Lofty Pursuits

What’s not to love?! Lofty is our go to when we are treating ourselves or saying goodbye to visitors. Before taking anyone to the airport, we drive all the way up to Lofty to say good-​bye. I love most any sundae that is served with ganache and whipped cream (real stuff, not from a can). They also have great drinks. Tonight I had a carbonated water mixed with sorbet and lavender syrup — NOM! This is a great place to buy gifts for kids and curious people. They have complimentary board games and social gatherings scheduled — it’s a nice hub for nice people. Once we stopped by with our own insulated cold container to transport Lofty to a friend in Monticello — they were accommodating and made a beautiful sundae, which was delivered intact. I really admire the customer service & style.

Perfect escape from the Florida heat! An old fashion ice cream and float shop with an amazing (& huge) menu including sundaes, malts, floats, milkshakes and any other ice cream treat you can imagine. I wish that I had found this place sooner cause it rivals every other ice cream place in town. They also have very hard to find board games and other novelty/​speciality items for sale.

Overall, I loved the shop and the ice cream selection was fantastic, but I think I need to be more selective in what I order next time. I stopped in for their board game event with some friends and the place was absolutely packed. The staff was trying to keep up with everyone, but you could tell that they were stretched rather thin. In addition, the thermostat had been raised up to 99 degrees before someone caught it, so the place was sweltering when we arrived. I first tried out the blueberry malt, which had intrigued me as an uncommon flavor, but it simply did not have enough ice cream in it. It was extremely watery and needed some help. Next, I tried the affogato coffee, which has a scoop of ice cream in it. It was ok, but maybe using cold brew would be a better idea. The ice cream immediately melted in the hot coffee before I could touch it and left you with a funky tasting latte thing. These menu items could certainly be spruced up and perfected some more. Especially with the prices here, I went away feeling cheated.

I feel very lucky to have this place in Tallahassee! I’m a huge fan of ice cream, and their handmade ice cream is to die for! Also, if you’re a fan of root beer floats… They have a special imported root beet that they keep on draft. This coupled with their amazing ice cream makes for the best root beer float you’ll probably ever have.
The customer service is always spot on! And they frequently do discount days (I got 20% the other day because I voted). The place itself is super old fashioned with a bunch of toys that you can play with/​purchase. Also, their handmade candy is pretty great too!
I loveee this place and everything thing about it. Whatever you order, you’re sure to love!

Consistently wonderful, this place is. The service is always great and the product never fails to please. I always get the regular Guinness ice cream and it’s my favorite thing in the world. Their prices only make them more appealing and the atmosphere makes you feel like a kid again!

Amazing dessert, everything is so ridiculously delicious, you want to come back every day! The service was awesome, the guy that worked there was so nice and welcoming and very helpful. Love lofty pursuits!

This place employs some of the coolest people and the ice cream flavors are amazing (I love the spicy chocolate, bring it back!) Interesting selection of board games and weird gifts. Love this place!

Great variety of flavors. Fun shop with cool toys and play things. Love that they attempt to cater to the lactose intolerant (such as myself), gluten-​free, vegans, etc.

I like this place. I like the name. It has a nice ring to it. Sometime I wonder if what I am doing in life is a just lofty pursuit. Then again I always follow my dreams. You don’t stop following your dreams because you are old. You become old because you stop following your dreams! I know as long as I work hard and stay perseverant, my dreams will always come true.
Ok, enough about my dreams. Lofty pursuits can be summed up into two words: root-​beer float!!! I know it’s so much more than just that. But the root-​beer float sure did knock my socks off. When I had it the first time, I was blown away. Deff a must try!
Besides the float, they have ice creams, home-​made candies, and a ton of interesting hand crafted drinks. They have a chart on the wall that helps you decide what the desirable drink is to you based on your preference. That’s pretty awesome. The store is old school with board games and quirky souvenirs. I recently heard that they even had a community band, say what?!
I’d say it’s a cool spot to chill or hang out with friends. The best part is that it’s in my hood. As time goes by and you grow older and hopefully wiser, you will come to realize: Lofty pursuits aren’t that lofty, they are the pursuits of happiness.

Its almost as if walking into a vintage soda shop from the 1950’s. The walls are covered with board games, puzzles, and many different toys to play with while enjoying delicious ice cream. The staff was very nice and allowed me to try as many flavors as I wanted until I settled on a mixture of Cappuccino chip and Baja chocolate. My tip would be to get a cone instead of a cup because you get more ice cream and those cones are really yummy! All and all this place rocks! A super cute location to bring a date or family for a fun night out.

The menu is overwhelming, 52 sundaes, plus all the other stuff. For an ice cream shop, that’s a good thing. Plenty of flavors to sample.
I had the «Up all Night»…coffee ice cream with coffee syrup, a chocolate whipped cream and a nice sprinkling of chocolate covered coffee beans. It was good, but the syrup was all on the bottom, and by the time I got the sundae, the ice cream was partially melted and putting the spoon into the fancy glass sundae cup, and the table was covered with liquid coffee ice cream. Besides the mess, I enjoyed the sundae, but wished I would have just got a cone or cup of ice cream.

I once chanced upon the Grants Pass (OR) Pharmacy nearly 20 years ago. I just googled it, and everything is how it was. Authentic Soda Jerk, phosphates being served, effectively turning back the clock to Rockwellian times. (I encourage you all to look it up. It’s a treat simply reading about it on Unilocal (Grants Pass Pharmacy, Grants Pass OR)).
Lofty Pursuits is BETTER than turning the clock back. The talent behind the counter is immaculately uniformed to render an experience right outta Pop Tate’s Chocklit Shoppe. The options likely exceed what was available from the yesteryear counter since I’m presuming that thorough research across the genre has culled variations present across the land — and not simply regional options.
One gander at «The Logic of the Soda Fountain» (poster to the right of the southerly entrance /​also embedded within hardcopy/​online menus) outlines the workflow of many, many treats one could order up (Draft Drinks, Milk Drinks, Cream Drinks, Sharp Drinks, Carbonated Drinks & Syrup Drinks) SIMPLY FROM THE DRINK MENU.
Candy is made here. Candy from back in the «way back when» days. I learned from the proprietor a few years back that the steel plate upon which the hard candy is cooled was purchased in California. I «think» it was sourced from an ocean vessel, but I’m not certain. Regardless, it is of such heft that the shipment and prep costs from California to TLH far exceeded the purchase price. That’s the mark of a visionary. That’s someone who is serious about bringing to TLH something that other towns/​cities just don’t have.
The ice cream is tremendous. I don’t know the story behind the ice-​cream. I’m sure the website can illuminate those interested parties.
The Root Beer — I do know something about the Root Beer. Hailing from Milwaukee (WI), the merry people of Sprecher Brewery have been concocting Root Beer and kegging the stuff since the mid ‘80s. It is the goods. A Root Beer float with this and the vanilla ice cream from here makes all others pale.
Having said all of this, my favorite part of Lofty Pursuits has nothing to do with the consummables. Rather, it is in the regularly freshened inventory of eclectic yet grossly addictive board games and diversions. Here is where I found Carcassonne nearly a decade ago. Here’s where you would find Quoridor, and the like. For the YoYo cognoscenti, here is where you come for the top-​shelf yo yo stuff. Here is where you come for stuffies of bacteria, germs, etc… i.e., here is where you come to satisfy the child within, if not the child without you.
A great friend of mine’s son has played in the Lofty Pursuit band these past few years. Now that he’s graduated FSU Law, he might have less time to devote to the motley musical crew, but I suspect he’ll find a way in some upcoming parade. Yes, that’s right, Lofty Pursuit’s has a band.
The Michelin Guide awards the highest ranking (3-​stars) and it means «Une des meilleures tables, vaut le voyage» — translated, it means One of the best [tables], worthy of the trip (really, it intends to mean «detour»). That’s what Lofty Pursuit is. I imagine that anyone who is an avid enthusiast of all things Soda Fountain includes this establishment on their bucket list. I’m just fortunate enough to live in the great TLH to enjoy it whenever I feel like it.

Never disappoints. I ordered the toasted marshmallow milkshake. It even came with a toasted marshmallow on top. Delish!

kinda overrated. A LOT of chocolate dust on ALL the ice creams: DRYS OUT YOUR THROAT a lil bit.
BUT!!! My bf likes it bc they sell yoyos there. also ‘mexican’ jumping beans.

Such a cute little old school ice cream parlor! If it was based on the atmosphere I would give it 5 stars. They have real good deals, I took advantage of the 5 scoops for $ 3 on Wednesday. I went late at night and they were all out of cones but the ice cream was still good! I really recommend the ice cream that has chocolate and peanut butter, as well as the grapefruit sorbet. Those were my favorite. The only reason I didn’t give this 5 stars is because I feel like the server wasn’t as friendly as she could be. I felt like an inconvenience and like she was getting impatient just because there was another couple behind us. So I felt very rushed to make my decision. Nonetheless I will still keep coming back. They also have a lot of cute old school toys here which makes me feel SSOOO old!

The old-​fashioned ice cream parlor accomplishes 100% satisfaction in every single one of its patrons by producing delectable treats in a social environment. Having grown up in a family-​operated ice cream shoppe, I do know the difference between high quality and your mediocre, no-​name ice cream brand. Having said that, it’s safe to say Lofty Pursuits surpasses the standard by attaining and maintaining ice cream prominence.
When you arrive, it’s as if you’re entering an interstate gift shop. The large space houses leather-​bound books, stuffed animals and various items that cater to children. In fact, I’ll admit that my roommate and I played with a toy dinosaur before ordering, so now you know that this 24 year-​old is still a kid at heart!
Speaking of leather-​bound books, let’s discuss the menu. Ranging from ice cream sodas to egg creams to hot fudge sundae’s, there are hundreds of possibilities here at Lofty Pursuits. As much as I love a simple coffee or mint chip waffle cone, I splurged on a sundae. Best. Decision. Ever.
The Diesel Sundae — Guinness ice cream and coffee syrup topped with chocolate whipped cream and a cherry. If they offered delivery, I would never leave my apartment. The richness of the Guinness paired with the kick in the pants, coffee flavored syrup seamlessly. This could run Monster out of business. Also, fun fact: alcohol doesn’t freeze, so the Guinness ice cream never fully hardens. Since you don’t have to wait for it to melt, the texture is perfect from the first bite. This is the best frozen delicacy of recent memory.
Lofty Pursuits screams summer indulgence and rounding up the family for ice cream. It’s a prime example of all ages being welcomed. Every customer has a glowing smile on his or her face here. Ice cream owns that magic power, but Lofty Pursuits upholds it.

A real Tallahassee gem; one of a kind for this area. Recreates old time soda fountain, ice cream shop, even hand made candies with demos. The ice cream tastes great. There are a multitude of choices in sodas, ice creams and the many many possible permutations.
Staff attire is genuine looking 50’s style for a soda fountain, and, service is friendly & helpful.
LP also sells nostalgic games, toys, & such, so good place to pick up a unique gift.

What a cute little shop! I had always known Lofty Pursuits, at least when it was located in the Lake Ella district, for its sale of games and what was popular back then: yoyos.
I didn’t realize they also served ice cream! Now that they have moved to Market Square, I visited every now and then but never for ice cream. This time we came here specifically for the ice cream, and the fact that they have games you can play while you eat!
When you walk in, you see the parlor on the left side, and shelves of board games and card games on your right. Yoyos and diabolos are on the left corner near the entrance. A few drawers are labelled to notify you of the games available for play. We opened one and found Settlers of Catan (an expansion version of it), an assortment of cards, Jenga, and others I blocked out of my memory since I was so focused on Settlers. In the end, we just played cards since we didn’t have much time.
I ordered a junior ice cream cone ($ 2.25), which comes with one scoop of ice cream. I ordered the Cherry Explosion, I believe was the name, I can’t remember it for the life of me anymore. Some sort of Cherry Chocolate Chip, essentially. It left something to be desired… I was hoping for some real chunks of cherry in it, not just chocolate chunks. It still hit the spot for some darn good ice cream for very cheap!
If I had more time in town, I would have stayed here all day, eating nano size ice cream cones ($ 1.00) and playing Settlers of Catan.

I loved everything about this place. It is officially my favorite thing about Tallahassee so far. From the uniforms of the soda foundation helpers to the yo-​yo ‘museum’ this place is amazing. Good for kids, good for a date, good for an after-​dinner dessert or just because!
Wide selection of ice cream including a fall special: pumping pie (delicious!) and their junior cones include a sizable single scoop of ice-​cream on a waffle cone. Great and electric selection of toys to browse through including having board games that you can sit and use available. It is a little out of the way but so worth the trip!

Lofty is truly special. It tries to evoke a 50s soda fountain experience. The soda jerks are very nice and very enthusiastic. The store is full of fun board games you can play, and if you like them you can buy them!
The menu is extensive, with more than 50 kinds of sundaes, so you will never be limited in choices. They also have cream sodas, floats, Italian sodas, egg creams, milkshakes… You can choose from a variety of rotating flavors that go from the classic: vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, etc. To the unique: «superhero», Mexican chocolate, Guinness beer and more. The staff is accommodating and will let you try the flavors until you find the right one.
They also have vegan options, and the times where I have asked the server for a recommendation or to just create something they like I’ve never been disappointed!
Green River stands out as a delicious citrus soda, with HANDMADE lime soda, made right in front of you!
Also, did you know that Italian Soda is not from Italy? I did not. I learned this awesome fact and more from the cool Lofty Pursuits bus that also goes by First Fridays at Railroad Square! While the selection is limited compared to the store, it still offers Root Beer, Floats, Sundaes and awesome service just like at the store.