By Gwen O’Toole

Crown’s currently unnamed third hotel tower in Melbourne has announced that Gordon Ramsay’s Maze restaurant will open in February 2010.

After an agreement with Gordon Ramsay Holdings International, an Australian version of Maze — one of London’s popular restaurant concepts with outlets in New York and Prague — is set to open within Crown’s new hotel.

“[It] will fit extremely well within the positioning of our new hotel as Maze has become renowned for being stylish, contemporary and providing an innovative food offer,” said Crown CEO David Courtney.

“Maze will be hugely popular and will be a major drawcard for local, interstate and international visitors.”

Gordon Ramsay voiced similar sentiments: “This is our first step in bringing the Gordon Ramsay brand to Australia and after having seen the way Crown operates, I feel that this is an exciting and challenging opportunity.”

While based on French cuisine, Maze’s food has Asian influences and offers small tasting plates.

It in has been awarded a Michelin star and most recently was named Best Breakthrough Restaurant at the San Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurant Awards.