Restaurants added at Post Oak’s Newest Dining Destination

In Houston, Midway and partners 3Edgewood and Parkway revealed new restaurant and bar tenants at Central Park Post Oak, the reimagined multi-use campus taking shape on Post Oak Boulevard north of the Galleria.

Élephante, a Mediterranean restaurant drawing inspiration from coastal southern Italy, has leased 11,200 SF. Bar Bambino, a design-forward cocktail lounge, has leased 2,000 SF. Both are part of Los Angeles-based Wish You Were Here Group and will occupy 13,200 SF out of 30,000 SF of newly created retail space. The new to Texas tenants kick off Phase 2 of the retail expansion and repositioning of the 17-acre campus.

The new concepts add dining and nightlife to what has traditionally been a daytime campus. The 17-acre multi-use complex, which contains three office towers totaling 1.2 million SF, will have 150,000 SF of retail including 60,000 SF of newly created space in a parklike setting.

“I’ve always been drawn to places with unique energy and a cohesive community, and Houston has all of that and more. We’re thrilled to create a special hospitality experience with Élephante, and Bar Bambino at Central Park Post Oak, one of the city’s most exciting multi-use destinations,” Nick Mathers, founder of Wish You Were Here Group, said when the deal was released. “This is a unique opportunity to create a new gathering space for the Houston community to connect, celebrate, and of course enjoy great food. The opportunity to build around such a vibrant park setting is incredibly compelling, and we are thrilled to partner with the amazing team at Fearon Hay to conceptualize, design and build the most unique Élephante to date.”

Phase 2 is slated to break ground by the end of 2026. In addition to new retail buildings along Post Oak, the redevelopment of Central Park Post Oak will add a central green space, a new conference facility, new office lobbies, exterior hardscape and landscape improvements, and additional garage renovations. The 50 year old campus was previously known as Post Oak Central.

“Élephante and Bar Bambino will elevate the culinary and social landscape of Central Park Post Oak and underscore the kind of experience-driven mix that we are creating,” said Clayton Freels, Executive Vice President, Midway. “As Phase 2 takes shape, these concepts will build new energy around the green space and further strengthen the property as a destination for tenants, visitors, and the broader Uptown community.”

At 11,200 sq ft, Élephante is the largest new restaurant signed so far at the campus. Other upcoming restaurant additions at Central Park Post Oak include Handies Douzo, The Henry, Sparrow Italia, and Buck & Rider. Openings are slated to begin in late 2026.

Page, OJB, and Hoar Construction are working with Midway on the redevelopment.

Recent office leasing in the complex includes deals with TDECU, BBVA, Renewa, Terra Energy Partners, and Houston Business Journal. Cushman & Wakefield handles office leasing, while Bond Retail Partners is leading the retail leasing.