Élephante

"Élephante is about as Scottsdale as it gets — funny enough, because it comes by way of Los Angeles. The breezy California coastal vibe blends seamlessly into the desert setting, giving off a Tulum-meets-Santa Fe energy that’s Instagram-friendly without feeling contrived. As with much of the neighborhood, it’s stylish and a bit loud, but the focus doesn’t revolve solely around the scene. The menu, an offshoot of the original Santa Monica location, delivers dishes like big eye tuna tartare (Calabrian aioli, tangerine, carta di musica crackers) and a hamachi carpaccio enlivened by Meyer lemon and crispy capers. The whipped eggplant is a standout, served with puccia bread — rich, creamy, and absolutely worth its place on the table. Baked eggs here echo shakshouka but swap in vodka sauce. Sliding into Scottsdale’s competitive restaurant scene with ease, Élephante manages to feel both on-brand for the area and refreshingly unpretentious." - Mcconnell Quinn, Nikki Buchanan

"This brand-new, chicly outfitted hot spot in Scottsdale Fashion Square specializes in coastal Italian cuisine. Choose among menu options such as mascarpone and Prosecco arancini, burrata and caviar, signature whipped eggplant, pastas, pizzas, and diver scallops. As for atmosphere, a massive oak and teak wood bar, wooden furnishings, and rattan dividers invoke the coast of Sicily. A fold-away glass wall leads to a spacious outdoor dining patio, lush with plants. A variety of private and semi-private spaces are available; for groups of eight to 12, Élephante requires family-style dining with a prix-fixe menu. Groups of 13 or more are considered event bookings and should be reserved through the Private Events team." - Nikki Buchanan

"Santa Monica’s outdoor rooftop restaurant Elephante is a beach-adjacent gem. Heat lamps are strategically placed to warm diners from the cool ocean air. Though the cactus garden room is gorgeous, the sunset room has ocean-view seats. The menu reads Italian but leans Californian with wood-fired burrata pizzas, fusilli pasta, and grilled octopus." - Mona Holmes, Rebecca Roland

"Step aside Bungalow, there’s a new disaster bar in Santa Monica, and it’s got way better views. Located on an ocean-facing rooftop on 2nd St., Elephante is one of the most impressive spaces to open on the Westside in a while. It has a totally fine Italian-ish menu, but you’re here to drink expensive cocktails, stare at the Santa Monica Pier, and flirt with well-dressed people who make more money than you." - brant cox, brett keating

"The indoor-outdoor vibes here at this rooftop Santa Monica restaurant are beyond sexy. You can lounge on their big couches and watch a perfect, unobstructed view of the sunset over the ocean right from your dinner table. With views like this the food doesn’t even have to be good, but the menu fully delivers. They have all the Italian dishes ideal for sharing: spicy vodka pasta, cacio e pepe, Neapolitan pizza, and prosecco arancini (how sexy does that sound?). You and your date will never run out of things to talk about because the tables are packed, leading to some of the best people watching in LA."—RG" - brennan carley