Rise Magazine - The Loft

The Loft

Above: The Loft

One wouldn’t normally expect to find many interesting things above a Tesco’s supermarket save for the odd dead pigeon, but above the Tesco’s on Clapham High Street lofty ambitions are being realised. The second venue for brothers Andy and James Campana (their first being the DJ bar, Plan B in Brixton), The Loft is a large industrial-meets-retro-meets-soft-leather sort of place that will no doubt be an instant hit with the hoards of 20 somethings who stalk the environs of the high street. With its 10 metre, bare-bricked minimalist bar, stripped floors and comfy leather seating, the emphasis is on cocktails and more specifically, the art of mixology. The cocktail list could be a little daunting for some, with such a plethora of choice, but the explanations and even the ‘make it yourself’ part of the list are fun and easily deciphered. As well as cocktails, there is a comprehensive range of both draught and bottled beers, including Anchor Steam and Sierra Pale Ale (two absolute winners if you haven’t tried them before), as well as a small but thoughtful wine list. The music is uber-cool as you might expect from these two, with a pair of decks built into the bar. The food is not to be passed by here either. Marianna Witt, formerly of the Glasshouse in Kew, has put together a great menu. Starters like goujons of fresh plaice with the lightest, melt-in-the-mouth batter and wild mussels with star anise and dill cream delight the palate, while a main of rabbit and porcini ravioli was equally well executed. A return visit for brunch was just as good, the pancakes and kedgeree proved outstanding and a freshly squeezed tomato virgin mary was a pure indulgence. The art of mixology is about the perfect balance of ingredients, and at The Loft the challenge is finding the right mix of cocktail bar and fine dining. To my mind the ingredients work here, but to get the best out of your experience I’d advise getting there early to eat (last orders are just after 9pm at weekends) and then sitting back and enjoying cocktail indulgence. Try: Ginger mule

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