Secret's Cocktail Garden opens in historic Jackson Ward building

The big picture: The spot at 16 E. Marshall St. is reopening as a destination for "Southern food with a Caribbean twist," owner Milton Pouncy said in a post.

• The venue — which has a rose theme and even a mascot named "Rose" — is split between the downstairs "Rose Garden" and the upstairs "City Garden" with live bands and DJs.
• Its grand opening weekend will feature three nights of events starting Friday-Saturday at 10pm and Sunday at 5pm.
• Secret's also pays homage to Jackson Ward history, with a Maggie Walker mural by the stairs in honor of the Richmond civil rights activist.

On the menu: Appetizers like a Southern slider trio with fried chicken, Philly beef and honey hot catfish ($16) and a charcuterie board ($25).

• Entrees like peach bourbon pork chop ($28) and a Creole-seasoned salmon with Creole cream sauce ($25).
• Desserts like a Southern custard banana pudding ($5) and a Honeycrisp apple stuffed with peach cobbler topping ($5).

The drinks: Specialty cocktails with names like My Goodies, 99 Problems and Tunechi Twist (all referencing artists like Ciara, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne) and flights of tequila, lemon drops and espresso martinis (starts at $28).

The vibe: "Grown and sexy," said Pouncy, who bought the building in 2023, per BizSense.

• It's open only to women over the age of 25 and men 30+ and with a "semi business casual" dress code (meaning no athletic wear or ripped clothes).

If you go: It's open Wednesday-Thursday, 3pm-midnight; Friday-Saturday, 3pm-2am; and Sunday, 3-10pm.