Seasoned Restaurateur Wants to Open a Rooftop Hangout in Santa Monica

Longtime restaurateur Nick Mathers is at it again, this time opening up an expansive second-floor lounge at the western edge of Santa Monica, complete with sweeping three-quarter views of the Pacific Ocean. The project is already well in the works above Flower Child, and will be called Èlephante.

Reps for Mathers are mostly tight-lipped on the project, but tell Eater that the plan is to be open by Memorial Day weekend. So what to expect? Lots of outdoor space for starters, as the rooftop offers several thousand square feet of lounging area and bar space. There will be hard liquor available as well as a small menu of food to coincide with all the drinks, and the views will apparently be pretty wide open to the ocean.

The jump to open Èlephante comes on the heels of (and just around the corner from) Little Ruby, his collaboration with the Ruby Cafe folks out of New York City. Mathers is also behind Eveleigh and the five-year-old Goldie’s, which means he knows a thing or two about running high-volume restaurants with a strong bar component.

The opening will also help to further anchor that corner of Santa Monica, which is bustling thanks to Little Ruby and the recently-opened modern Indian spot Tumbi, as well as Uovo and HiHo Cheeseburger up the street. Look for an opening next month for Èlephante.

Èlephante
1332 2nd St.
Santa Monica, CA

• The 17 Essential Santa Monica Restaurants [ELA]