Shauna Steigerwald

ssteigerwald@enquirer.com

One of Downtown's newest bars offers something you won't find elsewhere in the city center: bowling.

Spare Lounge opened last week at 35 E. Seventh St., in the space that was PLAY. (The latter closed in May.) It's a boutique lounge with four bowling lanes and space for about 150, with about 80 seats. Those include chairs at the bar, booths along one side of the lanes and seats on a raised platform above the lanes where patrons can see through a clear glass floor to watch bowling balls head toward the blacklit pins below. The space has a contemporary look, with grays and purples, and there are large TVs above the lanes.

Lanes are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bowlers pay by the game; lanes can only be reserved for private and corporate events. As at a bowling alley, shoes and balls are available.

Jeff Sosna, managing partner for Midwest Hospitality Group, the bar's ownership group, said the Spare Lounge is already getting plenty of bookings for those. (The group previously owned Local's, which closed last month.)

In addition to groups, Sosna also hopes the Spare Lounge will appeal to young professionals and other Downtown workers, particulary for happy hour. Its offers a dozen beers on tap, plus more in bottles; wine; and specialty cocktails. The latter include two "Drinks to Share," which serve four to five people. The Cincy Split ($25) is along the lines of a fruit punch, with cherry vodka, triple sec, grenadine and cranberry, while the Root Beer Float ($30) is made with Sprecher Hard Root Beer and vanilla ice cream. During happy hour, 4-8 p.m., the bar offers $3 drafts and select cocktails.

A food menu includes pizzas ($11-$14), such as buffalo chicken and Greek, and other sharable starters. Dijon-braised chicken tenders are baked with a Goldfish crust ($10); ahi poke is sesame-ginger tuna steaks served on avocado and a bed of Asian slaw ($12).

Spare Lounge will have a DJ on weekends, though Sosna emphasizes that it's not a nightclub. The bar is offering specials several nights a week: Sunday is industry night, with free bowling for industry members; Tuesday will be league night (leagues are forming now and will begin in January); Thursday is ladies' night, with free bowling for women.

Hours are 4 p.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday; 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday; 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday-Sunday. Private parties and corporate events can be booked during the day.

513-721-BOWL; www.sparelounge.com