Few 2024 restaurant openings in the Valley created the buzz that Élephante did. This widely adored Santa Monica restaurant from Wish You Were Here Group, a renowned hospitality collective, opened its second-ever location at Scottsdale Fashion Square in December, dishing up its coastal Italian menu of wood-fired pizzas, decadent pasta, signature cocktails, and an impressive wine list.
Élephante in Santa Monica has been a local and visitor favorite since is was founded in 2018, thanks to its jaw-dropping ocean and sunset views, rooftop setting, and approachable coastal Italian eats. While there is no ocean to admire or saltwater air to soak in at Scottsdale Fashion Square, the months-old Élephante Scottsdale is well on track to make the same waves as it chic Los Angeles counterpart. (A third Élephante is slated to open in Uptown Dallas later this year.)
It is safe to say that, at Élephante Scottsdale, the vibes are immaculate. The restaurant is a very spacious 12,000 square feet with a centerpiece bar and room for 345 guests, including 60 on the patio. Bespoke furniture, handpicked artwork, interesting light fixtures, on-trend neutral tones, and imported travertine tiles fill the space, resulting in an airy Mediterranean-influenced aesthetic that begs to be appreciated with a spritz in hand.
From the selection of snacks (think olives and arancini) and appetizers to Puccia & Dips, kicking off a meal at Élephante Scottsdale calls for variety. Hamachi carpaccio and grilled white shrimp with garlic-herb butter are standout starters, while the whipped eggplant is a signature dish. (The whipped stracchino, with fig vin cotto, and honey is another favorite with a sweeter edge.) Each whipped dip is paired with a lighter-than-air, slightly charred puccia, which is an Italian bread.
The house-made pastas and pizzas are meant to be shared among table mates. Whether perfectly simple, like the margherita pizza, or richly decadent, like the tagliatelle tartufo brimming with fresh truffle, the pizza and pasta dishes are delicious and comforting. For heartier appetites, the entree lineup includes Diver scallops, branzino, veal Milanese, dry-aged bone-in ribeye, and more, and are intended to be paired with Élephante Scottsdale’s collection of veggie and starch sides (including crispy potatoes with truffle aioli).
While you can’t go wrong with ordering the restaurant’s signature pavlova with white chocolate mousse, passion fruit, and tres leches ice cream for dessert, our pick is the pistachio sundae. The sundae is towering with vanilla soft serve, caramelized phyllo, pistachio caramel, pistachio marshmallow, and bits of crispy honeycomb. It is a twist on a childhood classic treat, elevated to an elegant, grownup dessert. And, while you’re at it, an espresso martini flight will truly end the night on a high note.
Coastal flavors are also present on the cocktail menu with signature drinks like The Élephante, with passion fruit, almond orgeat, and Calabrian chili, and Bird of a Feather, with gin, lemon, grapefruit, bergamot Rosolio, earl grey tea, and sparkling water. Classic cocktails, draft cocktails, refreshing slushies, and spritzy mocktails are also available. Plus, Élephante Scottsdale’s wine program spans every Italian region and includes proprietary private labels.
Élephante Scottsdale is open Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight; Saturday, 10 a.m. to midnight; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
For more information, visit www.elephanterestaurants.com.
7014 E. Camelback Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85251