An Exclusive First Look at Élephante Dallas — A Los Angeles-Based Italian Coastal Hot Spot
The Uptown Dallas Outpost Boasts Two Stories of Indoor-Outdoor Space and Dishes Unique to The City
By Megan Ziots //
Nearly two years ago, we announced that two buzzy new restaurants from Wish You Were Here Group (a multi-concept hospitality group based in West Hollywood, California) were coming to Dallas.
The first, an Australian cafe from New York City called Little Ruby’s, debuted earlier this year at 23Springs — a new office building in Uptown. But we were still waiting to hear when its sister concept from Los Angeles, Élephante, would open its third location in the 11,000-square-foot building next door. Now, after much anticipation, PaperCity has the exclusive first look at the coastal Italian hot spot, that will open on Tuesday, September 1 at 2701 Maple Avenue.
Élephante, founded by Wish You Were Here Group Founder and CEO Nicholas Mathers, began as a rooftop bar and restaurant in Santa Monica. Let’s first dive into what inspired its opening. This is our Q&A with Mathers.
What inspired the first Élephante?
Élephante was originally inspired by our travels to Pantelleria in Summer 2014, a small volcanic island off the coast of Sicily. On the island is a natural rock formation called the Arco dell’Elefante, which resembles an elephant extending into the sea. That landmark inspired both the name and the spirit of the restaurant. We wanted to capture the feeling of long Mediterranean afternoons, beautiful food, effortless hospitality, and the sense of escape you experience in places like Pantelleria.
Why Dallas for the next Élephante?
Dallas has developed into one of the country’s most exciting dining cities. People here appreciate thoughtful design, hospitality, and restaurants that create a complete experience. We felt there was an opportunity to bring something that feels transportive while still fitting naturally into the city. Dallas has an incredible energy and community, and we think Élephante adds a unique dimension to the evolving restaurant landscape.
What will the design be like? Will it be similar to the original or have a Dallas twist?
Every Élephante shares the same DNA, but each location is designed specifically for its surroundings. Dallas is conceived as a two-story garden pavilion that embraces indoor-outdoor living in a way that feels authentic to Texas while maintaining the warmth and ease people associate with Élephante.
The palette is intentionally tactile and natural, featuring rift-sawn white oak, travertine, honed marble, aged brass, blonde teak, leather, and hand-troweled stucco. Lush landscaping is woven throughout the experience so guests move through planted terraces and open-air dining spaces almost without noticing where indoors ends and outdoors begins. The result feels warm, handcrafted, and quietly luxurious.
The bar serves as the social centerpiece, featuring a suspended canopy of illuminated wine bottles above a sculptural oak and stone bar. Guests also experience a dramatic curved staircase connecting both floors, interior dining surrounded by living gardens, and a second-floor terrace that feels like dining beneath a Mediterranean veranda. Throughout the restaurant, every material was selected to age beautifully over time, creating a space that feels warm, lived-in, and welcoming.
Who is the designer?
All of our restaurants are designed in-house by [myself] and Monica Ruma, who lead the creative vision for every Élephante location. [Our] approach is to create spaces that feel timeless and deeply connected to their surroundings rather than driven by trends. For Élephante Dallas, we collaborated with the award-winning Alter Design Architects to bring that vision to life while thoughtfully adapting it to the local setting. Based in Texas, Alter was perfect to complement the aspirations of this design. Their style blends indoor/outdoor with warm materials and elevated but subtle luxury.
Will the menu be the same as the other locations? Will there be any Dallas-exclusive dishes?
While every Élephante evolves with its city, there are a handful of dishes that have become synonymous with the brand. The classic wood-fired pizzas are still made with the long-fermented dough using the starter that’s been cared for over three decades. Our house-made pastas, especially the vodka sauce canestri and ricotta cavatelli with pork fennel sausage ragù, have developed a loyal following. Also, cannot forget the fan-favourite whipped eggplant with warm oven-roasted puccia. They’re the dishes people come back for again and again.
While we source many of our specialty Italian ingredients directly from Italy to preserve authenticity, we also work with local producers whenever possible for fresh produce and seasonal ingredients. Our menu is designed to evolve throughout the year, allowing us to showcase the best ingredients available while staying true to the Mediterranean style of cooking. Dallas, like the other Élephante restaurants, will have unique dishes for this location.
How do you want guests to feel when they visit the Dallas location?
We want people to settle in, stay longer than they planned, and leave feeling refreshed. Whether it’s a casual lunch, sunset cocktails, or a special celebration, we hope every visit captures the effortless spirit of Mediterranean coastal living while still feeling deeply connected to Dallas.
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