The Loft

Well, coming back to Loft years after moving outta Norwalk proves how spoiled I've gotten. I'll stick to Tisane in Hartford for my martinis, but Loft isn't half bad. It's just okay. The trendy ambiance makes for a comfortable visit when the lounge isn't teeming with frat-kid spillover from Black Bear down the street.

The martini menu seems extensive but isn't terribly creative. Espresso martini, flirtini, cosmo, appletini - the usual suspects, but I WILL give some love to the chocolate martini. While I don't usually go for dessert drinks, this sweet & creamy libation is just about perfect. Smirnoff Vodka with a splash of Godiva liquor, White Crème de Cacao with a cocoa rim. Best of all, a hershey's kiss rests on the bottom of the glass. Awww.

So, while you'll surely encounter the exhaustingly 'trendy' SoNo crowd, the lounge is a decent spot for a decent martini. Just don't expect tea infusions or antipasti bobbing around. Come up to Hartford for that (whatupppppp Treva & Tisane).

If you are a college kid back for the summer, this is the place to go on certain nights.  I went last week and felt like I was back at school.  Thursdays they have an open bar from 9-11.  It's definitely an in-between bar and not where you want to be all night long.

The Loft is a fun place to go if you are a martini lover. They have a great selection of martinis and a menu (which is more important than it sounds - I hate going to places that have no drink menu). Their prices are fairly reasonable as well for very good drinks. I definitely recommend all the chocolate martinis - one of them comes with a Hershey Kiss at the bottom of the glass.

One complaint is that there is not a lot of seating. It tends to get crowded in the front by the DJ and at the bar. There is a nice area towards the back of lounge-style seating but it usually fills up quickly. For some reason, the upstairs is always closed off with a chain - probably so that they appear packed on the first floor. There is a coat rack in the back - not a coat check, but a place where you can hang up your coat - which I appreciate because I hate being forced to pay an extra $2 to $3 to check my coat.