Hilton Sydney’s Zeta Bar bloomed on a rainy afternoon last Friday (Feb 1) for a sneak peak at the upcoming launch of ‘The Secret Garden’.
Guests enjoyed a mix of whimsical cocktails, sparkling icy poles and jellies and nibbled on a traditional afternoon tea with a Zeta twist.
Hilton Sydney’s internationally acclaimed Zeta Bar has launched the Friday night concept to be held every Friday from 15 February starting at 6 p.m., Zeta Bar’s outdoor terrace has been fancifully transformed into a magical garden with beautifully manicured lawns and garden furniture making it the perfect spot to while away a Friday afternoon.
Guests will wander through the hedge lined terrace or perch in one of the garden pockets while listening to jazz presented by renowned Sydney band ‘The Press Club’.
Moving statues, frivolous garden gnomes and dreamlike topiary completed the story.
All this combined with a range of specially concocted garden party inspired cocktails ranging from molecular to playful twists on classic cocktails. The menu features a mixture of sprightly and herbaceous cocktails including the Applicious Air, Tweedle Dum, Citric Bloom and the Secret Garden. Zeta’s gardeners will wander through the garden offering a selection of sparkling icy poles and jellies.
Partnering with Moët & Chandon, the cocktails have been carefully conceived to incorporate the flavours of sparkling and spirits.
“Working with the two can be difficult due to the delicate flavours of the wine,” said Colin Tam, Zeta bar head bartender. “It’s highly important for both to be perfectly balanced, we don’t want to overpower the wine but at the same time ensuring that the flavours enhance the notes of the wine and compliment the flavours of the spirits.”
Zeta bar inside Sydney Hilton, transformed into a Secret Garden
For the first time Zeta will serve a ‘Mistress Mary afternoon tea’ that’s quite contrary, guests can complement their cocktails, icy poles and jellies with a selection of chic bites that have been matched to the cocktails on offer. A mixture of sweet and savoury the menu features dainty sandwiches including crab, cucumber and watercress; and house smoked salmon, rocket and cream cheese served on homemade brioche.
The culinary playfulness continues with sweet treats such as raspberry mousse, chocolate and pistachio, an assortment of macarons; chamomile cremeux served with fried basil accompanied with classic home baked scones served with rose petal cream.
‘The Secret Garden’ has been whipped up by head bartender Colin and his highly trained Zeta Bar team who were also behind the successful ‘Coney Island’ and ‘Farmers Market’ concepts. Each of the Zeta mixologists has created a cocktail with inspirations ranging from their childhoods and interpretations of the book ‘The Secret Garden’.
