Revamped 2023 Secret Cocktail Experience in Hoi An
It’s official — we’re back at it, serving up some seriously sensational cocktails at some sweet Secret spaces in Hoi An! Last night, we hosted our first return guests since ‘everything changed’ and it was truly a smashing success. Now, with an all-new, fully re-vamped Secret Cocktail Experience, we’re ready and excited to welcome you once again for some cocktails as we meander through Hoi An’s ancient streets.
Hoi An’s Original Secret Cocktail Experience
Our Secret Cocktail Experience first started in Hoi An back in October 2018 with a simple idea among friends sharing some cocktails at our local watering hole. We thought - how great would it be to have an ‘inside guide’ taking you to some of the city’s coolest Secret spaces, sipping on some sensational cocktails and sharing stories of Vietnam, Hoi An and the inspiring people behind the evolving food and cocktail scene in Hoi An.
And with that, we sprung into action to find the city’s most underground, secluded and intimate spaces. We looked high and low to find the best local and international mixologists. The intrigue and suspense were certainly building as Hoi An’s Secret Cocktail Experience was born.
Working with some of the city’s top mixologists and chefs, SecretEATS created 4 Secret, off-menu cocktails designed to surprise and delight, along some light snacks to complement the Secret Cocktail Experience. Super fun! In fact, we were loving every moment of bringing people from around the world together to unveil the mystery and discover the Secrets of Hoi An. Back then, our SecretEATS Cocktail Experience was even featured in a New York Times article — “Have App, Will Travel Like a Local. Hopefully”.
WHEN THE WORLD PRESSED ‘PAUSE’
Then, we all know what happened in early 2020. Suddenly, things in Vietnam — and around the world — came to a screeching halt.
So, we pressed paused and we waited. And waited. And waited. Places closed, never to re-open, people moved, things changed.
The Secret Cocktail Experience as it was would never be again. The moments and memories, the cocktails we shared - it was all suddenly a thing of the past now.
Of course, that is far from the end of this story though!
While the world was ‘on pause’ we used this time to connect back to our core purpose, our reason for being — bringing people together as strangers to break bread, sip on something sensational and to share our stories, to connect with one another. We traveled, we ate, we drank, we contemplated.
In our journeys, we visited 3 continents and spent time re-connecting with long-time food and wine friends, partners, chefs, mixologists and our SecretEATS guests from around the world. We ate, we drank, we shared stories. We listened and learned.
OUR RETURN TO VIETNAM: SECRET DINING, SOCIAL DINING
In March 2023, we returned to Hoi An and hit the ground running! First, we kicked things off with the relaunch of our Secret Dining Experiences in both Hoi An and Danang again. If you’re not familiar with our Secret Dinners, we host chef-led, gourmet food and wine pairing experiences with some of the city’s top chefs and young, rising stars in some seriously cool spaces!
STEP TWO: REINVENTING OUR SECRET COCKTAIL EXPERIENCE
Now, it was time to relaunch the Secret Cocktail Experience.
Again, we started searching out the best-kept Secret spaces, looking for the most creative, innovative cocktails and delicious bites. All along the way, we heard the inspiring stories of the local Vietnamese chefs, mixologists, creatives and entrepreneurs that are shaping the future of food and drink in Central Vietnam and the cultural development of the UNESCO World Heritage site.
What’s New in the 2023 Secret Cocktail Experience?
Each of our Secret spaces and hidden gems are the creative vision of, as well as owned and operated by local Vietnamese industry leaders and creative pioneers.
Each of our Secret cocktails were expertly hand-crafted, created just for Hoi An’s original Secret Cocktail Experience, by local, talented mixologists.
Each cocktail crafted for this Secret experience uses either locally made Vietnamese spirits or Vietnamese herbs and spices in their creation; most use both.
Hear stories of the local Vietnamese people that are behind the constantly evolving, ever-changing culinary and cocktail scene in Central Vietnam.
With a renewed focus on bringing people together and connecting over cocktails, we are so, so excited to relaunch and so grateful to our friends and partners who helped bring the Secret Cocktail Experience back to life.
WE ARE KNOWN FOR OUR OUTSTANDING EXECUTION THAT GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND.
Since 2013, SecretEATS has been curating unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences that bring people together.
We are connectors, building bridges and bringing people together. We are making connections over cocktails, creating moments and memories that you won’t soon forget.
We are storytellers at our core — sharing the ancient tales of Hoi An, its history and culture and revealing the people behind the culinary and cocktail movement in Central Vietnam.
Our aim is to be your ‘best friend’ in Hoi An, taking you to the best Secret spaces and discovering hidden gems together.
Would you like to join us for a wander?