The short answer
L'Elephant: what visitors should know first
Go if you want a calm sit-down meal with some vegetarian choice. It is a mixed kitchen, so ask what is meat-free on the day, and check that it is open before you walk out.
Useful facts
L'Elephant facts at a glance
- Location
- Ban Wat Nong, corner of the old town
- Dining style
- Sit-down French and Lao restaurant with tea salon
- Price signal
- Splurge bracket in Wikivoyage
- Signature order
- Try: the daily vegetarian special, if offered
- Good for
- Couples, mixed-diet families, afternoon tea
Why it matters
Why L'Elephant is worth your time
French cooking runs on butter and stock, so a vegetarian choice here needs checking, but a restaurant that already offers vegetarian daily specials is rarer in town than it should be. For a family where one person eats meat and another does not, a mixed menu with an explicit vegetarian option is practical.
The Insight Guides page dates from 2019 and Wikivoyage does not give a date, so details may have moved on. Treat it as a lead and confirm the menu when you arrive.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Daily specials
Insight Guides says the specials include vegetarian meals.
- 02
Tea salon
A daytime tea salon is a gentle stop for older travellers.
- 03
Price caution
Wikivoyage warns some expensive items are poor value.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Insight Guides describes L'Elephant as French brasserie fare with a daytime tea salon and daily specials, among them vegetarian meals. Wikivoyage describes it as Lao and French food from good ingredients in pleasant surroundings, while cautioning that a few expensive dishes are poor value.
Ask the staff at the start which daily special is vegetarian and whether it is cooked with meat stock, butter or egg. Brasserie cooking often relies on all three, so do not assume.
The tea salon makes an easy stop for older travellers between morning sights and a heavier dinner. It is a short walk from Saffron Caffè, which Wikivoyage places around the corner.
Plan with confidence
Small checks that make a better meal.
- Confirm hours before you go
- Ask what the vegetarian special contains
- Check prices on the menu
- Reserve for evening
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Ban Wat Nong, a corner of the old town
- Time needed
- 1 to 1.5 hours
- Best time
- Lunch or a quiet afternoon tea
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- A proper restaurant with table service; ask about steps at the entrance. Daytime is quieter than evening.
- Tickets and access
- Book dinner if you are a group. Wikivoyage lists it as a splurge and says some pricey items may not justify the cost, so check the menu prices first.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near L'Elephant
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
A proper restaurant with table service; ask about steps at the entrance. Daytime is quieter than evening.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Does it serve vegetarian food?
Insight Guides says daily specials include vegetarian meals; confirm on the day.
Is it expensive?
Wikivoyage lists it in the splurge bracket.
Is it pure vegetarian?
No, it is a mixed kitchen.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
