfamiliar on Vivino, I saw the wines were about five star $15 bottles . I think this venue could support a high end wine menu and would love to see more options! We were given only one dinner menu to share. We waited a long time to place a order food so my gf asked the bartender upon her return if we could order. We both chose a chicken sandwich and she replied, Oh that is an old menu, we are not serving the sandwich! She gave us another menu, again just one, and we decided to share Avacado fries, Bao and Bang bang shrimp. Each of the three appetizers were delicious and served with flair. I love the metal basket the fries were served and there were two dipping sauces, a ranch and duck sauce. The Bao was fluffy and the cucumbers were snappy and fresh. My favorite was the Bang bang shrimp served over frise and decorative sauce. The vibe is energetic, loud music, hip black and white decor and a very friendly staff. I plan to try entrees and a craft cocktail my next visit. read more

The Loft 205 - Bao - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Albany, New York

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Great ambience with bumpin' music, dark sexy atmosphere and on top of that, good food and drinks. We came hungry, decided to go tapas-style and got the escargot, rice balls, charcuterie plate and pork buns to share. All were tasty. Staff were attentive. Will definitely be back to try more of the cocktails. read more

Wow!! Amazing place and foods!! Delicious foods and good friendly service. Definitely go again. read more

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OOF. I am so very sad to report that The Loft is utterly disappointing from start to finish. Cocktails were...bad. Overpriced to say the most. Go to Savoy for (often cheaper) and MUCH BETTER QUALITY. To start, We got the meatballs and the soup du jour which was French onion. The 15$ Meatballs (3) were extremely DRY and sauce was mundane. The French onion soup isn't even worth mentioning. As for our entrees, I got the creamy garlic mushroom pasta, 24$ - it was not what I expected. The sauce was brown and greasy. Really nothing "creamy" about it. The 4$ up charge to add chicken seemed reasonable until I saw the thin little piece of chicken they grilled to a dry crisp. My bf got the rigatoni, again over 20$, which we knew was going to disappoint us as soon as we tasted the meatballs. Overall, we paid $150 and sadly: left hungry, sober, and wondering why didn't just cook at home. It happens, but we had very high hopes for this place as it boasts as being "insta" worthy...etc. i thought that would explain the prices but alas, there is simply no explanation. (See photos). We feel duped. Go to Savoy instead. Or stay home. Just don't waste your time at The Loft 205. read more

The Loft 205 - French onion soup, meatballs - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Albany, New York

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been here only once, and it was a great experience. the restaurant was hard to find at first, it's located on a corner upstairs from another restaurant. it's low lighting which i personally love. it's small but not crowded. it is a little loud with all the convos everyone has, so you can't hear the restaurant music. food was really good! i especially loved the avocado fries. drinks were 10/10 as well. read more

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This is a very cool spot. The atmosphere can't be beat- it's somewhat of a "hidden gem" being tucked away on the second floor of building overlooking Lark St. Food has been phenomenal each time I've gone. Everything is packed with flavor and has a unique touch. Chicken fried rice, the short rib, and the meatball appetizer are a few of my personal favorites but you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Would highly recommend this place to anyone coming to Albany and I can't wait to go back read more

Overrated. Not a great experience. Meat entrees over a vegan bar called "Bar Vegan?" Sort of hilarious... food's all right, but a lot of trashy patrons on the night I was there; a hard pass. read more

Their food was decent but way overpriced. $23 for chicken fried rice that was mostly rice and $3 to add an egg (you can buy a dozen eggs for less than $3). Then they charged our table over $12 for using a credit card. Unreal... Too many other restaurants in the area to visit. I also notice this place was pretty dead for prime seating time on a Saturday night... wonder why. read more

Excellent! Great food and cocktails! Our bartender/server was knowledgeable and friendly. The manager checked in on us to make sure everything was perfect. And it was perfect! Just passing through Albany, but when we come back this way we will definitely go back to The Loft 205! read more