Funky Claude's is one of the numerous eating/drinking establishments within the Fairmont Montreux, but outside of the lobby lounge, it's the main bar that is focused more on providing beverages of the adult variety vs. food. The lounge itself has an external entrance from the street; if you are staying at the hotel, you have to walk through the Jazz Cafe (a little awkward) before reaching the back. There's definitely a huge change in vibe depending on when you are here...on a Friday night, Funky Claude's was hopping, with a live pianist playing all different kinds of tunes (not just jazz), and all of the tables and seats at the bar occupied. On a Sunday night, however, the bar was starkly empty - there were 1 or 2 other people in the bar with us at the same time. Despite this, it felt like the staffing was the same at both times, which meant that while we were decently looked-after on Sunday, it was difficult to get attention for a refill on drinks and to close out our check after getting our initial order in on Friday.
As for the menu itself...we only ate one item of food here besides the bar snacks (which were largely nuts-based), as the food otherwise seemed to (generally) resemble what could be found in the Jazz Cafe. What we did have was the creme brulee, and that tasted excellent - the rum was burned to just the right level of crispiness on the surface, infusing a bit of sweetness while maintaining a hint of the kick from the booze. As for the drink selection - the beer selection is light, while I'm sure there is a decent wine selection. Given the scarcity of cocktail bars, though, this was what I focused on drinking here - and on balance, the cocktails were solid (if priced at a level that was even pricey for a New Yorker). The namesake drink is basically a sweeter version of a mojito with a touch of absinthe - very drinkable and fun, although the brown sugar can be a bit much sometimes. My favorite was probably the L'Enfin'delle, which was a competition cocktail (according to the menu) but drank almost like juice - until you had the alcohol hit you a little later. Some folks might think it's too sweet, but I really enjoyed the smoothness and the interplay of the flavors. I did try one of the numerous G&Ts on the menu; it was quite nice as well - the tonic was certainly lighter than what I am used to encountering, while the gin wasn't too overpowering either. It came off as a light, summery take on a standard cocktail - very seasonally appropriate.
While the service could be a bit better, and the price is a bit steep (but it's Switzerland - so that's a given), I enjoyed the visits I paid here, and I would definitely stop by again for a late-night visit. read more
