Hidden Rivers, a new cocktail bar and beer garden, opened June 9 at 291 Nevins Street in Gowanus. The name is a nod to the historic, buried waterways of South Brooklyn. Now, the bar aims to be a local hub for both longtime residents and newcomers.
The venture is the latest project from Patrick Watson and Michele Pravda, who have spent more than two decades in Brooklyn hospitality. Hidden Rivers builds upon a series of local Carroll Gardens favorites, such as the wine shop Smith & Vine, as well as the cheese shop Stinky Bklyn and the well-regarded cocktail lounge The JakeWalk, both of which are now closed.
Its debut comes amidst a period of major growth in Gowanus, as the area sees a surge in new residential and commercial construction projects. Even with high demand in the area, launching an independent business in the hospitality sector continues to be a struggle. Watson notes that their primary hurdle is establishing visibility and “getting us on the map,” however, they have fortunately benefited from substantial positive word-of-mouth.
Within four days of opening, Hidden Rivers drew more than 100 guests, filling both the indoor bar and sprawling backyard beer garden for winning game 5 of the NBA Finals. “We all have great hospitality backgrounds, and being able to meet that challenge is what we do best,” says Watson.
Beers & Spritzes
The bar features 12 rotating draft lines focused primarily on New York State and East Coast breweries, with plans to spotlight a different independent producer each month. Hidden Rivers launched with two taps from Boston’s Trillium Brewing, while future featured breweries could include Maine Beer Company or Asheville’s Burial Beer Co.
“The goal is to really give a little bit of a platform for some of those breweries,” Watson says. “Every month people can come in and there’s something different.”
Hidden Rivers highlights Guinness alongside its rotating New York and East Coast drafts. “We want to make sure that this area has a really proper pour for Guinness,” notes Watson. To achieve that, the team invested in its draft system, from calibrated nitrogen mixes to meticulous line cleaning.
Beers also fuse with spritzes here. Their interpretation of a Spaghett combines Miller High Life—“the champagne of beers”—with Contratto, lemon, and honey, while an evening version incorporates amaro and vermouth. Other offerings include a gin shandy inspired by a Bee’s Knees and the Peachy Keen, which pairs reposado tequila with peach sour beer from Hudson Valley Brewery. The drinks offer a fun twist on familiar beer cocktails without straying too far from their roots.
“It just kind of elevates it a tiny bit without being super bougie,” Watson says.
Cocktail o’Clock
Alongside its extensive beer selection, Hidden Rivers touts various cocktails. These include The JakeWalk, a signature drink made with tequila, rum, and elderflower created by beverage historian David Wondrich for the owners’ previous venue, and classics like a rye Manhattan riff and a mezcal paloma—”things that are very user-friendly for people to come in and see and understand without so many esoteric names or recipes,” as Watson puts it.
The food menu follows a similarly approachable philosophy. Current items include the signature Gowanus Dog, topped with Stinky Bklyn’s pimento cheese spread (as seen on Ina Garten’s The Barefoot Contessa) and a house-made relish featuring pickles, mustard, and sauerkraut. Watson says tater tots and more snacks are coming soon.
For Watson, the goal is to create a destination for beer and bar snacks that feels welcoming to a broader audience than the typical craft beer bar crowd.
“You need that kind of local watering hole,” Watson notes. “The space that you could meet some friends and have a few drinks—perfect for a hot summer day or a cold winter’s night.”
The venue reflects that relaxed vibe. Guests can gather around the indoor bar—which Watson built himself, describing it as a project of “blood, sweat, and tears”—or spread out at oversized picnic tables in the backyard beer garden while watching games on projector screens.
Past the pours and the pimento cheese spread, Watson’s hopes for Hidden Rivers remain simple: positivity. “I want people to walk out and say, ‘The drinks were great and the staff is amazing,'” he says. “We want the groups, we want couples, we want people to come in and really enjoy the space.”
Hidden Rivers BK
291 Nevins Street, Gowanus
