Das Elephant

Das Elephant, Laax: Quick Take

If you are choosing between a resort-circuit dining room on the slopes and making the drive to a destination restaurant in the Graubünden region, Das Elephant at Crap Masegn in Laax earns its place in the conversation for a specific kind of guest: one who wants a special-occasion meal without leaving the mountain. Compared to the broader Swiss fine-dining circuit; where venues like Schloss Schauenstein in Fürstenau or Memories in Bad Ragaz set a high benchmark for destination dining; Das Elephant operates in a different register: accessible, mountain-adjacent, oriented toward guests already based in Laax.

The Experience

The setting at Crap Masegn is the primary draw. In a ski resort context, altitude dining carries a visual premium that flatland restaurants simply cannot replicate, the surrounding Alpine terrain does significant work before a single dish arrives. For a special occasion group booking, that backdrop matters. If you are planning a celebration dinner during ski season, the room's position in the resort gives it an automatic atmospheric advantage over restaurant options in the valley below. Groups considering a private or semi-private dining experience in Laax will find Das Elephant a practical choice given booking ease, this is not a venue where you need to plan months in advance the way you would for a table at Hotel de Ville Crissier or Cheval Blanc by Peter Knogl in Basel.

For groups specifically: a mountain resort restaurant of this type typically handles larger parties better than a city fine-dining room, where tables of six or more can feel like a logistical afterthought. If your party is arriving for a milestone birthday or a corporate dinner on the mountain, Das Elephant's resort context makes it a more workable host than the more intimate, counter-focused operations you find at places like focus ATELIER in Vitznau.

Practical Details

Das Elephant sits at Crap Masegn, Laax, accessible via the resort's lift infrastructure, which makes it a natural stop during ski days and a deliberate destination for evening dining. Booking is classified as easy, which in a resort setting means you are unlikely to be turned away with reasonable notice, even in high season. That said, peak ski weeks in January and February and the February school holiday period across Switzerland and neighbouring Germany tend to fill resort restaurants faster than the rest of the season, if your trip falls in those windows, book ahead rather than assume availability. For a broader picture of where Das Elephant sits among Laax's dining options, see our full Laax restaurants guide. You can also explore our full Laax hotels guide, our full Laax bars guide, and our full Laax experiences guide to plan the full trip.

For other strong Swiss mountain and regional dining options worth considering alongside Das Elephant: Da Vittorio in St. Moritz is the benchmark for resort fine dining in the Swiss Alps, La Table du Valrose in Rougemont offers a comparable Alpine setting with a different culinary approach. If you are open to travelling further, Mammertsberg in Freidorf, Maison Wenger in Le Noirmont, and Einstein Gourmet in Sankt Gallen represent some of the stronger regional alternatives across Switzerland. For international reference points on what a genuinely high-performing special-occasion dining room delivers, Le Bernardin in New York City and Lazy Bear in San Francisco set a useful standard. Also worth considering in the Laax area: Mulania Brasserie for a more casual international option on the same resort circuit.

The Verdict

Book Das Elephant if you are already in Laax, want a special-occasion dinner without leaving the mountain, need somewhere that can handle a group without friction. It is not the reason to visit Laax, but it is a reasonable answer to the question of where to eat when you are already there and the occasion calls for something more considered than a resort canteen. If you are travelling specifically for a dining experience, the rest of Switzerland's fine-dining circuit offers stronger cases for the journey.

FAQ

Can I eat at the bar at Das Elephant?

• Bar seating availability at Das Elephant is not confirmed in available data. In most Alpine resort restaurants of this type, bar or counter seating exists but is limited and often first-come. If eating at the bar matters to your plan, contact the venue directly to confirm before arriving.

Does Das Elephant handle dietary restrictions?

• No specific dietary policy is listed in available data. The practical advice: flag requirements at booking rather than on arrival. Resort restaurants in Switzerland generally accommodate standard dietary needs, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, but the depth of that accommodation varies by kitchen. For a venue with a documented Alpine-vegetarian approach, see our Laax dining guide for alternatives.

Can Das Elephant accommodate groups?

• A resort-positioned restaurant at Crap Masegn is structurally better suited to groups than a small city fine-dining room. Exact capacity figures are not in the available data, but booking ease is rated easy, which suggests groups are not an operational stretch. Call ahead for parties of six or more to confirm table configuration and any private space options. For context on what private dining in the Swiss Alpine circuit looks like at scale, our Laax restaurants guide covers the full local picture.

Is Das Elephant good for a special occasion?

• Yes, with the right expectations. The mountain setting and resort context make it a solid choice for a celebration dinner in Laax, the visual surroundings do a lot of the occasion work. It is not in the same tier as Memories or Schloss Schauenstein for pure culinary ambition, but if your group is based in Laax and wants a dinner that feels considered, it is the practical answer on the mountain.

What are alternatives to Das Elephant in Laax?

• Mulania Brasserie is the most accessible alternative on the Laax resort circuit for a more casual international meal. For a step up in culinary ambition within a day's reach, Memories in Bad Ragaz is the strongest nearby fine-dining option. See our full Laax restaurants guide for the complete local picture.

How far ahead should I book Das Elephant?

• Booking difficulty is rated easy, so last-minute tables are more realistic here than at most Swiss destination restaurants. That said, peak ski season, particularly January, February, Swiss/German school holiday weeks, fills resort dining rooms faster than the shoulder months. Booking a week out is a reasonable buffer in low season; two to three weeks ahead during peak ski weeks is the safer play for groups or special occasions.