The Loft @205 - Albany (NY)

5 /5 Tressa W: Absolutely amazing! Only had appetizers, but hella good! Got the escargot, rich garlic butter and cheese! By far, my favorite dish of the night! Pork belly boa and gnocchi to finish the night. Pork was so soft and tender, paired great with the cucumber packed just a little crunch! And the gnocchi were sweet little clouds of yummy potatoes in a pesto sauce! Drinks are amazing as well!

5 /5 Toriana Gailliard: Love love love this place. Tried it for the first time yesterday and I already want to go back! Food was 10/10, Drinks are 10/10 please try the Lychee Martini. Jade behind the bar is a sweetheart!! So if you’re looking for a great place to vibe and chat this is the gem of Lark Street in my opinion.

3 /5 Lakeia Madison: Nestled just above Vegar Bar, Loft205 offers a cozy speakeasy atmosphere, but unfortunately, my recent visit left much to be desired. The food, although promising, arrived cold, which significantly dampened the overall experience. The small whiskey bar had a charming vibe, but the lack of warmth in the dishes overshadowed its allure. While the waitress was pleasant, she was new, not properly unsupported, and not yet knowledgeable about the liquor selection or menu offerings. Additionally, during my visit to Loft205, I observed a concerning practice by the busboy. He was removing paper from straws and repackaging them into a box without wearing gloves. Not only was this unhygienic, but it also raised questions about the cleanliness standards of the establishment. Although the drinks were poorly crafted, they were undeniably strong. While we enjoyed the bang bang shrimp, we found the portion size of five medium shrimp for $15 to be slightly overpriced. Despite the atmospheric potential, Loft205 fell short of delivering a memorable dining experience due to the cold food and inexperienced service. Hopefully, these issues can be addressed to elevate the overall quality in the future.

1 /5 JB Peter (Peters YT page): Last night January 3 a group of us went out in Albany. I don’t go out there often anymore—the nightlife isn’t what it once was, though I know the new mayoral administration has plans to revitalize it. We gathered at Bar Vegan The Loft on Lark Street, and by around 10 p.m., the space filled up very quickly with a large group of youngins. Looking around, a significant portion of the crowd appeared underage. There was no ID check at the door and bartenders were not ID’ing at the bar. From past experience, I know how quickly word can spread about places like this. Additionally, the posted fire marshal capacity is 57, and that number was clearly exceeded, which made the environment feel unsafe. Service started off fine, but the tone from the bartenders quickly shifted and became hostile. Our group was refused service because we were wearing green wristbands indicating we were part of a celebration. It’s also important to note that our party was Black. Later, I was told bartenders accused our group of being rowdy and dancing on tables—claims that were simply not true. We were the only group that was clearly older, and we are professionals who value our reputations and how we conduct ourselves. (A friend) At one point, stood patiently at the bar waiting to be served. A blonde bartender with lip fillers looked directly at me, rolled her eyes, intentionally skipped over me, served the young crowd on either side of me, and then moved to the opposite end of the bar. It was clear this was not accidental. Ultimately, we decided to leave because we did not feel safe given the overcrowding, lack of security measures, and the hostile treatment we experienced. I consider myself a respectful individual. I’ve worked on the other side of the bar, tip well, and make an effort to be easy to serve. Anyone who knows me knows I’m not confrontational or obnoxious. Being treated the way we were last night was unacceptable. I choose to support establishments where my presence is respected. Because of this experience, I will not be returning. I’m sharing this because multiple people witnessed what happened, and this is not just a matter of being overly sensitive—it was genuinely disappointing.

5 /5 Emily Hall: Went to eat here a couple of nights ago. Even though it’s a small place, the drinks and food were amazing. So flavorful and the atmosphere was great! Will definitely come back here again!