Secret Garden Tiki - Hollywood, Florida, USA
Secret Garden Tiki is truly a magical place. Located in Hollywood, Florida, and positioned uniquely as a boutique B&B of sorts, the garden is the perfect clothing optional escape for you and yours on your next excursion to the Miami area. Despite being only 15 minutes away from renowned Haulover Nude Beach, when relaxing among the foliage or under the tiki hut you really feel like you've been transported to a tropical oasis far, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. This is all thanks to Joni (your host) and her incredible attention to detail that is required to create such a beautiful, serene, and genuinely immersive space.
With regard to facilities and amenities, it's hard not to start by mentioning the incredible 90+ degree heated saltwater pool that is the real anchor of the property. It's just as relaxing and soothing as it sounds, whether to cool off during a hot day, or unwind during the evening hours. We found ourselves frequently dipping in-and-out-of it no matter the time of day, and it's perfectly positioned to continue to be able to socialize with your friends that may be lounging in the adjacent chairs or by the nearby fire pit. The other main focal point is, of course, the tiki hut. An incredible work of craftsmanship, there are plentiful and unique seating options, from traditional chairs and couches to a swing bench and a suspended hanging basket chair. Carefully thought out, the tiki presents itself naturally as one the best places to hang out, enjoy some great conversation, and have a bite to eat. We found ourselves planted there both late into the evenings sharing laughs and stories with good friends, as well as first thing in the morning with a good cup of freshly brewed coffee or tea.
Beyond the primary social areas, there are very unique all-outdoor environments for your shower, toilet, and sink that blend right in as though you stumbled upon these facilities in the middle of nature. Though all guests share these facilities, they are designed and outfitted in such a fashion to ensure the appropriate level of privacy that one might expect when utilizing them. Nearest to the pool you will find an incredible bamboo half-wall structure that houses the shower (one of our favorite areas on the entire property), but this is no ordinary outdoor shower! The shower itself is outfitted with all of the modern amenities and products that one could ask for, and it is nestled among plantings and vegetation in such a fashion that you really feel like you are showering under a natural water source in the middle of the rainforest. Just steps away from the entrance to the shower area, you will find a custom outdoor sink where you can wash up with plenty of shelving area for any toiletries, toothbrushes, or otherwise. Finally, at the far end of the property, you will find the outdoor restroom, also enclosed by a partial bamboo wall and a roof overhang that ensures enough privacy from other guests (and mother nature) while being able to enjoy this unique experience of an outdoor restroom with all of the conveniences and capabilities of modern plumbing.
If you are staying overnight (you should!) as opposed to just visiting for an event or stopping by for the day, you have two options for overnight accommodations. Despite the allure (and feasibility) of simply falling asleep on one of the many comfortable outdoor pieces of furniture strewn about the property, there are two proper "bedrooms" as well. The first, which we stayed in, is a standalone covered king bed that really takes glamping to a whole new level. The bed (extremely comfortable, by the way!) is on a raised platform just steps away from the pool and has a sturdy (yet translucent) roof to keep you dry, as well as multiple curtain-like enclosures either for full privacy or the inner mosquito netting to allow more light in without inviting any biting bugs in as well. There are two night stands for some minor storage on either side of the bed (power strips included so that you can charge all of your devices), both with decent-sized fans positioned on them to help keep you cool on those warmer nights. The other sleeping accommodation (that we did not use) is located in an interior room inside of the tiki hut. It's a smaller room and a smaller bed, but may perhaps offer additional layers of privacy if desired, with the trade-off of being closer to the action inside the hut if folks are socializing while you're trying to get some shut-eye. It also has a very unique attribute in that the bed is actually suspended from the ceiling within this room, creating a soothing gentle-rocking experience of sorts, similar perhaps to sleeping on a boat or some other environment where there is a subtle motion in the background. Finally, as the bedrooms themselves do not provide much storage if you are travelling with a lot of luggage like we were, you are also afforded the use of a powder room that is attached to the main house and is accessible from exterior doors by the entrance to the pool. This is perfect for storing luggage and other items safely and protected from any elements, and also serves as an ideal area to "get ready" or freshen up at the vanity included therein.
Despite all of the wonderful things that Secret Garden Tiki has to offer, the charm of the place really comes from the combination of all of the small details and each of the nooks and crannies that you can explore while perusing the property. You'll quickly find a new favorite piece of furniture to relax on, a hammock to fall asleep in, or a seating area with its own little fireplace to keep your feet warm. The list goes on and on, and it becomes quickly evident that every inch of this place was thoughtfully crafted and that there is truly something for everyone here, no matter what you're in the mood for at any given time. And that's not all--the real magic of it comes alive at night thanks to dozens of candles and other lighting features that provide just the perfect amount of ambiance in each of these spaces. While it certainly doesn't do it justice, we’ve shared some of our favorite images of the garden below and we also put together a quick night-time video tour (embedded at the end of this post) to attempt to give you a glimpse of what you can expect. That all said, you really need to come and visit and see it for yourself when you next get the chance! We are so grateful to Joni for her incredible hospitality and we can't wait to return when we're back in Miami.
For more information or to make your reservation, contact Joni via the @secretgardentiki Instagram page.
