The Loft Lounge and Groove Bar hosted its official launch to corporates and media on Tuesday, 3rd July 2007. Obviously CapeTownMagazine.com was there; Guests entered on a red carpet celebrity style with the sounds of the guitarist Mark Jannecke and were served the latest addition to the JC le Roux family, the Pinot Noir, upon arrival.

Guests explored the multi-level venue while popular electro-violinist group, CODA, entertained guests with their unique sound. Innovative cocktails were served throughout the evening ranging from the delightfully tangy TCT (Tanquerry with Cranberry and Tonic cocktail) to the crowd favourite for the evening, a Chocolate Martini.

Ian McMahon, one of three partners of the Loft Lounge made a brief speech about the venue, thanked guests and sponsors (Pink Advertising, Cabriere Wine Estate, Hussar Grill, Brandhouse, Red Bull, Lindt and CBM Health & Wellness) and explained how th Loft Lounge is taking Cape Town’s Pink District into a new direction.

The Loft Lounge and Bar is aimed at the more sophisticated segments of the gay market and their friends. The venue is chic, elegant and metropolitan, offering a unique meeting place with stunning views of Table Mountain. As Ian explained; “The gay village has not gone, only moved across the road where the Loft Lounge is at the forefront of a new class of gay venue”

The Loft Lounge’s double-volume space with Mezzanine, skylight and a breath taking two storey window over looking the city conjures up images of Tribeca in New York,.

Each of the two levels has its own bar. The downstairs bar has a funkier, retro café mood, with geometric motifs in the predominantly black, white and red décor. The outside balcony overlooking the Waterkant and Table Mountain in the background supplies a refreshing breeze for the hot entertainment inside.

The mezzanine level of Cape Town's The Loft Lounge is more luxurious, with rich, warm tones and lush couches to sink into. Rhythmic lounge beats fresh from New York, Miami and Ibiza set the tone, with volumes set to conversational levels to encourage social interaction.

All of which makes the Loft Lounge an ideal socialising spot for lights lunches, afternoon coffee and cake, after work cocktails and pre-club drinks. Though it is the kind of space where pre anything is not necessary – why go anywhere else when everything you need is here in a comfortable setting?

So in short: A sophisticated upmarket venue which caters for a confident stylish and mature market. Whether is for a relaxing after work cocktail or some late night socialising (it opens early, but can close late very late) the Loft Lounge has accessed a long neglected niche.

It looks like Gay Cape Town, and their friends, have finally acquired a more relaxed café bar lounge where , a place to go with some friends for the whole evening, where you will be able to hear each other think, not just another noisy club. (Although a few of the pre launch parties did get a little festive and the venue certainly caters for that eventuality)

The Loft Lounge is just off Somerset road at 24 Napier Street in Cape Town’s trendy Cape Quarter & De Waterkant, next door to Anatoli Restaurant, and just a few buildings down from where The Bronx will reopen on the corner of Somerset Road and Napier.

Molo Says: Read more about Gay Things to Do in Cape Town , Things to do in Cape Town at night , and off course the best Gay Party in the World, the 2007 MCQP . Subscribe to our popular newsletter to stay updated on the latest hot and new clubs in Cape Town.