Functioning as a beach lounge and restaurant, Elephante has been one of the hottest spots in Santa Monica for some time with no sign of slowing down. According to the restaurant itself, “Elephante aims to transport guests from Los Angeles to the Southern Mediterranean with stunning ocean views and dramatic sunsets.” That is quite literally what Elephante is about as the restaurant boasts a jar-dropping view of the Santa Monica ocean with amazing food and drinks.
Walking into the Elephante building located on 2nd Street in downtown Santa Monica, you will be guided by the hostess to stroll down the hallway and take the elevator to the fifth floor. Ding, the ocean breeze and the sound of busy conversations welcome you to the famous rooftop dining area of Elephante. However, that is if you have a reservation and bypass the long line of people waiting for walk-ins at the front door. Reservations open 30 days in advance on Resy but ones during sunset hours are incredibly difficult to get as the slots usually get fully booked the day they are released.
The restaurant is designed as an open-aired space with a bamboo roof, bamboo chairs, marble tables and wooden interiors. In the main dining area facing the ocean, a bar is built in the middle of the room as the open kitchen functions on the right. Elephante’s chill, beachy vibes reflect that of Santa Monica and are truly immaculate. The restaurant opens for service seven days a week, specifically 10 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. the next day Friday to Sunday.
Elephante is not only known for its wonderful atmosphere but also for its amazing dining options, most notably the whipped eggplant with wood-fired pita bread. Elephante offers an all-day menu, an express lunch menu as well as brunch and drinks. The all-day menu includes small plates, salads, appetizers, vegetables, pasta, pizza, main courses and dessert. The express lunch menu offers a three-course meal for a fixed price of $35 per person. As a beach lounge, Elephante also offers a drinks menu with a wide variety including shaken cocktails, classic cocktails, stirred cocktails, draft cocktails, wine by the glass and beer. There is something for everyone here at this Santa Monica hotspot.
I was lucky enough to be able to grab a dinner reservation three weeks in advance and came to experience Elephante with a friend during sunset hours. We were seated immediately and service was just fast and attentive. Our party of two ordered the famous whipped eggplant with pita bread, mascarpone prosecco arancini and spicy Calabrian vodka pasta. The eggplant dip was as good as I had expected as it was extremely creamy and went well with the warm, thick wood-fired pita. The arancini balls were crispy, cheesy and perfectly balanced by the accompanying marinara sauce. Our main dish was the vodka pasta; the noodles were just the right amount of al dente and the sauce was the ultimate combination of creamy and spicy. We sat directly in front of Elephante’s giant open view of the ocean and the vibes were indeed immaculate as we dined away to the Santa Monica breeze.
All in all, Elephante is definitely going to maintain its place as the It spot in this vibrant town of Santa Monica with its spectacular ambiance as well as a wide variety of foods and drinks. You have to try the food and see the view for yourself to fully understand the hype for Elephante but I will for sure be on Resy haunting for another dinner reservation during sunset hours just to indulge myself in that breathtaking scenery again.
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