The lambs are frolicking, the daffodils are blooming, and the sun is finally beginning to make its long-awaited appearance. And yet, while it feels as though spring is on the horizon, we’re still hesitant to chill our rosé and pack our picnic baskets — if these recent storms are anything to go by, we’re not completely out of the clear just yet. But the small hints of seasonal change has incited a deep thirst for spring’s arrival that is in need of being quenched, and these final few weeks of wait seem impossible, at best. Lucky, then, that oceanside eatery Mission is offering the perfect way for Aucklander’s to escape winters residual wrath and dip their toes into the warmer season a few weeks early, via a beguiling indoor, botanical garden.

Kicking off today, Mission will be hosting the latest offering in its Secret Garden series, this time inspired by the upcoming sunny season and its magnificent blooms. To set the scene, not only will they be decking the space out with blossoming flora, but Mission has also teamed up with Ecoya to ensure that sweet, spring-reminiscent aromas linger in the air. The collaboration will also guarantee that guests are sufficiently satiated, thanks to a unique cocktail list inspired by four of the brand’s most exemplary fragrances — French Pear, Spiced Ginger and Musk, Vanilla Bean and Guava & Lychee Sorbet. The bespoke libations will comprise the crisp and refreshing Pear Punch, the spiced Ginger Rogers, the indulgent Vanilla Ice-Mood and the sweet but sinful Big Trouble In Lil Lychee, marking a deliciously early foray into the silly season.

With a sublime beverage list and the chance to win an Ecoya gift pack every time you visit, Mission’s alluring secret garden is proving that there is no better way to say farewell to winter, than to escape from it altogether.

Mission’s Ecoya Secret Garden is in full swing Wednesday through to Saturday, 3pm to 8pm, every week until the 15th September.