Auberge Port-Gitana Returns as Geneva’s Boutique Lakeside Retreat
The historic Geneva retreat reopens after 30-month restoration with 18 rooms, lakeside dining, and Mont Blanc views.
Photos: Courtesy of Auberge Port-Gitana
On Sept. 4, Auberge Port-Gitana reopened in Bellevue after a 30-month renovation, marking a new chapter for a property with nearly 150 years of history on Lake Geneva’s shores. The project is the first hotel venture for the Gourmet Brothers group, better known locally for its gastronomic pedigree.
The reopening elevates a landmark with a storied past. Founded in 1875 by Baroness Julie de Rothschild as a steamboat pavilion, Port-Gitana evolved into a social hub in the early 20th century, drawing actors and artists from across Europe. The latest restoration underscores that heritage, with design partners Atelier ba.le and Ykra Studio weaving Geneva modernism and Riviera flair into the interiors. Pastel tones, vintage details, and light-filled lines maximize the building’s lakeside setting. Each of the 18 rooms and suites opens onto balconies or bay windows framing Mont Blanc.
The culinary offer, a centerpiece of the Gourmet Brothers’ identity, is led by Chef Romain Maillot, whose résumé includes La Réserve Genève and Verbier’s La Cordée des Alpes. His menu celebrates both land and lake, from perch fillets with “Gitana butter” to a bouillabaisse marrying freshwater and sea catch. The brasserie’s terrace sits just 100 feet from the lake, giving diners unobstructed views of the water. Dessert is treated with equal seriousness: A rolling trolley carries reinterpreted Swiss classics and pastry from the group’s Tout Chocolat patisserie.
The bar carries its own narrative. Inspired by the teakwood boats that once cruised Lake Geneva, the space combines Calacatta marble with antique finds. It is as much a tribute to the site’s maritime history as it is a social anchor for today’s guests.
As Geneva’s only boutique hotel with direct lake access, Auberge Port-Gitana fills a niche in a city more associated with grand palace hotels and discreet business addresses. Its smaller scale and gastronomic focus differentiate it from larger competitors, while its heritage story links it to a lineage of cultural and social relevance. For Gourmet Brothers, it signals an expansion of their culinary brand into hospitality, where food, design, and history converge in a compact but high-impact package.
With rates starting around $225 a night, the property positions itself below Geneva’s ultra-luxury bracket while offering experiences—such as lakefront dining, heritage architecture, and Mont Blanc views—that exceed its size.
