Loft18, A Boozy New Virtual Golf Bar, Debuts This Summer at Sawyer Yards - Eater Houston
"Loft18, a new destination for drinking beer and playing simulated golf, will soon open its doors at the Sawyer Yards development. A permit application filed with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission indicates that Loft18 is set to open its doors at 2313 Edwards Street in the Sawyer Yards development in the coming months. Speculation about the bar’s arrival first arose back in November, when Swamplot spotted renderings of the Sawyer Yards property that included the space that Loft18 will occupy, but the TABC filings confirm its official address. It’ll be the second location for Loft18, which just debuted its first outpost in Metairie, Louisiana in 2017. A website created for the Houston outpost of Loft18 indicates that it will offer patrons the ability to rent stalls with giant, 4K video screens placed in front of them. The golf simulator apparently allows players to virtually try their hand at 95 different golf courses by hitting an actual ball toward the screen. The screens can also be used to show sporting events or other live television. As far as the food is concerned, no menu has been released for the Houston location just yet, but if the Metairie menu is any indication, diners can look forward to a menu of standard pub fare, including loaded nachos, burgers, sandwiches, sliders, and desserts. Beer, wine, and cocktails will also be on offer. At Sawyer Yards, Loft18 joins a continually-growing slate of restaurants, including Poitin, Pokeology, and the forthcoming new home of Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company. The development will also be home to a new restaurant from beleaguered chef Paul Qui, who just shuttered his first Houston restaurant Aqui. Per Houston Chronicle critic Alison Cook, he’s planning to open a “smaller, more focused” spot alongside former Aqui chef Jillian Bartolome at some point in 2019. No official opening date has been set for Loft18 just yet, but expect it to debut this summer." - Amy McCarthy
