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You know a spot is good when it starts as a bar, expands to include a restaurant, then opens a cafe on the restaurant’s patio, so customers can literally hang out at the space morning, noon, and night. And that’s exactly what happened at Loosie Rouge, turned Loosie’s Kitchen, and now Four Men Hospitality’s latest venture, Loosie’s Cafe.
The South Williamsburg spot manages to feel special in the impressive landscape of trendy “designed for the ‘gram” spaces, due in part to the cultivated energies of each individual space. Spend a few hours there, and you’ll begin to understand why. Wandering from the café into the restaurant and bar, there’s definitely a cohesive feeling—and lots of greenery. But yet, you can still tell you’re in different spaces—an important delineation when you’re trying to get your customers to drink their alcohol and coffee in the same-but-different locale.
Many aspects of the compound make it the perfect haven for neighborhood creatives. From the cafe’s free wifi and happy hour—that starts at noon, by the way—to the bar’s piano that many people play freely after a few rounds of drinks, it’s intended to be a place full of “experiences,” as Vincent Marino, one of four co-owners, put it. You can work, caffeinate, get inspired, eat, drink, hang out, and play, all without changing locations.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. You can stop by and experience the new space, Loosie’s Cafe, which opened its doors in the beginning of May this year, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the week, with free coffee served from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., a perk for those rare early risers who live nearby. Coffee by Toby’s Estate coffee and matcha by MatchaBar is served.
Marino emphasized the importance of being greeted by a friendly face, as it could be your first real interaction of the day, which inevitably sets the tone. A grumpy barista doesn’t make for a great start to the day. He wants it to be the exact opposite, where you know “it’s going to be a good day after you visit Loosie’s Café.”
There are both standout and quiet design moments in each of the spaces that give it a welcoming and unique energy. Co-owner Damien del Rio took inspiration from his many travels when creating the vibe and feel of each space. Berlin, Paris, and Mid-Century Scandinavian influences are especially prevalent throughout.
The entrance is a magical tunnel of green, met by an even greener facade, which leads to the cafe’s colorful mural by Love Berto and menu spelled out in magnetic letters reminiscent of childhood. Another can’t-miss moment? The bathtub filled with plants, flanked by hammocks perfect for an afternoon hang.
The restaurant has those cozy, bookstore-esque vibes that you can only truly find in Europe, with a singular bright blue bistro table. Beamed ceilings, brick and texture-treated walls, and a faux fireplace can be found in the bar, that create a cabin-cool atmosphere that comes alive after dark. If you take one design lesson away from Loosie’s respective spaces, it should be the importance of texture, which is emphasized differently at each turn.
Of course, Marino could not answer which space is his favorite (“It’s like choosing between your mom and your dad! Your brother or sister!”), he did admit that the the cafe is the baby of the three, making the bar the older, more self-reliant sibling. Anyone with siblings understands this analogy clearly and knows which is currently receiving the most attention.
As for food, the establishments serve up a mix New Orleans-inspired cultural fusion food with their star dish being the fried chicken (pictured above—it does NOT disappoint). The fare at Loosie’s Cafe is on the healthier side, with the grain bowl (below) being Marino’s favorite.
Marino’s been eating the grain bowl everyday for weeks and still isn’t sick of it, if that’s any sign.
A vast selection of organic wines (yep, it’s time to finally try one) and unique cocktails make up the drink menu. A must-try? The Mezcolada, a frozen beverage consisting of mezcal, coffee, coconut, and a touch of Pedro Jimenez.
When I asked what three words Marino would use to describe the space as a whole, the bartender chimed in before he had the chance to answer: “Good vibes only.”
Stop by and experience for yourself.
Loosie Rouge, the bar, opens at 5 p.m., the restaurant, Loosie’s Kitchen, at 6 p.m., and Loosie’s Cafe from 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Friday and 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday – Sunday. All are located at 91-3 South 6th Street in Brooklyn.
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