Art Deco Hotel Montana: Hilltop Lucerne Review

The Art Deco Hotel Montana occupies a hillside above Lake Lucerne in a building that opened as a hotel in 1910, yet its name and style point to the later Art Deco era—a deliberate design choice that gives this Lucerne property one of the city’s most distinctive interiors. This review examines the hotel’s mix of vintage glamour, private funicular, and lake vistas, drawing on official data, travel-guide ratings, and hundreds of guest reviews.

Last checked: 2026-06-27

Style: Art Deco · Location: Hilltop overlooking Lucerne · Airport transfer: 1 hour from Zürich · Spa: Luxury spa suites with panoramic views

Art Deco Hotel Montana Reviews

Guest feedback consistently highlights the hotel’s prime hillside perch and the resulting panorama of Lake Lucerne and the Alpine ring. On TripAdvisor the property ranks #9 Best Value among 169 hotels in Lucerne (2026 list) and is described as an “elegant hillside hotel” with clean, modern rooms and attentive service (TripAdvisor). The MICHELIN Guide echoes the sentiment, noting that many rooms have balconies overlooking the town and lake (MICHELIN Guide).

Expedia’s listing similarly underscores the “panoramic views of Lake Lucerne and the Alps” and places the hotel in a luxury bracket (Expedia). Five Star Alliance ranks the hotel in the top 4 % of Lucerne properties by overall quality (Five Star Alliance).

Yelp reviewers from 2025–2026 call the hotel a “great hotel with a view overlooking Lake Lucerne” but note the steep hill access, which the funicular mitigates (Yelp).

Art Deco Hotel Montana Breakfast

The hotel’s breakfast is a frequent focus of guest comments. Based on a pattern of praise across multiple reviews, the morning spread is served in the Scala Restaurant & Terrace and includes a buffet with hot options, local cheeses, and fresh pastries. Several TripAdvisor reviewers specifically mention the quality and variety of the breakfast as a highlight of their stay.

Breakfast hours are not detailed in the official FAQ, but the restaurant’s terrace offers lake views that make the meal an experience in itself. The Hotel Guru notes that the Scala Restaurant holds 15 GaultMillau points, a standard that extends to its breakfast offering (The Hotel Guru).

Art Deco Hotel Montana Restaurant

Beyond breakfast, the hotel’s main dining venue is Scala Restaurant & Terrace, which serves contemporary cuisine with Mediterranean influences. The space is styled like a Greek temple with plaster reliefs of mythological figures, according to the MICHELIN Guide (MICHELIN Guide). Chef Johan Breedijk, credited with earning the restaurant its 15 GaultMillau points, is mentioned in several travel blogs as a draw for food‑conscious guests (Swiss Wanderlust).

Two other on‑site bars round out the dining scene: the Louis Bar (named after Louis Armstrong) is a jazz venue with regular Thursday concerts, and the Hemingway Rum Lounge offers a specialised rum selection. The Louis Bar has been described by Swiss Wanderlust as having a reputation as “one of Europe’s best jazz clubs,” though this claim originates from a single blog post rather than a widely‑corroborated survey.

Art Deco Hotel Montana Funicular

The steep hillside that gives the Montana its panoramic perch also creates a logistical challenge. The hotel operates a private funicular—often called the Montana Lift—that connects the lakeside promenade directly to the lobby level. Multiple sources, including TripAdvisor lists and YouTube travel reviews, confirm that the funicular is a key distinguishing feature (TripAdvisor Lucerne overview). A 2022 YouTube reviewer explains that guests can reach the funicular by taking a bus from the main street, then walking a short distance to the Montana sign and the “little thing” that carries them up the hill.

The funicular saves a steep ten‑minute uphill walk and is especially helpful for luggage. It operates during daytime hours; precise schedule details are not published on the official website.

Pricing and Value

Travel Weekly lists a typical nightly rate range of USD 278 to 629 for the Montana Art Deco Hotel, placing it in the upper‑midscale to luxury segment (Travel Weekly). Rates vary by season, room category, and view; rooms with lake‑view balconies command a premium. The hotel does not display dynamic spring/fall pricing on its official site, so direct inquiry or booking‑platform comparison is recommended.

Location and Getting There

The hotel sits at Adligenswilerstrasse 22, on the slope that rises from the lake promenade. It is about 60 km from Zürich Airport, a drive that typically takes an hour by car or taxi (Travel Weekly). Regular trains from Zürich to Lucerne station run in about 45 minutes; from the station it is a ten‑minute taxi ride or a 15‑minute lakeside walk to the funicular station.

Guests arriving by car can use the hotel’s parking garage, though space is limited. The official FAQ does not specify a charge, but typical Lucerne hotel parking costs between CHF 15 and CHF 25 per night.

Alternatives in Lucerne

For travellers weighing other options, the lakeside Grand Hotel National offers a similar historic‑luxury feel on a flat, central promenade rather than a hillside. A 2017 TripAdvisor forum thread directly compares the two, with contributors noting that the Montana’s funicular and views appeal to those who prefer a quieter, less urban setting (TripAdvisor forum). The Art Deco Hotel Montana, however, remains the only Lucerne property with a private funicular and a dedicated jazz bar.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Panoramic lake‑and‑Alps views from most rooms; private funicular eliminates the steep walk; Scala Restaurant holds 15 GaultMillau points; Louis Bar offers regular live jazz; rooms include air conditioning and non‑alcoholic minibar.
• Cons: Rates fall in the upper price bracket (USD 278–629); the hillside location requires the funicular for easy access; no on‑site pool; the beach bar is seasonal; jazz nights may contribute to evening noise in nearby rooms.

Related reading: Le Capitole Hôtel in Old Quebec: Theater & MICHELIN Review · Hotel Negresco: History, Ownership & Is It Worth It

For those interested in guest ratings and pricing, the Art Deco Hotel Montana Luzern offers detailed feedback from a Swiss perspective.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources Cited

• Art Deco Hotel Montana – Official FAQ
• Travel Weekly – Montana Art Deco Hotel profile
• TripAdvisor – Art Deco Hotel Montana reviews
• TripAdvisor – Lucerne hotel overview 2026
• Five Star Alliance – Art Deco Hotel Montana
• The Hotel Guru – Art Deco Hotel Montana review
• Swiss Wanderlust – Luzern Hotels: Montana Art Deco Hotel
• Yelp – Art Deco Hotel Montana Luzern