Bar Bambino and Élephante are set to open at the renewed Uptown Houston mixed-use destination, Central Park Post Oak, once it is completed. The two concepts from Los Angeles-based Wish You Were Here Group have signed leases totaling 13,200 square feet, according to the Houston Business Journal.
Central Park Post Oak broke ground in April of last year, with full completion and retail openings slated for Fall 2026. Bar Bambino and Élephante will join Handies Douzo, Sparrow Italia, Buck & Rider, and The Henry as dining tenants at the new one-million-square-foot space.
What Now Houston reached out to Jason Bartucci, Managing Partner of the Wish You Were Here hospitality group, to learn more about the upcoming openings. Unfortunately, we did not hear back by the time of this publication.
“The Wish You Were Here Group is intrinsically tied to beach culture,” the Wish You Were Here website reads.
“Everything we do, from service to design to the menu, is intended to replicate the carefree beachside living ethos we know so well.”
Both eateries give coastal southern Italian vibes.
Élephante, like Bar Bambino, was created by founder and CEO Nick Mathers under the Wish You Were Here Group.
Élephante opened in 2018 as a third-floor rooftop restaurant and bar in Santa Monica, CA, with ocean views. It quickly became a high-profile West Coast hot spot. The name “Élephante” comes from a natural rock formation on the island of Pantelleria that resembles an elephant. Styled like a travel-fantasy escape, spaces feature custom teak, Indonesian rattan, locally sourced aqua marble, and a sun-washed Mediterranean color palette; the brand continued to bloom.
The brand opened its third location in September 2026, spanning a sprawling two-story space at 2701 Maple Avenue in the 23Springs building after expanding to its second location in December of 2024 inside Scottsdale Fashion Square.
Élephante is known for light coastal Italian dishes, fresh handmade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, whipped eggplant, and shared Mediterranean plates, plus hand-crafted cocktails and an extensive Italian wine program.
“Élephante restaurants are open daily serving light coastal Italian cuisine, a variety of hand-crafted cocktails, and an extensive wine program that showcases regions across Italy including limited vintage wines and proprietary private labels,” the brand’s website reads.
“Each visit to Élephante transports guests somewhere else, even for just a moment in time, the ethos behind Wish You Were Here Group.”
Élephante already has its upcoming Houston debut listed as “coming soon” on its website.
Élephante’s Scottsdale debut featured a hidden private cocktail lounge called Bar Bambino; it was the concept’s initial debut as well.
Bar Bambino is a sultry, late-night cocktail lounge that was launched by the Wish You Were Here Group and Mathers to fill a specific market gap: a high-end, atmospheric spot where guests could go after dinner for premium drinks and music without entering a full-scale nightclub.
“We kindly ask our guests to adhere to business casual or cocktail attire standards. For men, shorts must be structured with a belt loop and closed-toed shoes are required. For women, chic cocktail dresses, stylish tops, and graceful footwear are encouraged.”
The name “Bambino” (“baby” in Italian) playfully nods to its parent restaurant, Élephante, positioning the bar as its smaller, more intimate offspring. Mathers personally designed the space, which evokes a moody, retro 1970s “supper club” or secret disco vibe. Key design pillars include a curtained entryway, curved bronze-scallop bars, central chandeliers, and vintage mirrored ceilings.
Following Bar Bambino’s initial success, Wish You Were Here made the deal at Central Park Post Oak happen, and now we’re on our way to not one but two exciting openings from the hospitality group.
Bar Bambino and Élephante are anticipated to open within the Central Park Post Oak mixed-use destination at 1990 Post Oak Blvd this fall.
(This is a developing story. As more information is made available, we will update this article. Stay tuned!)
