Jungle inspiration and tropical touches reign here. Venture past the palm trees, sink into a tiger-striped cushion and take yourself on a drinking safari, exploring the cocktail list.
With no exterior signage and an unassuming facade, it's easy to walk past 324 Wickham Street without looking twice. But this is Garuva Hidden Tranquility, and if you do stop, you'll discover luscious cocktails, jungle inspiration and curious decor that's wild at heart.
Step past the threshold and into a tropical setting, decked out with emerald palms, a bubbling water feature and a meandering pathway which leads to an old wooden doorway. Beyond this second entrance lies both the cocktail bar and dining room.
Serious barflies will naturally bypass the restaurant in a blink and head straight for the cocktail area, where abstract artworks coat the walls and lanterns spread an incandescent glow. Here, drinkers lounge and laze on tiger-striped cushions, chatting in clusters and exploring the exotic drinks list. Try the signature Garuva Ecstasy concoction if you dare: it blends Bacardi together with Midori, Malibu, Blue Curacao and pineapple juice.
Live jazz flows on the weekends, with bands spreading their syncopated beats over the sipping territory.
If hunger strikes, don't be afraid to venture into the dining room. Here, more guests relax on scattered floor cushions and devour Asian-inspired dishes such as coconut prawns and tempura vegetables. Sheer curtain canopies shower each table area, offering lovebird nibblers a little extra privacy.
Andrea Tomaz
