Élephante, the Instagram viral rooftop restaurant, has been on my “LA bucket list” for years. Located in Downtown Santa Monica, easy to miss if you’re not looking, and hard to get a table for – the restaurant feels more like a secret club.
I had the chance recently to finally visit Élephante and answer the question…is it worth the hype?
As the restaurant is sometimes booked out even on weekdays, I made myself a reservation for Friday night days in advance. I decided to get there early as I knew it would be busy, but I did not expect everyone else to have the same idea. After finally checking into my reservation, I walked through a small hallway to the elevator up to the roof.
I found myself to be a bit overwhelmed at just how many people were inside, getting to my table through the large crowd of people standing around the bar was almost a challenge. It was clear I wasn’t the only one who had heard the hype about this posh establishment.
Élephante serves Italian cuisine and features exquisite craft cocktails, pizzas, pastas, salads, meats, and seafoods.
I sat down at my table and took in the beautiful views. Lucky for me, I had come just before sunset. The pink skies and the cozy feel of Élephante made me feel almost like I was vacationing on an island.
One thing to note about Élephante, is that it’s not exactly college budget friendly, so be prepared for the hefty check that comes paired with your meal.
I sipped my “raspberry beret” cocktail while I anxiously awaited my food. Due to the volume of people, it took a bit for the food to come out. But, thankfully the refreshing drink made the wait more comfortable, although it was more on the pricey side for 18 dollars.
I decided to order the “Gemelli,” listed on the menu as “squid ink pasta”, with “dungeness crab, tomato butter, chili.” This order had a bit of a hefty price tag, $28, but I wanted to try something that felt luxurious and out of my comfort zone.
I had seen pictures of squid ink pasta online, and was drawn to the way to the deep rich shade of black.
As I took my first bite, I was overcome with the amount of varying flavors in this dish. I tasted the chili, the crab, and the tomato butter all at once. It was unlike anything I had tried before.
Overall, my experience at Élephante was pleasant and a nice break from my usual routine. I would come here again on a special occasion, but due to the high price tags I will not be a new regular.
