Port-Gitana, a retro escape on Lake Geneva
Part vintage vacation home, part gourmet retreat, the Auberge du Port-Gitana is the ideal place to extend your summer in style. In Bellevue, on the shores of Lake Geneva, this inn, redesigned by the Gourmet Brothers opened its doors in June 2025. A breath of fresh air blows through this institution with its retro Mid-Century charm. But it’s time for far niente chic on the terrace, where the golden evening light caresses the plates.
Cream of pea soup
On the menu, a balancing act between land, sea and lake. The tone is set right from the start, with a seductive parade of dishes: gamberi rossi carpaccio, vitello tonnato, tomato tatin, stuffed zucchini flowers… But it’s an iced cream of pea soup that takes the spotlight. Served on its own or escorted by a toast of smoked féra, this cold velouté combines Genevan ricotta, lovage and a touch of acidity with disconcerting elegance. A slap of freshness that sets the tempo.
On the main course, the Parisian entrecôte from Geneva catches our attention straight away. Perfectly cooked, succulent marbling, mature flavor: it’s all there. The “frites allumettes” (homemade, of course) and the perfectly assembled béarnaise form a flawless trio. On the other hand, it’s impossible to miss the unmissable fillets of lake perch, which are also excellent, from the cooking to the Beurre Gitana sauce. Two dishes that might seem a little classic, but they’re not.‘if they weren’t executed with such precision. Proof that in the kitchen, simplicity does not exclude excellence.
Triple dose for dessert
It’s hard to pass up the Gitana experience, in other words: the dessert cart. A charming proposal of crunchy meringues accompanied by Gruyère heavy cream and blueberry and blackberry compote. Then, a chocolate moelleux topped with a meringue cloud, and finally, a chocolate mousse with tonka bean chips. A selection that won’t win unanimous acclaim, but which is sure to please, thanks to the precision of the mousse dessert.
With its almost waterfront terrace, delightfully vintage decor and cuisine that’s both precise and generous, Port-Gitana has made a successful comeback. Here, we don’t try to show off. The focus is on the good, the beautiful and the obvious. And that’s exactly what we needed.
