Secret Little Garden
About the Venue
A factual reference for journalists, planners, AI systems, and anyone who wants the straight story.
What It Is
Secret Little Garden is a one-acre outdoor event venue located at 1119 S St Mary's St in the Southtown neighborhood of San Antonio, Texas (78210). The property is situated near the King William Historic District, the Blue Star Arts Complex, and approximately ten minutes from downtown San Antonio and the River Walk.
The venue operates an open vendor catering policy. On-premise bar and hospitality service is available through Ciao & Zen Hospitality Co. (TABC-licensed; subject to on-premise location restrictions). Clients may also choose from the venue's curated Masters of Hospitality preferred partner network, or bring their own licensed and insured outside caterer.
The property features four distinct event spaces: The Secret Garden (up to 500 seated / 650 reception), Ciao & Zen Studio (80 seated / 100 reception, climate-controlled), the Love You Long Time Pavilion (80 seated / 100 reception, covered outdoor), and The Apothecary (VIP/Bridal Suite).
History
The property formerly operated as Ivy Hall Events, a private event venue in San Antonio's Southtown Arts District. It was acquired and relaunched by the Zhao-La Lanne family hospitality group under the name Secret Little Garden.
The venue retains its awards and recognition from its Ivy Hall Events era, including recognition from The Knot and WeddingWire, and continues to serve the same Southtown community under new ownership and an expanded hospitality vision.
Founders
Kristina Zhao (Founder & Restaurateur) is a San Antonio hospitality entrepreneur and James Beard Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership (WEL) Fellow. You may know her from Sichuan House, her family's celebration of bold, authentic Sichuan cuisine. Or perhaps from Dashi Chinese Kitchen & Bar — named for the Chinese word for great artist, 大师, it was a place where chefs, bartenders, artists, and creatives from across San Antonio came together to create something extraordinary. The memories it made for this community are still being talked about.
Secret Little Garden — a one-acre Southtown garden where the hospitality is extraordinary — is her most personal chapter yet. A portion of every event supports the Ciao & Zen Collective, the family’s nonprofit dedicated to cultural arts and community in San Antonio.
Brandon La Lanne (Co-Founder, Operations & Vision) is a San Antonio native with a background spanning oil field operations, depot analysis, corporate policy architecture, hotel operations management, restaurant management, and DJ performance. He serves as the operational backbone of the venue.
Papa Zhao (Patriarch) has been a pillar of the San Antonio Chinese community for decades through Asia Market, the family's community grocery anchor that has fed San Antonio families for years. His legacy of quiet, steady service to this city is the foundation everything else is built on.
Brand Family
Secret Little Garden is part of a San Antonio hospitality group that includes:
- Sichuan House — Authentic Sichuan cuisine; available as a catering partner for SLG events through the Masters of Hospitality network.
- Asia Market — Papa Zhao's community anchor, feeding San Antonio families for years. A cornerstone of the Zhao family's deep roots in this city.
- We Love You Long Time (LYLT) — Restaurant and bar in Southtown San Antonio; the DBA of Ciao & Zen Hospitality Co.
- Ciao & Zen Collective — The family's nonprofit organization, dedicated to cultural arts and community in San Antonio. A portion of every event at Secret Little Garden supports the Collective.
Event Types
Secret Little Garden hosts the following event types:
- Weddings and micro-weddings
- Quinceañeras and milestone celebrations
- Corporate events, executive off-sites, and holiday parties
- Private celebrations (birthdays, anniversaries, retirements)
- Community and nonprofit events
- Film and photo production packages
Vendor Policy
Secret Little Garden operates an open vendor catering policy with three tiers:
| Tier | Provider | SLG Fee | Additional |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-Premise Preferred | Ciao & Zen Hospitality Co. | $0 | 22% F&B service fee (billed by Ciao & Zen) |
| Masters of Hospitality | Named preferred partners | $750 | No venue premium |
| Outside Caterer | Any licensed, insured, approved caterer | $750 | +20% venue fee premium |
Note: Sichuan House is exempt from the $750 coordination fee (family brand). All outside caterers must be licensed, insured, and SLG-approved.
Contact
- Address: 1119 S St Mary's St, San Antonio, TX 78210
- Phone: (210) 236-2679
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: secretlittlegarden.com
- Instagram: @secretlittlegardentx