Floral setting
Flowers and greenery cover the decor, with an outdoor area that many visitors find especially appealing for photos and relaxed gatherings.
Secret Garden by L'ETO
Al Wasl
Secret Garden by L'ETO is an upscale cake and coffee shop in Al Wasl, known for its flower-filled garden setting and carefully presented drinks and desserts. It also serves substantial dishes such as the Sesame Beef Bowl, making it suitable for breakfast, brunch or a leisurely coffee stop.
Reputation Score
4.6
★★★★★
1,860 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Dessert quality
Reviews repeatedly highlight fresh, beautifully presented cakes; the salted caramel chocolate cake and pistachio cheesecake are standout examples.
Creative drinks
The menu includes distinctive presentations such as the bird-shaped Hummingbird Potion, colour-changing mocktails and coffee served in ice cubes.
Menu guidance
Several visitors appreciated servers who explained flavours and helped them choose dishes or cakes around their preferences.
Full portions
The food is not limited to sweets: one reviewer found the servings filling, while another called the salad exceptionally large for one person.
Quiet music
One visit had pleasant background music at a volume that allowed conversation, adding to the cafe's relaxed feel.
Tips for a Better Visit
Visit off-peak. Try an afternoon visit during a quieter period; one customer arrived around 2:30pm and found it uncrowded.
Expect waits. If you want outdoor seating, allow time to find a table; weekends may be particularly busy.
Check display. Ask what is available before choosing a dessert, since the selection changes daily and is picked from the counter display.
Order thoughtfully. The iced latte arrives deconstructed with coffee ice cubes, condensed milk and warm milk, so ask about the serving method before ordering.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Dubai, City Walk 2 - 16 Al Safa St
Al Wasl, Dubai
Popular Mentions
Sesame Beef Bowl
A filling, flavourful dish that one reviewer specifically recommended after praising the food.
Mango iced tea
A refreshing drink mentioned alongside the Spanish café latte in a positive review of the beverage menu.
Spanish café latte
A coffee praised for its balanced flavour in a review that also highlighted the cafe's relaxed atmosphere.
Common Concerns
High prices
Multiple reviews describe the cakes, coffee and drinks as expensive, with one reviewer calling the lattes overpriced.
Table waits
The outdoor area can fill up, and an older review reports weekend waits of up to an hour.
Iced latte
The deconstructed iced latte uses coffee ice cubes, so one customer ended up waiting for them to melt and drinking mostly milk.
Slow service
Some visits mention delays placing orders, receiving food or getting the bill, particularly when the cafe was short-staffed.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
around AED 50
milk cake with saffron
“I tried milk cake with saffron, and it was amazing! around AED 50 for the piece”Google review · April 2022
173 AED
two granolas and the beverages
“With 173 AED for two granolas and the beverages it might be a bit expensive but it’s worth it”Google review · February 2020
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Secret Garden by L’ETO is a flower-filled cafe in Al Wasl that works especially well for a photo-friendly breakfast, brunch, dessert stop or catch-up. The garden-style interior, floral walls and outdoor seating are the main draw, while the menu goes beyond cakes and coffee. Reviews mention the Sesame Beef Bowl, Chicken Caesar Salad, pistachio cheesecake and salted caramel chocolate cake, with the latter described as rich and especially good alongside V60 coffee.
Drinks are part of the experience. The Hummingbird Potion arrives in a bird-shaped cup, mocktails can have high-end mixology-style presentations, and the iced latte is served as coffee ice cubes with milk on the side. That format is novel, but one customer found the cubes took too long to melt, so ask what to expect before ordering.
Service is often warm and helpful, particularly when staff explain the menu, though it has not been consistent: reviews also mention slow ordering and billing when the cafe was short-staffed. Prices run higher than a regular coffee shop, including a reported AED 50 slice of saffron milk cake and AED 173 for two granolas with drinks. Outdoor tables can require patience, especially at busy times; a quieter mid-afternoon visit may be easier.