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Just Open: L'Hotel Gitan, Prahran

Hilary McNevin

From left: Antoine, Nathalie, Jacques and Edouard Reymond.
From left: Antoine, Nathalie, Jacques and Edouard Reymond.Patrick Scala

A cherry red French rotisserie is the star of the open kitchen at L'Hotel Gitan in Prahran. It's the latest venture by the Reymond family – acclaimed chef Jacques and three of his four children, Nathalie, Edouard and Antoine – at what was previously Hotel Max.

Nathalie, Edouard and Antoine Reymond own Bistro Gitan in South Yarra and the hotel is the realisation of many family conversations about opening "a pub, a place for people to come and relax, have a snack or have a meal," says Jacques Reymond.

After a complete overhaul the Art Deco hotel reopened on November 28 with a French-influenced dining room, bar and private dining room for up to 12 downstairs, and a private event space upstairs.

The Art Deco hotel has had a complete overhaul.
The Art Deco hotel has had a complete overhaul.Patrick Scala
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The interior, designed by Southbank studio SJB Architects, has changed significantly. The venue was pegged to open in late September but the Reymonds encountered unexpected obstacles renovating the 1854 building. The ground floor revolves around a central kitchen open on all sides. Bar seats along the front allow customers to watch the kitchen in action and interact with staff. The designers have stayed true to the Art Deco bones, adding mirrors, teal leather banquettes and lots of brass and marble.

The showpiece rotisserie will cook a rotisserie of the day and a crepe station will have turn out savoury buckwheat crepes. Small plates such as tempura Moreton Bay bugs and house-made boudin noir lead into seared scallop salad or beef cooked "a la plancha" (grilled on a hot plate). The well-structured wine list has a broad choice of Australian and European drops.

The hotel will initially open Monday to Saturday from noon, with plans to open daily in the new year.

L'Hotel Gitan, 32 Commercial Road, Prahran, 9999 0990, lhotelgitan.com.au

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