Hidden Gem Coffee Bar at Fort Adams State Park

Last year was big for native Newporter Rachel Clair: she had her first child, and just months later, debuted another new launch: Hidden Gem Coffee Bar. Both had been percolating for a while.

Clair saw an opportunity for a coffee bar at one of Newport’s most iconic attractions, historic Fort Adams State Park. Although idyllic with a centuries-old fort, a two-mile walking path that traces the coastline, and panoramic views of Newport Harbor, the Newport Pell Bridge, and the spot where Narragansett Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, the beloved park has long lacked brick-and-mortar concessions. Clair wanted to change that and pitched Fort Adams Trust, the non-profit organization that runs the park, on a small coffee bar inside the fort’s Visitor’s Center, just steps from picnic tables and Alofsin Pier, where sailboats saunter by all hours of the day.

The organization gave her the green light – just ahead of last year’s Newport Folk Festival, which draws about 10,000 music fans to the fort for three days. It was the ultimate whirlwind launch, but Clair and her trusty crew rose to the occasion with hot drip coffee, cold brews, refreshing watermelon lemonade, matcha and more, plus pastries including sourdough cinnamon “morning buns” (sticky buns), muffins, danishes, fluffy croissants, scones, and other tasty treats by Wakefield-based South County Bread Company.

Continuing to perfect their rhythm through the rest of the summer and into fall, Hidden Gem ran successfully through early November, when they closed for the season, caught up on some rest, and prepared for their 2026 new and improved chapter. “We had the winter to really put our touch on it,” says Clair, who has more than 15 years of experience in the restaurant industry. Ready to move on from late-night restaurant and bar hours, and a bona fide coffee lover herself, Clair saw Hidden Gem as an opportunity to apply her experience in a new way.

With an upgraded new look, added signage, a fancy new espresso machine, and even more enthusiasm, Hidden Gem opened this past spring and, through word of mouth and social media, has drawn even more loyal customers in addition to the visitors who serendipitously stumble upon it. I popped by on a Friday morning and though tempted by the chai latte and maple sea salt latte (the lavender latte and vanilla latte equally vied for my attention), I ultimately chose a special – the Hunny Bunny, a cold brew with a creamy honey-cinnamon topper. Pairing it with a housemade chia pudding with berries and granola, I enjoyed my delights in the soft, salty breeze coming off the harbor as a fleet of keelboats from Sail Newport sailed on by. Other tables nearby were full of families and folks with their dogs enjoying parfaits, quiches, and other savories from Hidden Gem, which also offers vegan and gluten-free treats from Grain Reaper Baking Co. in Providence. It’s not the only local talent Hidden Gem supports; they also use beans from Providence’s New Harvest Coffee Roasters and dairy from Wright’s Dairy Farm in North Smithfield.

After finishing the pudding, I took my cold brew on the go as I walked the park’s waterfront loop, spotting  along the way other Hidden Gem fans with banana bread lattes, watermelon matchas, and other drinks made with their house-made syrups and concoctions. With tons of free parking and acres and acres to explore, my next Hidden Gem Coffee visit might be a family outing with the pup and some sea glass hunting along the way. 80 Fort Adams Drive, Newport; HiddenGemCoffeeBar.com