Afternoon at Loftti Cafe

My bestie lives in the South West and I have driven past Loftti Café many times, always making a mental note to visit one day. I’m a sucker for cool looking logos and the art deco Loftti logo looks particularly fun lit up in bright round bulbs at night. Visually speaking it’s the complete package, appealing, stylistically correct, and eye-catching. This past week the stars finally aligned and I was able to see more than just Loftti’s signage.

The interior is a hipster wet dream filled with Edison bulbs, twinkle lights, industrial fixtures, crisscross cobblestone flooring, and quirky knick-knacks. Large floor to ceiling windows occupy half the space, creating two separate atmospheres. One side is awash in cheerful natural light streaming from the north and features seating like an oversized blue sofa and a communal table surrounded by low stools.

The other side feels more intimate, lit mostly by the aforementioned calming twinkle lights and Edison bulbs. Seating on this side is decidedly inspired by traditional Parisian cafes. Once the sun goes down the intimacy of this half overtakes the whole, forming a cozy cocoon for customers within. This is further reinforced by a steady soundtrack showcasing everything from K-Pop to Bossa Nova to French Jazz with sweet female vocals. I can see why Loftti Café is open late, who would want to leave the safety and comfort of this place? No one, that’s who. I actually wrote this post while still there.

If you’ve checked out Loftti Café on yelp you’ve seen the highly Instagramable (I hate that this is a thing, but I’m not above using it) Rain Drops. If not, hang on to your britches, you’re in for a treat. This is no ordinary café. The types of Rain Drops on the menu depend on the season. On the day I went, there were two options: Strawberry & Lychee and Mocha. I fought the urge to get both and decided on the more summer friendly Strawberry & Lychee flavor.

As the name suggests, this dessert looks like super-pumped raindrops have landed on your glass dish. Two clear domes (one larger than the other) mired in a deeply hued berry sauce make for a beautiful presentation. In the bigger dome, I could see thinly sliced strawberries and lychee chunks. The flavor was delicate and light, a whisper on the tongue. But the true star of this delightful confection is the texture. To describe it in any relation to gelatin does it a disservice, but that is the closest in feel. However, the Rain Drops are much smoother, as if the purest puff of air made sweet, slow, passionate love to the most exquisite gelatin mound and then gave birth to a luxurious, charming offspring. Each bite, floating on a pond of raspberry sauce, was perfection.

I also ordered the Smoked Salmon Toast and Blush Peach Iced Tea. They were both excellent in their own right. Honestly though, the minute I introduced a bite of Rain Drop into my mouth, I knew that there is nothing else that could overshadow or equal it. And at $4 this is an unbelievable value. In discussions about the Las Vegas food scene with outsiders (i.e. people who do not live here, or have just moved) I often talk about the amazing caliber of chefs that this city attracts. This is exactly the kind of unparalleled culinary escapade I’m referring to, amazing skills and ingredients that fetch a pretty penny on the strip, that we get to enjoy at an affordable range.

When Chef/Owner Ty opened Loftti Café in 2016, he envisioned serving food that wasn’t only delicious but also healthy. The menu reflects this with a large variety of teas, coffees, smoothies, pastries, and savory options. Rainbow Blvd. has experienced drastic growth recently, and the cafe has definitely benefitted from the changes in business development. When asked what he loves about Vegas, Chef Ty mentioned heading to the strip with his wife and feeling like a tourist.

There’s something to be said about being taken out of your normal routine in the city where you live. During the hours I spent at the cafe, I was the only white person there. I got to feel a little like a tourist too, in the best possible way. Over time, I intend to explore as much of Loftti Café’s offerings as possible. I recommend you do the same, your life will undoubtedly be better for it.

Follow Loftti Cafe on Instagram for more mouthwatering pictures.