Art Deco Hotel Montana,
Lucerne Lucerne, Switzerland
from Travel Intelligence
Art
Deco hotel, some floors better than others. Fine-ish views.
Address:
Adligenswilerstrasse 22,
6002 Luzern,
Switzerland
Telephone:
+41-41 410
6565
Fax:
+041 410 66 76
Rating:
4 star
Reviews
Jamie Dunford Wood:
After a number of recommendations on this hotel, we went to check it out.
Calling itself the Art Deco Hotel Montana, the building dates from 1910 and is
in a wonderful position half way up the hill overlooking the lake and town of
Lucerne, the only blot on the otherwise faultless landscape being the block-like
Palace Hotel on the edge of the lake below, which is rather like having someone
in the queue in front of you. Still, it doesn't obscure the tremendous views -
this must be one of the few hotels that has a view of the complete length of the
old Chapel Bridge, as well as the mountains and town. The terrace restaurant is
perfect for eating out on a sunny day, and when the weather is inclement, wall
to wall windows allow you to take the view indoors with you. The style
downstairs is art deco, all that remains of the original, but by the time it
gets to the cosy but bright jazz bar at one end it has become more modern.
This is a Best Western hotel - not necessarily reassuring as to originality or
supreme comfort, but dependable as to a friendly welcome and independence of
mind, as all BW linked hotels are independently owned and managed. And all
praise to them for searching out such places, generally in the middle, more
affordable range of the market, vetting them, and then encouraging them to
retain individuality.
Upstairs the hotel falls into two distinct categories - the 'modern art deco'
rooms of the 2nd and 3rd floors, and the 'classic' or 'elegant' 'art deco' rooms
of the 4th and 5th. Those are the hotels' terms, because while the modern rooms
are really quite interesting, with multi-coloured and multi-shaded wooden
parquet floors, modern two-tone wooden furniture a la David Linley, and black
and white check upholstery, the 'classic' or 'elegant' rooms have nothing art
deco about them. They are neutral, beige and dull, with dusty pink carpets,
innocuous framed Monet prints on the walls, and repro French Empire chairs,
stools and bedside tables - antiqued to look old - which apparently appeal to
mild mannered English guests who can't be doing with all that trendy modern
rubbish. However, these are all due to be renovated shortly by a new owner who
has 'lots of exciting ideas', so we shall await developments. Meanwhile book a
room on the 2nd or 3rd floors - in the front with the views (and small
balconies). Insist too on a bathroom with twin sinks, as most of them have, for
these tend to be bigger. And if you can afford it, spend the third again extra
on a junior suite, because although the double rooms are a decent size, the
junior suites are twice that, with two lake view windows - 4 if you get a corner
room.
Matthew Barker:
Chic and cheerful art deco Grand Dame overlooking Lake Lucerne and the Alps. The
rooms (most of which come with balcony) are split into 'Art Deco Modern' and
'Classic', the former with polished wooden floors, bold colours and tiles; the
latter chandeliers, gilt edges and drapes. Sunny. 65 rooms.
Well, there’s the view over the lake, and you can jump in a specially laid on
cable car down to the promenade from the lobby. The Scala Restaurant and
Colonade bistro both offer good local cuisine; the Louis Jazz Bar includes 80
classic malts. No doubt Satchmo would’ve approved.
Catch a ride on one of the old paddle-steamers that patrol the lake; the
Kornmarkt square in the Old Town houses the Town Hall (dating from the early
1600s), and still hosts a weekly marketplace. The New Museum of Art, Picasso
Museum and Richard Wagner Museum are all close at hand; the concert hall at the
Cultural & Congress Centre boasts one of Europe’s finest concert halls.
Trumpf-Buur and Chateau Gutsch restaurants serve up traditional Swiss dishes.
Not big on nightlife.
