The Watershed

The atmosphere really does feel like a watershed! A hathering of studious, garrulous and discerning tastes. A book reading corner, unique and local beers, ciders and wines, and Tammy's famous pickles. Community permeates this place, and is evident in the ads and local events posted. Co-owner Ashley has a levelheaded vision that I appreciate, and is a genuinely sweet soul! Looking forward to their lower level culinary expansion!

A unique find. Very cool and eclectic.
It must be Ithaca’s best kept secret

Came in for a drink with my husband before a show at the State Theatre. Decent amount of patrons but retained a mellow vibe. Our bartender Tammy was polite and fluid in handling all the customers. My husband and I don’t drink alcohol but we will definitely be back for another sober cocktail-they were delicious! We also enjoyed some delicious baklava and vegan cookies made by Tammy as well!

Great mocktails and very charming atmosphere. They seem to really care about their staff. It's very clean and has lots of options for restrooms. Great beer selection and NA beers as well. Wonderful spot to bring your laptop or a book. 5/5, love this place as a local.

This was my bar of choice for the (almost) two years I lived near the Commons in Ithaca.

The atmosphere is unlike any other bar in Ithaca: it's lively but never rowdy with locals and students (mostly graduate students) coming in small groups to chat over drinks.

Those drinks! Excellently-made cocktails, a great selection of beer (including two on tap, usually from local/upstate breweries), coffee, and tea. They open at 4PM every day, so I'd sometimes go in and start with a pot of tea and end with a boozy sipper and read for a few hours, before the bar got crowded. They even have their own small library of books.

Their prices are fair: not cheap by Ithaca standards but worth every penny.

They're super clean. As a woman, I can't stand bars that have dirty bathrooms. Theirs is well-cleaned, well-stocked, and never a problem to use.

The two owners and handful of staff are cordial and know what they're doing behind the bar. And they stopped using straws long before the concept became vogue.

Loved the vibe- the distressed walls, the tables with the windows facing the Commons, being able to get a cocktail or a mocktail or a pot of tea (with a sweater!), the games and books and the notes in the wall! Great to have a place like this to go to on a weeknight when there isn't much else open. I only wish the seats were more conformable (or they had a couch) and there was a bit more to eat so I could stay longer :) Would love to know where they get their cherry hibiscus tea from!

Amazing, zero-waste libations lounge with a free library, snacks, coffee and a wide selection of tasty cocktails. Staff was amazing! Gotta check it out!

Love this place! A nice break from the other crowded, loud bars in ithaca. Was able to enjoy conversation with friends over amazing drinks. Also try getting a pot of coffee for the table as a finisher, the presentation is really beautiful and its a great way to end the night. The Watershed rocks!

Wonderful owners and employees, they know what they’re doing. Great drink and small snack choices. Wonderful, relaxed, but “grown up” atmosphere. *The* place for catching up with a friend, or drinking tea while working on your laptop, or a first Tinder date for 30-somethings.😂👍. The Downstairs offers more seating and increasingly regular entertainment options - check it out.

Awesome space, great cocktails, Negroni was very dry but we didn’t mind it! Bartender was awesome.

Awesome, chill, low-key bar with awesome service and good vibes. Menu was very well curated for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Would definitely recommend especially if your group is both drinking and non-drinking. Plus, they let us bring in our food.

A very pleasant bar with books to read. What makes this place unique are the notes in the brick walls. You can sit and enjoy hours of reading random notes written by strangers. The restroom even offers amenities! The only negative is the additional bartender commission on top of the gratuity.

A beautiful, safe space. The atmosphere is so lovely. The drink selection is wonderful and the bartenders are professionals. They are serving up some tasty, tasty cocktails with so much class. I can't recommend this place enough.

I can not fully articulate what a breath of fresh air this space is. For the first time in over a year I felt comfortable sitting indoors. Vaccinated and all I still have my own health issues and have no interest in risking my well being or that of those around me. From the moment you walk in you see how intentionally and mindfully this space is set up. Spaced out tables, tasteful plastic barriers between each seating area, and don't even get me started on the delightful array of booze and booze free beverages. Absolute perfection!

Dave and Ashley are great people. Two of Ithaca's best bartenders working together in a bar with a great vibe.

Amazing atmosphere and space, and they have a lot to offer if you don't want to drink! There are snacks, teas, locally roasted coffee (Gimme! and Copper Horse), and local ginger beers. Sometimes there's a wait to get in, usually between 7-11pm on weekend nights, but it's always been worth it! The cocktails are unique and taste excellent, and if you only have one night in Ithaca I'd recommend going here!

Usually pretty quiet (I believe they have a noise limit) and has a nice cozy atmosphere. You can read/write notes and leave them in holes in the wall for people to see later. Drinks are pretty good and they have a decent selection of beer both on tap and off. They also serve nonalchoholic drinks like coffee and tea. Haven't tried the food but from what I'm told it's pretty good. Bar tenders are very friendly.

Great vibe! Very friendly bartenders. Classy costumers. Limited number of people inside, so it's never overcrowded and you can hear your friends without having them scream in your ear. Lots of books, and you can donate your own too. Clean restrooms.

Great bar with nicely curated environment. The cocktails were delicious. The awesome thing they do is their Sunday program focuses on zero-proof drinks. It is not every place that does something like that so I was pleasantly surprised. Can’t wait to the next Ithaca visit.

great mixed drinks! "Remember the Maine" is my favorite so far. Casual and not too crowded.