Umi Den now open

The lounge at Umi Kitchen and Sushi Bar in Kendall Yards is now open.

Umi Den, the downstairs lounge of the new restaurant, opened July 22. The cocktail menu and happy hour offerings are still being refined.

Bar manager Colleen Early had planned to open the lounge June 21. But minor construction issues delayed the opening. A new date was set for July 15, but that got pushed back to July 22.

Umi means sea or ocean in Japanese.

The upstairs restaurant specializes in high-end seafood and sushi. It opened in May.

Construction of the downstairs bar area wasn’t quite completed by then.

Today, the lounge specializes in assorted sakes and Japanese whiskeys as well as batch cocktails and craft cocktails featuring Asian-inspired flavor profiles.

Minors aren’t allowed in the downstairs bar area, done in dark leather and wallpaper meant to resemble dark, patterned wood.

One of its attributes is an expansive, covered patio that offers sweeping views of the Spokane River. It’s located right along the Centennial Trail and is shaded by the deck at Maryhill Winery’s tasting room, which is located directly above the den in the same building.

Umi is at 1309 W. Summit Parkway. Call (509) 368-9372. On the web: umispokane.com.