I've been here a couple of times and I always have fun! The Loft has that classic, chill vibe the area is known for. They play a good mix of music, so there's something for everyone. A weird side note though: I once walked into this place and it was humid and it smelled like mouth!...haha, I don't know if they were having A/C problems or what but that was..interesting.. aside from that one time, this place is pretty solid and I'll definitely be back..unless it smells like mouth again.. :) read more

Bartender was very chill. Pretty solid drink deals. Will need to give it another shot since it was empty when we went

The lines long was lit bar played good music very mix crowd the drinks was weak but tried two different bar tenders

So I don't even know what to say but this. As a club the atmosphere is great but the Sri is I was served Friday night and how I was handled. I will never be going back. I ordered drinks and paid. When handing my friend the drink bar! It's a roach! Just floating in top. I waved the bartender down and told her and she told a guy in which told me I would be taken care of. Then proceeded to go about the night. I asked the girl for her name on a receipt to make sure things go well. Idk what she told the guy but he tried to tell me they were to busy to handle whatever I was asking. Then when I told him what I needed. He told me I would be taken care of they would void my ticket. But then bam! It's Monday and I have the charge and an extra charge. Horrible business yall. read more

The Loft - Roach in drink - Bars Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Hands down, more people told me to come here while I was in Jacksonville than anywhere else. I had high expectations, but it really wasn't all that. I mean, I guess it's kind of pretty to look at (and so was our bartender). This seems like more of a locals-only hangout than anything else. Everyone here looked like they were dressed by the same person. Wall-to-wall hipsters. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Just not my thing. I was told to get a martini here and that recommendation was right on the money. Delicious. Speaking of money, they're not cheap, but less than $10 is still better than most places in Atlanta. read more

The Loft - Bars Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Used to come here all the time but they keep stealing from me. 2-3 days later they add more tips on top of what I gave them. It's pretty obvious when a $4 drink turns to 9.99. Pretty sure it's the red headed bartender considering this happens across the st at mickeys and he works there too. read more

This place is a lot of fun if you're having a ladies night out. The music is always on point late 90s early 2000s although it does get repetitive I've heard. They also have a little secret bar in the back it's super cute and lightly dimmed. Huge down fall though it gets extremely packed then hot as hell. When I say packed I'm talking wall to wall shove yourself through people to get around & they still have a line down the road waiting to get inside. read more

Ambiance was to my liking . It's nature vibe compared to other places . I tell others about this place .

If you want to dance on King Street this is a great place to go. Friday and Saturday nights this bar is usually packed and has a great crowd. Music is pretty good and I love going to the small bar in the back. It's much faster to get a drink there vs the main bar. If you're looking to hang out, they have chairs back there and usually have a movie playing. read more

This place is always packed on the weekends. I mean balls to the walls packed and the music stays on repeat. I swear everything I come here, which is usually around the same time and date but months apart I will hear the same old Missy Elliot or Drake song, never fails. I've never been bothered by the 'smell' as some other reviews have mentioned but depending on how warm of a night it might be you do get hit with some gnarly body odor with people walking past and bumping into you. Speaking of people bumping into you there is not a whole lot of room to walk around as the place is very small. Drinks seems to be okay but I question the liquor that is being poured. I usually go for a spiced Captain and coke but that rum don't usually taste like Captain... read more

I used to come here every other weekend with friends and would have a great time. Vibes are great and the music is always on point. However, last night when I was in the main area where the bar is, I was watching the projected old films they have on screen. As one progressed, a man clearly in blackface was shown on screen multiple times. This is absolutely unacceptable especially during black history month while playing rap music! I will not be coming back to this bar for this reason alone. I am sad to not ever come back but I simply cannot let this slide. I was absolutely appalled when I saw the film on screen and immediately wanted to leave. I am ashamed that I was even there when this happened. read more

Really didn't think this place could get worse but it did. I've been here a few times since my last review and always end up leaving after 10 minutes. This time we were absolutely appalled by the smells mostly. The crowd seemed alright, but we stayed out of it. We were standing by the bar and my friend complained of a smell. We couldn't discover what it was, til she moves away and found it was gone. She went back to the spot playing Nancy Drew, wondering what possibly it could be, turns out, it was the SINK. The sink had this putrid musty smell coming from it. "Isn't that where they wash the glasses we drink from?" I asked. I'm not a bartender but that's what I thought. Either way doesn't seem sanitary. Before leaving we had to make a bathroom run. I KID YOU NOT, when I walked into the bathroom I GAGGED at the putrid smell inside the women's bathroom. I've never legitimately gagged at a smell before but it was terrible, sour, nasty, disgusting, hellish. I went to the other bathroom that smelled fine. I remember them having issues with their plumbing but this was maybe 6 months or so ago. I was appalled! We left immediately. On the bright side, the bartender made an amazing watermelon margarita for me. read more

I was just in Jacksonville for Girls Weekend, when our host for the weekend brought us here. Let me tell you, I had a lot of fun! When I first walked in, I was pleased by the size of it. (Trying my best to stay mature). There are a couple of rooms. The first room, the main room, is very spacious with a bar in the center. The bartender I had even let me try a small amount of a drink to see if I liked it before serving me one. The main room also has an upstairs where there are comfy couches and a small bar. The DJ is also up there. We got there early so, it was a little quiet for a while. Once the drinks started flowing, the dancing started happening. I'm not a huge club person, but every once in a while I like to shake my tailfeather and I had a lot of fun doing it here. Whenever I got too hot or just wanted to sit down for a while, I left the main room, down a hallway and there was another smaller bar. I called it the "air conditioning bar". It was low key with people just looking to have a nice chat and a beer. I would definitely come back to this place! read more

Ah... the Loft. Let me start by saying that this is a place mainly for the single and/or already smashed out of your gourd crowd. I wish I could give this cool bar in the King Street district more stars (consider it 2.5 stars). Here is why I can't: 1) It is always extremely crowded and almost impossible to order a drink unless you want to piss off a drunk guy or girl clinging to the bar, even if you try to go to the other bar that's stuffed away in a hole in the wall at the back of the club. 2) It's almost impossible to navigate through the crowd without being violated or unintentionally violating someone else. 3) This is not a place for conversation. Just... don't even try. 4) The bathroom situation will turn hostile at any moment. Beware the angry drunk girls who are about to piss all over their slutty dresses. Positives: 1) Great music from awesome DJs. Definitely a place to let loose after a long work week or exams. 2) Quirky videos of vintage commercials playing on the tvs and projected on the wall. 3) Interesting decor in general. Exposed brick walls, cool light fixtures, suspended liquor bottles around the bar. Little loft area with couches upstairs, hence the name. The Loft is cool, but it's not my first, or second, or even third choice in nightlife in Riverside. Good place to laugh at the inebriated. read more

My girlfriends and I like to have girls' weekends. This entails ditching our men and eating and drinking way too much. My sister was in charge of organizing our Jacksonville girls' weekend. When she was trying to explain the LOFT, I wasn't sure what to expect. Here is what I loved about this place: 1) It is huge, with lots of options for places to hang out. 2) Although the DJ didn't take requests (LAME), they played a lot of great music. 3) The décor was super fun and I enjoyed getting to see the old movies on the projector screen. We had a blast at this dance club. It makes me wish that Tampa had a spot like this for those rare occasions that I feel like going out and shakin' it! read more

It's a nice bar with nice decor, but it does get very crowded. I have noticed that almost everyone here dresses alike (especially on a Thursday or Saturday night). I find it kind of weird, but It's fun to go and people watch. I like coming here on a friday night. Fridays tend to be more laid back than thursday or saturday nights. Most bartenders are nice, except for one and he is a manager of this place. Only friendly to his friends, apparently (according to other bartenders and a couple of other people that comes into the bar). If you want to get drunk fast, come here. Drinks are cheap, especially their PBR! Not a great place to go dancing, but it is a good place to just sit, listen to music, and people watch. read more

Ooh yesss!! If you absolutely love The Garage, The Phoenix, or the Rogue, than the loft is the perfect place for you ! The loft is an all inclusive, eclectic environment, perfect to get your dance on top on a Saturday night ! A must see for any visit to Jacksonville! read more

Maybe I have way too high of standards set by the Violet Hour, Death &Co., and buddha bar on how cocktail/speakeasy places are supposed to operate. I've also become a petite cocktail connoisseur. The Loft started off right, by having no signs on the windows or door. The exposed brick and beams made me believe that Jacksonville finally had a cocktail place that could be classified as a speakeasy. Unfortunately, when we went up to the bar and asked for a cocktail menu, the bartender said that they had no menu, but that they could make us anything we wanted. That was such as disappointment, because I love pouring over elaborate and artful cocktail menus. Well, since I had read on yelp about the Sonic cocktail I ordered that. Disappointment again, the bartender looked at the other bartender who both had lost looks on their face and said that they did not know how to make it, but would try and figure it out. I said there was no need to go to that trouble and said I would have something else. The bartender suggested the bicycle which was made with blueberry vodka and that it was very light and refreshing. I went with that and I was pleasantly surprised. The drink had blueberries and a muddled lemon and lime. I loved it so much, that I ordered a second and was happy that at least they were on the right path to creating a good cocktail environment. The second bicycle arrived, but it had no blueberries and the lemon and lime were on top of the glass not mixed into the drink. The second bicycle also was a different color and a completely different taste. I really like consistency in cocktails. All of the staff was super friendly and inviting. I really loved the decor, but I feel that they could have more black and white TVs. I did think it was amusing that they were playing a baseball game in black and white. I'm hoping that the Loft is a work in progress and that they will eventually have an eclectic cocktail menu. read more

I went to theLoft for its Grand Opening about a week and a half ago and was definitely pleasantly surprised. I love that Jacksonville has new bars and restaurants cropping up all over the place, and the new development of the King Street District is very exciting. I loved theLoft's decor, first and foremost. The exposed brick, the high ceilings, the Plexiglas walls that exposed the staircase leading to the actual loft [where my friends and I sipped on our cocktails, resting on the plush benches], the flat screen TV's that played sports on one screen and artistic videos on the other in black and white [didn't even know that was an option on today's televisions!], and the music that was simultaneously current and cutting edge, but not interfering with the atmosphere... it was all great. You can tell that the owners of Walkers also own theLoft, as their exposed, yet chic and comfortable aesthetic was definitely carried over into theLoft's decor. All the better. Glad to have another great place to hang out at on any given night of the week. PS Be sure to ask about their free nightly shot! Tasty and strong, but they won't tell you the contents! It's a surprise. read more

This was my second time coming here . Last night was a pretty long line to get it . My group of four waited about 20 minutes before the line died down and we got in. The place was very packed . Crowded to the point that you had to scrunch up while walking to get to the bathroom . I must say I really like the staff here. The bouncers in the entrance were professional and made me feel secure . Inside the bartenders are super fun and make great drinks . Drinks aren't expensive but pretty average in my opinion . $5 for a gin and tonic. The crowd is pretty mixed I'd say. I honestly wouldn't mind if this place had a $5 cover charge or something to weed out some of the more rowdy and rough people . Both times I have come here I have been with a group of friends otherwise I would not feel good on my own simply because there's a lot of people that have tried to grab me which isn't cool . Music : I would love to hear more variety in music . I think they could have less of today's top hits music only . I would love to here different drake songs than just the standard " one dance " or maybe even some mac miller or something . Environment : I really like the design of this bar. I like the quirky hipster vibe and all the old recordings playing on the screens .the place is pretty clean in my opinion for having so many people . Bathrooms are nice and clean which is always a good sign of the cleanliness of the place . Overall I would recommend checking this place out . read more

Had a great time out there tonight. The music was great and the bar staff was excellent. Great mix of music from the 90s and today. DJ kept tje crowd energized and dancing. Really enjoyed myself. The crowd was a mix of people. Great time! read more

The Loft - Great time with friends! - Bars Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

This is probably my favorite bar in the area. Plenty of space, great music, decent crowd, and amazingly great staff. Bartenders are quick, attentive, and make some of the best drinks I've had in Jax. Awesome environment, large spacious dance area, upstairs provides cozy seating, and the "back bar" is a great place to go for chill conversation with friends. A variety of night club environments wrapped up into one. An absolute must if you're new to the area. read more

I finally made it to this spot last Saturday night. I LOVED the music they were playing; lots of 80's new wave and current indie favorites (B-52s, The Smiths, MGMT, Vampire Weekend... etc). The place is spacious with a minimalist slightly industrial decor. It's smoke-free inside, which is quite refreshing. The bartender was very friendly and attentive. Drink prices were about on par with the neighborhood. I can't comment on the cocktails because I only had a few beers. I got there about 11:30pm, during which time they had a decent crowd - not packed - and things started to thin out about the time I left just after 1am. I will be back for two reasons. The friendly bartender and the awesome music. P.S. - Street parking only. Can be difficult at times. read more

Awesome bar with a second level in the riverside area of Jacksonville. Really really enjoyed the vibes there and the variety of music they played. There was also a diverse crowd and I went with a big group of friends which made it all the more fun. Jacksonville is my hometown and I was visiting from Vegas. Now after living in Vegas, it gets hard to rate and compare the club experience but I have to say... Loft was really enjoyable. It wasn't too crowded but lots of people that the place didn't look dead or empty. There also had been a Nigeria verses USA team in Jax that day so it was slammed with althetes. I had a blast read more

If you've been here enough (twice or thrice) you'll start to realize the repetitive Saturdays' playlist. The upstairs lounge is the best to sit/dance with the convenient bar on the same floor, but they started closing that area off. This is a good place to go with a group of friends to let loose, but know that it gets very crowded on Saturdays! The back bar is the best place to get quick service. It would be nice if they opened up the back patio to patrons so they don't crowd the front. They make you get back in line if you leave for a smoke/fresh air break. read more

Had so much fun there last night. First night going out on the weekend since moving to Jacksonville. It was so packed and the music was awesome. Service was great as well! Our bartender Benjamin definitely made the experience that much better, and even when he was busy the other bartenders didn't hesitate to check on us. Highly recommend! read more

Not ideal...go to park place next door for better dancing and service. The only thing they really had going for them was the fact that they were playing Reservoir Dogs on tv. read more

This place is terrible. Will not tell you no reentry until you try to walk back in to get your drinks and they refuse you at the door. I will not return. After spending over $200 at the bar.. smh. read more

Maybe I'm getting old... Yes I'm sure that it. It wasn't that I had a bad experience at the Loft, it just wasn't as great as I remembered it being last time. My experience last weekend was just okay. The music was about average, the DJ playing a mixture of house, a few pop hits and some classic throw backs. For chunks of the night, I felt like me and quite a few others were just standing around waiting for a song to end and praying a better one would come on. The crowd was mainly young college kids, with a few random and creepy looking older guys just hanging around. It felt very tight and cramped, I was over heated a lot of the night. The upstairs was closed unforunately, which forced everyone to stay near the front bar and dance floor. There were plenty of bar tenders and security, so there was really only a brief wait for my drinks. Would I come back....If i'm in the area maybe, but then again maybe not read more

You have to really want to dance to go here, and don't depend on the DJ to do it for you! No transitions, almost no bass drops. music all sounds the same and too much of it with no original mixing! It was hard to get on the dance floor, and little to keep me there! Someone needs to school the DJ and show this place how it's done! It could be great, but no club should be depending on the drinks to keep people moving ....it's about the music! read more

I had a good time here. Talked to one of the bouncers who told me it would be lit. Well Loft did not disappoint. Drinks were reasonably priced and they were made well. Music was Top 40 but that's to be expected. DJ did throw some gems in there like Billie Jean. Lit! read more

Horrible music! Not danceable, no flow and bad transitions. Does the DJ know any other music beside house music?

I tried to contact this venue on a couple occasions regarding arranging a birthday celebration. Nobody returned any of my calls or emails!

I've come here maybe 4 times because the drinks are reasonable, the staff is great, and the crowd is always live. I noticed a smell last couple times I went, but thought nothing of it because I figured the trash hadn't been taken out. The most recent time I went I realized this smell was not only permanent, but worsening with every week. The smell is pungent and reminiscent of dirty mop water. The smell is most jarring near every water source in the building- near each sink, closer to the bars, and in the bathrooms, suggesting all the water they use smells the same. The thought of the glasses being washed in water that rank (and the thought of going back into that bathroom knowing I'll have to hold my breath the whole time) made me realize the crowd simply isn't worth the visit. If you do visit, be sure to pee beforehand! read more

What happened to this place? Management changes? Now they have bottles hanging everywhere and it cheapened the look of the place. I decided I would give the loft one more chance and went to the new thursday night "party" and it was a sea of fake IDers. read more

I read a lot of reviews saying the music on Saturday nights gets repetitive, as well as super packed, so I went on a Friday and arrived around 10:30pm. The music was quiet and it was dead inside. If the music was louder I would've danced, but it's a little out of my comfort zone to dance alone to quiet music. There were literally like 10 people lol. So I was pretty much forced to go elsewhere. I ended up walking over to Park Place and had an AMAZING time, incredible music, danced for 2 hours straight. Then walked back over to the Loft to see how it'd progressed and it had definitely come alive by that point. The environment between the two clubs was night and day though. The music was actually really good at The Loft, I was loving it. But the crowd was pretty awful. It was a very young, college-y demographic, diverse ethnically, which is all fine. But the guys were so seedy... VERY touchy feely, I was constantly swatting away ugly guys grabbing my hips and arms. Who told guys it's ok to do this?? Why are they like this??? Such a buzzkill. If I'm an 8 and you're a 2, it's not gonna happen buddy. It was tight towards the back but there was plenty of space if you needed some. I wouldn't mind going back, maybe 11:30pm will be the sweet spot? If that fails you can always just head over to Park Place for a good time. read more

This bar has a great mix of music and a good DJ. There seemed to be no-dress code, and I felt a little over-dressed with slacks and a fitted dark v-neck shirt. Many people had on shorts, and I saw a few flip flops and/or tank-tops in the crowd. Our first bartender sucked, but I think we just happened to get the crappy one of the bunch. We went to the other bartenders for the rest of the night and got AWESOME service. The average age of the crowd seemed early to mid 20s, and the environment was a college-y feel. I'm 30 and my friend is 33, so we felt a little out of place, but our main focus was to go dancing so it was fine. But if you're looking for a younger environment that's safe, good drinks, dancing, and a good range of music, I highly recommend this place. We went on a Friday night. read more

My favorite bar in Jacksonville. Great atmosphere, great music. A front and back bar to handle all your needs and good bartenders. If you are looking to bar hop in Riverside and get your groove on this is the place to do it! read more

Bartenders were attentive & nice. Very mixed crowd (college age, professionals & the average Joe.) Drinks prices fair. Decor was ok. Non-smoking place. read more

I'm compromising and giving this place a 3 stars because it is the worst and best place to go out in jacksonville. Worst because you have to be black out drunk to have fun and the moment you walk in, you are very aware how sober you are and need to catch up- quick. It gets pretty packed some nights and I've gotten my wallet and phone stolen on two different occasions (probably cause I was black out drunk). So basically, this place is a s*** show. It's also the best because everyone is so inebriated that it's a hot mess in a fun way. It forces everyone to be their worst self, which leads to the best times. The crowd is a mixed bag, but mostly hipster types. I do not recommend going here alone. It's more of a get into trouble with friends kind of place. Trust me, you are going to need a responsible buddy at the end of the night to get you home. read more