Camello, a theatrical Mexican restaurant and late-night lounge from local group 151 Hospitality, is set to arrive at The Esplanade in Phoenix's Biltmore/Camelback corridor in early February. The 6,000-square-foot spot leans into neon, big-format steaks and a dance-ready main room built for groups and late-night energy, all aimed at giving the block a fresh nightlife jolt.
According to The Best of the Southwest, Camello will launch dinner service on Feb. 2, then add lunch hours starting Feb. 9. The plan is to run weekdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., stretching to 1 a.m. on weekends, with an initial focus on evenings before the full lunch-and-dinner schedule kicks in.
Big Room, Big Nights at The Esplanade
The restaurant covers roughly 6,000 square feet and is designed to seat about 150 guests at a time, per AZ Big Media. It lands on the ground level of The Esplanade at 2425 E. Camelback Road near 24th Street, a short walk from Biltmore Fashion Park. The dining room layout is built for flexibility, with seating that can shift for private events and a dedicated area that doubles as a dance floor on weekend nights.
Chef, Menu and Shareable Spectacle
Executive Chef Julio Mata, who trained at Barrio Café and helped open multiple Barrio Queen locations, will lead the kitchen, bringing in modern takes on flavors rooted in his upbringing in Guaymas, Mexico, according to The Best of the Southwest. The menu leans into shareable plates like tlayudas, a tableside ceviche cart and aguachiles, alongside large center-of-the-table showpieces such as a 48-ounce carne asada tomahawk ribeye and a whole red snapper. Diners will also find enchiladas with three moles, tuna tiradito and a lineup of elevated frozen cocktails.
Design, Drinks and a Dance Floor
The interior pushes theatrical flair with neon colors, zebra-striped booths and a deconstructed disco-ball back bar, per AZ Big Media. Even the bathrooms lean into the bit, outfitted with animal-print wallpaper and Dalí-inspired epoxy floors. Up front, a curated, agave-forward bar highlights refined tequilas alongside signature frozen drinks, while the lounge is set to slide from sit-down dinner into full late-night mode when DJs and curated Latin playlists take over.
Where Camello Fits in the Neighborhood
Camello serves as the flagship concept for 151 Hospitality, the local team behind The Mercer and the Little Pickle Jewish Deli at The Esplanade, according to Arizona Foothills Magazine. In a press release cited by KTAR, co-founders Rick Phillips and Peter Hearn said they aimed to be part of the Camelback Corridor's "renaissance." The opening follows a multi-million-dollar renovation of The Esplanade campus that added restaurants and amenity space to the Biltmore area, as detailed in multi-million-dollar renovation coverage.
When to Go and How to Book
Per The Best of the Southwest, Camello will start with dinner on Feb. 2 and roll out lunch beginning Feb. 9, with full hours and menus phasing in through February. Details on menus, reservations and private-event bookings are being shared through the restaurant's site and press materials. Daytime service is expected to skew more casual and budget-friendly, while evenings tilt toward shareable, celebratory plates built for groups ready to make a night of it.
