Funken Lodge

Rooms are small, but nicely appointed. The breakfast buffet is absolutely fabulous with incredible choices and a lovely waitress, Minnie. The staff are all quite friendly but the manager, however, who is not Norwegian, as he spoke English with the staff, was not receptive to improvements that should be made with the poor organization of the “slipper room “. Over the few days of our stay, there was confusion with several guests taking other guests slippers, often personal slippers brought from home. The pub food is very average and tasteless which is quite surprising as the restaurant has a good reputation. The lobster mac & cheese, and the chicken Caesar salad were bland.

The Funken Lodge is perhaps a 10-15 minute walk above the center of Longyearbyen, but the moderate hike up the hill is worth it. You’ll be asked to take off your shoes in the downstairs lobby, climbing the stairs or taking the lift upstairs to reception. As we arrived late morning, we were glad we paid for early arrival that allowed us immediate access to our room. The wood paneled wall suggested the heritage of the building as a lodge, but the rest of the room was thoroughly updated include a modern and luxurious bathroom. Although our room was only moderate in size, it was well arranged with ample storage for two. Although there was no vanity space around the sink, the shelf in the wall above the sink more than sufficed. Our room was silent. Room darkening shades were effective against the midnight sun. Sleep quality was excellent. The breakfast buffet was in the main restaurant, an elegant space overlooking the town and harbor. The buffet was comprehensive, supplemented by made-to-order omelets and other items. Service at the buffet was attentive and gracious. The public spaces include several rooms with quiet spaces for reading, as well as the bar. Prompt responses to several email inquiries prior to our arrival were especially appreciated. Although I have not stayed at the other hotels in Longyearbyen, I have no doubt that the Funken Lodge is the best of them. Were we to return to Longyearbyen, I’d clearly chose to stay there again.

Pros:  Great staff. Very welcoming and attentive, which is a challenge given the ephemeral, transitory vibe in of the town. Maria (reception) and Mini (breakfast) in particular were a pleasure.  Excellent, and I mean excellent housekeeping. As the title states I was there for over a week and honestly didn’t see a single misstep. Personal items were organized and left in place while my messiness with everything else was organized. Minibar was replenished daily.  Casual bar with great beverage and food options. I patronized this almost daily and had a memorable experience each time especially with Tatu and David, both of whom are knowledgeable, flexible bar tenders.  Sauna was a nice touch and used by this reviewer almost daily. It was always clean and water/towels readily accessible.  Property in general was appropriate for the environs. I’d classify it as “up-scale rustic” even though I kind of made that up as I write this. There was plenty of open space to read, socialize, etc.  Rooms have dense curtains that block out the Midnight Sun; sleep quality was not an issue at all given the unique geography of the town. Cons (minor and not many…):  The location might be considered a bit of a negative, although this is tempered by the small nature of the town in general. It’s maybe an 8-minute walk to the center.  Cost may be another one but to be fair a quick comparison with Radisson Blu and Polfareren shows that Funkenlodge charges no more than these competitors. Summary: Does it pass the standard litmus test of "would I stay again?" Absolutely.

In decades of travel, rarely, if ever have I experienced such an amazing stay at a property as at Funken Lodge - so much so that I am reviewing before I even check out of the hotel! From the moment we checked in, we were treated on such a personable and friendly level that made us feel immediately at home and as if we were friends versus guests. And that same treatment continued every moment of our stay, from the very helpful and cheery front desk team – special thanks to Tina – to the bartenders, the staff in the restaurant, and everyone else we encountered. We have stayed at many exclusive and upper level properties, but never have we experienced such a personable experience as at Funken Lodge. Besides being cherry, helpful, attentive, the staff go above and beyond to ensure that you were totally satisfied with every little detail. And details matter here, never have I seen such immaculate keeping of a property and its cleanliness down to the very last detail. From the many cozy, intimate seating areas on the main floor to the beautiful dining room, you feel as if you are in a magical place where every moment is better than the last. That can also be said for their lovely, cozy rooms with such a charming atmosphere. Our room was a junior suite and I’m very glad that we upgraded to it as it had a charming cozy sitting area to enjoy the amazing views. Lovely touches throughout, including an incredibly comfortable bed. The quality of the food matches the quality of the service here, the main restaurant provides immaculate plates of delicious local food, served with attention and care. The bar provides a separate menu, which also includes amazing food. The bartenders, extremely friendly and fun to chat with, know their craft and create amazing, wonderful drinks and are happy to create anything you might want even if off the menu. I can’t imagine having not stayed here, the best decision ever made was to book a room here and we would happily return again and again and again if for no other reason, then just to enjoy the company of the staff here. Thank you to everyone at Funken Lodge for creating a wonderful, special memory for us in our visit to Longyearbyen, we will miss you…we cannot say enough nor recommend this property highly enough! !

This lodge has history but has been updated with all of the modern conveniences and comforts typical of hotels in larger cities - the overall experience was exceptional given the extreme northern latitudes. Good food, comfy beds and one of the highest viewpoints overlooking Longyearbyen.