Any true Angeleno can tell you that the lack of Westside rooftop bars is downright upsetting. Why spend an afternoon inside when the California sun is shining and palm trees are gracefully swaying in the breeze? Thankfully, restaurateur Nick Mathers, who’s launched L.A. gems Eveleigh, Goldie’s and Little Ruby, is here with a solution: Élephante Beach House, a coastal-chic eatery with views as good as its wine selection. The best part? It just opened on July 10, so it’s not chock-full of tourists or drunken college kids… at least not yet. Join us in a virtual tour of our new favorite hot spot and see for yourself why it’s the perfect place to catch up over rosé with girlfriends, host a party (ahem, our birthday is right around the corner) or enjoy a luxe date night.
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Élephante
The Space
Inspired by Mathers’s passion for travel, Élephante includes thoughtfully intermingled worldly touches, like tigerwood floors and handwoven plates and baskets made by African and Balinese artisans. Equal parts chic and understated, every inch of the restaurant and its three bars is beautifully curated down to the tabletops (Carrara marble) and bathroom soap (Aesop). The effect is a ’Grammable sanctuary that will make you want to turn brunch into an all-day affair.
Élephante
The Food
Élephante’s Italian-leaning seasonal menu is as vibrant as its view (with only slightly more calories). Start with the whipped eggplant, bigeye tuna crudo or, if you’re looking for something more substantial, the mascarpone and prosecco arancini. The watermelon and radish salad is the ideal palate cleanser on a warm summer day, but it’s executive chef Thomas Lim’s homemade lobster spaghetti and gemelli with Dungeness crab that are the true standouts of the menu. Oh, did we mention the cacio e pepe pizza? Yep. Your favorite pasta is officially a pizza. Finish up with a chocolate torta with salted caramel and mascarpone.
Élephante
The Drinks
Keeping with the breezy decor and Italian-inspired cuisine, the beach club’s cocktail and wine list is refreshing and traditional with a twist. Two of the most sippable are the Marco Polo mule with Japanese whiskey and the always-delicious Aperol spritz. Also on the menu is an orange wine and 11 other varietals we’d love to taste test—not to mention the wide array of Italian shaken or stirred cocktails.
Élephante
The Patio
The real gem of this beachside haunt is the outdoor patio, where the panoramic ocean views will remind you why you put up with all that Westside traffic. Grab a cocktail and catch the sunset or soak up some vitamin D while trying to think of a clever palm-tree-related Insta caption. Just don’t forget the SPF.
OverviewThe cactus garden room is the area when you initially enter the property. It does not have an ocean view, but is quieter than the sunset room. It’s designed beautifully with live natural plants and cacti along with a glowing fireplace.As we walked up to the unassuming facade, we were lead down a dark hallway and into an elevator to the rooftop. The doors opened onto a bright, whitewashed and rich wood scene that instantly transports you to the Mediterranean, Morocco or even Mexico. Filled with oversized baskets from Africa, rugs from Turkey and Morocco, and woven wooden light shades from Jalisco, the space feels like the most sophisticated yet laid back living room that suddenly has you planning your own remodel.
The front bar crafted mezcal cocktails for us to sip while we took in every detail around us. Custom blond wood and gray upholstered sofas and coffee tables lined one wall while opposite was the open-air, wrap-around balcony that seamlessly blends indoor and out.
The Pizza Program
The relentless attention to detail carries over to the carefully curated food and beverage menus. A bounty of housemade pastas, light salad and vegetable options, and a Neapolitan style pizza program (think authentic Italian – light and fluffy dough) occupy the lunch and dinner menu while the drink offerings consist of an impressive wine list and refreshing, hand crafted cocktail menu that will have you vacation ready with one sip. Plus, any restaurant that has a pizza program scores major bonus points in our book.
Coastal Celebrations
It goes without saying that Élephante would be an amazing venue for dinner parties, birthday parties, engagement parties and more – a beautiful caned partition easily creates a private event space for smaller parties while larger parties would benefit from a full buyout.
Officially open to the public on Monday, July 9th, experience the holiday destination that is Élephante Beach House for yourself.
Credits
Owner, Designer: Nick Mathers | Designer: Tara Bean | Designer: George Gorrow | Photography provided by The Venue Report and Élephante