The Secret Garden shrouded in secrecy for six weeks has now blossomed
The Secret Garden Emerson Spice has gone up a level – literally!
I met Emerson Skeens when I first arrived in Zanzibar. I know he would definitely love the magic of this Secret Garden!”
Grand Opening Guest
“Spaces are magical, always have been for me. Since childhood, often when I walk into a space for the first time, I’m confronted with a narrative, a feeling, a history, some characters. Like Jacques, in “As You Like It,” there is a myth, an opera, a film or a play stretching out on stage before me. These stages present themselves for me to play on and, for even more fun, to play with. The romantic and erotic are always embedded in the space.”
Emerson Skeens
Magical Spaces – The Secret Garden
Secluded, set amidst lushly landscaped hidden ruins, for many years open to the skies, the Secret Garden offered a haven of tranquillity from the bustle of Stone Town streets, an authentic Zanzibari à la carte menu. With music events on Wednesday and Friday nights with Zanzibari musicians with modern lively music.
In addition the hidden away Sebleni lounge was the perfect spot for coffee or cocktails, all classics with a Zanzibar twist.
Magical! The only word I would use to describe the Secret Garden restaurant, a former marketplace now artfully transformed with tables, palms and artworks amid the ancient walls”
Travel Blogger (2022)
The Secret Garden six-week project
In November 2022 The Secret Garden Restaurant was closed for refurbishments.
But this was not an ordinary mid-season spring-clean. This was a labour of love; a major upscaling project that involved creating a beautiful inlaid staircase, leading to an exquisite eating area on a covered balcony surrounding and looking down on, the original courtyard.
The staircase was uniquely fashioned by Scanza, a Zanzibar based bespoke furniture maker specialising in cocowood furniture & other local timbers.
Off the balcony, set-apart, is a large airy room with amazing inlaid artwork above the windows perfect for quieter dining, groups or parties.
Every ‘nook and cranny’ has the trademark authentic Emerson touch, with lavish chandeliers, art, peacocks, murals and unusual ancient artefacts.
The construction work has created over double the number of dining places available, with around 70 people seated for meals on the Grand Opening night, when the local group Tara Jazz performed two sets.
The unique shape of the Secret Garden courtyard with it’s tall, old walls and stunning vegetation, all combine to make the perfect acoustic for every live music event.
Everything is designed to perfectly blend the ‘timeless’ with the ‘mystical’; such that none of the invited Grand Opening event guests used the words ‘new’ or ‘revamped, but rather, lost in awe at the top of the staircase, just repeated a breathless “Wow!”
The six week reconstruction project finished on schedule on the 21st December 2022, with a special ‘thank-you’ meal for all the project workers. The Emerson Zanzibar management team expressed their heartfelt gratitude to everyone who laboured so hard and so diligently in hotter than average temperatures.
One of the Grand Opening guests remarked “With Zanzi-Beer on tap at the bar, along with the kitchen downstairs”, (both found on the ground floor) “the staff are going to get very fit very quickly!”
Nothing of the intimate, or romantic has been lost in this incredible project, simply a blossoming of the magical Secret Garden.
Secret Garden is the talk of Stone Town!
The Secret Garden has quite simply blossomed!”
Guest at the Grand Opening
COME FEEL THE MAGIC
Come feel the Magic of the Secret Garden With music events on Wednesday and Friday nights with Zanzibari musicians and modern lively music.
Special events are hosted in the Secret Garden, varying from book launches to wedding celebrations. A special location for private functions.
The Secret Garden Magical & Live
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“Spaces are magical, always have been for me. Since childhood, often when I walk into a space for the first time, I’m confronted with a narrative, a feeling, a history, some characters. Like Jacques, in “As You Like It,” there is a myth, an opera, a film or a play stretching out on stage before me. These stages present themselves for me to play on and, for even more fun, to play with. The romantic and erotic are always embedded in the space.” Emerson Skeens
Magical Secret Garden
Magical Secret GardenJoin us at one of our regular evenings of live music, art exhibitions or other hosted cultural events. From food to film festivals, we are at the heart of this vibrant pulsating Spice Island capital.
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