Going to the Glitzy, Glamorous Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel
The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel in a Nutshell
Reopened after a $1 billion renovation, the fabled Fontainebleau Resort Miami Beach is alive with glamour and romance again.
The lobby is bright, airy and welcoming, with friendly staff members ready to answer any question. The black and white marble floors are redone in the same bow-tie pattern that pays homage to the original architect, Morris Lapidus, who wore one most of the time.
The famed “staircase to nowhere” remains, backed by a curved wall of gold mosaic tile, lending drama to any entrance.
The marble pillars, whose design is repeated throughout the resort, have been restored.
There is eye-catching artwork everywhere you look, including color-changing light boxes behind the check-in desk. Innovative touch screens placed around the resort help guests find their way around the 22-acre Miami, Florida property.
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Guest Rooms at The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel
The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel now has 1,504 guest rooms: 846 rooms and suites in the renovated original Versailles and Chateau buildings, plus 658 suites in the two new all-suite towers, Tresor and Sorrento.
All rooms and suites are equipped with an iMac computer (daily fee for wi-fi) and flat-panel HDTV, as well as thick terrycloth robes, 400-thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, marble baths, a lighted magnifying mirror, safe, in-room bar, and amenities from the Fontainebleau’s exclusive Lapis Spa.
Guest rooms begin at 300 square feet, and it's important to specify if you want a balcony and/or an oceanfront view. There is a world of difference between the superior guest room with no view and the oceanfront balcony guest room, even thought it is only 20 square feet bigger.
Suites begin at 600 square feet for a standard one-bedroom to 1,232 square feet for an oceanfront, which has two bathrooms. Some have a kitchen and washer/dryer. Junior suites include a sitting area and a sleeper sofa. Some have balconies, and can be combined with one-bedroom suites to form larger accommodations. The specialty suites range from 1,000 SF to 4,300 square feet.
Luxury lovers can choose from among a 37th floor penthouse with three bedrooms, den/office and staff bedroom; six individually unique presidential suites; and thirteen Fontainebleau signature suites.
Dining at The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel
You could spend a week at the Fontainebleau and not have dinner at the same restaurant twice. Here you can savor aged steak, gourmet Cantonese, innovative Italian, French-Mediterranean, sushi, or American comfort food.
Vida, called the “heart of the resort,” serves Pan-American food, influenced by Florida, California, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, and Caribbean cuisine.
The Bleau Bar, whose signature drink is a blueberry mojito, is a roomy setting, and at night its blue glass floor is lighted from below.
The Fontainebleau’s bakery, Solo, is worth a trip even if you’re not staying at the resort. It turns out tempting pastries and chocolates and creative custom wedding cakes.
Destination Weddings at The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel
The Fontainebleau’s event facilities and location in Miami Beach make it a wonderful choice for a destination wedding.
Meeting rooms have names like Breeze, Bubble, Glide Dazzle, and Soar. Wedding receptions can range from small to very large, as the Sparkle and Glimmer Ballrooms can be configured to accommodate from 150 to 2,300 guests.
There are also venues for smaller groups, including the terrace overlooking the Atlantic Ocean at the Scarpetta restaurant, and the Ocean Lawn.
Though you can work with their wedding planners to create a totally custom wedding ceremony and reception, the resort does also offer a wedding package, which includes a complimentary bridal suite for the night of the event, a one-hour cocktail reception, an open bar, three-course dinner, Champagne toast, and wedding cake.
There are plenty of items to choose from if you select the wedding package. Download a wedding brochure from the Fontainebleau website or call the catering manager for more information.
Additionally, the Lapis Spa has facilities that could be used for a wedding party event.
The resort also has a VIP Services Lounge, which can be especially helpful as a personal concierge during a wedding stay.
Honeymoon/Romantic Getaway Packages at The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel
The Fontainebleau does not specifically offer either a honeymoon or romance package, but the entire facility is set up to allow you to create a cozy vacation for two. The resort is not inexpensive, but you have the use of all its facilities.
The pool area has been completely reconfigured to include six different areas, including one for adults only. Romantic couples can retreat to private cabanas with personalized service.
Cabanas are furnished with a sectional lounge, chair and table, as well as privacy curtains, contemporary artwork and ceiling fans.
Each cabana is equipped with a 32-inch flat-screen TV, wi-fi, butler service, mini refrigerator, phone with data connection and a digital safe able to store a laptop or other valuables.
The Lapis Spa includes "Duets," private suites where couples can have treatments together. Scented baths in jetted tubs-for-two can be paired with massages, scrubs and wraps. And the Let’s-Try-It-All package adds a manicure and pedicure to the mix.
Couples can dance the night away at one of several clubs in the resort, have dinner in one of the many restaurants, or bring it upstairs with room service and a bottle of wine. There is always the opportunity for a moonlight stroll along the beach.
Facilities at The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel
In addition to the pool area, which includes a large pool, several smaller ones, and private cabanas, the Fontainebleau is oceanfront on the beautiful Atlantic.
At the beach guests can rent beach umbrellas, chairs, and cabanas and enjoy a variety of water sports including windsurfing and jet skiing.
In the 4,000 square foot Lapis Spa, glowing columns of light guide you through a series of pools, soaking tubs and rain showers either on your way to a treatment, or afterward.
Heated marble lounges will help to relax you. There are rooms for couples massages and other services as well.
There are three upscale shops at the resort, with lots of designer names included in their inventories.
LIV, the brand-new 30,000 square-foot nightclub at the Fontainebleau, offers more than dancing, the latest music, private skyboxes, and European bottle service; high-energy dancers create edgy routines that get the party going.
Nearby The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel
One of the main advantages of the Fontainebleau is its proximity to all that South Beach and Miami have to offer.
The Adrien Arsht Performing Arts Center, the American Airlines Arena, and the Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater provide venues for theater, dance, sports and concerts.
The shops, clubs, and restaurants of Lincoln Road, Espanola Way, and Ocean Drive are a few minutes south.
Fontainebleau guests can play golf on the famous Turnberry course, just a few miles north in Aventura.
Fishing or sightseeing charters can be arranged at the Fontainebleau Marina, located directly in front on Collins Avenue.
And for those interested in an ecology adventure, Miami-Dade County is home to Everglades National Park and has many scenic waterways.
The resort will connect you with the Miami-Dade Parks Department, which runs bicycling, kayaking, snorkeling, canoeing and wilderness adventure trips of varying lengths and requiring different levels of experience.
Vibe at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel
Puff Daddy and Mariah Carey may have replaced Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, but the Fontainebleau remains a spot where anyone can be comfortable. On my visit I saw guests of all ages, some with children, and everyone had a smile.
It is a resort where you can choose the über-sophisticated route, or the more casual and comfortable. I saw an older couple holding hands, looking around and pointing, as if they were remembering a previous stay.
As expected, there were many younger couples and groups on vacation together.
The hotel, according to original architect Lapidus, is centered around its guests. Jeffrey Beers, who did the renovation, is on the same page.
If you are looking for a beach resort you don’t have to leave for your entire trip, you have found it at the Fontainebleau. You have also found an excellent base from which to explore the area, if that is your choice.
The actual check-in area is around the bend from the bright, main lobby. Though the desk has a color-changing light box from artist James Turrell behind it, the check in area itself is dark and does not say “welcome to Miami Beach.”
Also, the hotel's Web site is so showy that it is time-consuming to to navigate.
Despite these minor hassles, if you can afford a stay, the The Fontainebleau is a pleasure to visit and a regret to leave.
Fontainebleau Resort Miami Beach
4441 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach FL 33140
The Fontainebleau Web Site
305-538-2000
Check Rates Now
Compare Prices at Other Miami Hotels
Flying to Florida
Miami International Airport is the closest, about half an hour away. Slightly further is Ft. Lauderdale International Airport, which is home to many popular low-cost airlines.
Search for a Flight
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with a complimentary meal for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
Reopened after a $1 billion renovation, the fabled Fontainebleau Resort Miami Beach is alive with glamour and romance again.
The lobby is bright, airy and welcoming, with friendly staff members ready to answer any question. The black and white marble floors are redone in the same bow-tie pattern that pays homage to the original architect, Morris Lapidus, who wore one most of the time.
The famed “staircase to nowhere” remains, backed by a curved wall of gold mosaic tile, lending drama to any entrance.
The marble pillars, whose design is repeated throughout the resort, have been restored.
There is eye-catching artwork everywhere you look, including color-changing light boxes behind the check-in desk. Innovative touch screens placed around the resort help guests find their way around the 22-acre Miami, Florida property.
Check Rates Now
Compare Prices at Other Miami Hotels
Search for a Flight to Miami
Guest Rooms at The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel
The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel now has 1,504 guest rooms: 846 rooms and suites in the renovated original Versailles and Chateau buildings, plus 658 suites in the two new all-suite towers, Tresor and Sorrento.
All rooms and suites are equipped with an iMac computer (daily fee for wi-fi) and flat-panel HDTV, as well as thick terrycloth robes, 400-thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, marble baths, a lighted magnifying mirror, safe, in-room bar, and amenities from the Fontainebleau’s exclusive Lapis Spa.
Guest rooms begin at 300 square feet, and it's important to specify if you want a balcony and/or an oceanfront view. There is a world of difference between the superior guest room with no view and the oceanfront balcony guest room, even thought it is only 20 square feet bigger.
Suites begin at 600 square feet for a standard one-bedroom to 1,232 square feet for an oceanfront, which has two bathrooms. Some have a kitchen and washer/dryer. Junior suites include a sitting area and a sleeper sofa. Some have balconies, and can be combined with one-bedroom suites to form larger accommodations. The specialty suites range from 1,000 SF to 4,300 square feet.
Luxury lovers can choose from among a 37th floor penthouse with three bedrooms, den/office and staff bedroom; six individually unique presidential suites; and thirteen Fontainebleau signature suites.
Dining at The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel
You could spend a week at the Fontainebleau and not have dinner at the same restaurant twice. Here you can savor aged steak, gourmet Cantonese, innovative Italian, French-Mediterranean, sushi, or American comfort food.
Vida, called the “heart of the resort,” serves Pan-American food, influenced by Florida, California, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, and Caribbean cuisine.
The Bleau Bar, whose signature drink is a blueberry mojito, is a roomy setting, and at night its blue glass floor is lighted from below.
The Fontainebleau’s bakery, Solo, is worth a trip even if you’re not staying at the resort. It turns out tempting pastries and chocolates and creative custom wedding cakes.
Destination Weddings at The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel
The Fontainebleau’s event facilities and location in Miami Beach make it a wonderful choice for a destination wedding.
Meeting rooms have names like Breeze, Bubble, Glide Dazzle, and Soar. Wedding receptions can range from small to very large, as the Sparkle and Glimmer Ballrooms can be configured to accommodate from 150 to 2,300 guests.
There are also venues for smaller groups, including the terrace overlooking the Atlantic Ocean at the Scarpetta restaurant, and the Ocean Lawn.
Though you can work with their wedding planners to create a totally custom wedding ceremony and reception, the resort does also offer a wedding package, which includes a complimentary bridal suite for the night of the event, a one-hour cocktail reception, an open bar, three-course dinner, Champagne toast, and wedding cake.
There are plenty of items to choose from if you select the wedding package. Download a wedding brochure from the Fontainebleau website or call the catering manager for more information.
Additionally, the Lapis Spa has facilities that could be used for a wedding party event.
The resort also has a VIP Services Lounge, which can be especially helpful as a personal concierge during a wedding stay.
Honeymoon/Romantic Getaway Packages at The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel
The Fontainebleau does not specifically offer either a honeymoon or romance package, but the entire facility is set up to allow you to create a cozy vacation for two. The resort is not inexpensive, but you have the use of all its facilities.
The pool area has been completely reconfigured to include six different areas, including one for adults only. Romantic couples can retreat to private cabanas with personalized service.
Cabanas are furnished with a sectional lounge, chair and table, as well as privacy curtains, contemporary artwork and ceiling fans.
Each cabana is equipped with a 32-inch flat-screen TV, wi-fi, butler service, mini refrigerator, phone with data connection and a digital safe able to store a laptop or other valuables.
The Lapis Spa includes "Duets," private suites where couples can have treatments together. Scented baths in jetted tubs-for-two can be paired with massages, scrubs and wraps. And the Let’s-Try-It-All package adds a manicure and pedicure to the mix.
Couples can dance the night away at one of several clubs in the resort, have dinner in one of the many restaurants, or bring it upstairs with room service and a bottle of wine. There is always the opportunity for a moonlight stroll along the beach.
Facilities at The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel
In addition to the pool area, which includes a large pool, several smaller ones, and private cabanas, the Fontainebleau is oceanfront on the beautiful Atlantic.
At the beach guests can rent beach umbrellas, chairs, and cabanas and enjoy a variety of water sports including windsurfing and jet skiing.
In the 4,000 square foot Lapis Spa, glowing columns of light guide you through a series of pools, soaking tubs and rain showers either on your way to a treatment, or afterward.
Heated marble lounges will help to relax you. There are rooms for couples massages and other services as well.
There are three upscale shops at the resort, with lots of designer names included in their inventories.
LIV, the brand-new 30,000 square-foot nightclub at the Fontainebleau, offers more than dancing, the latest music, private skyboxes, and European bottle service; high-energy dancers create edgy routines that get the party going.
Nearby The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel
One of the main advantages of the Fontainebleau is its proximity to all that South Beach and Miami have to offer.
The Adrien Arsht Performing Arts Center, the American Airlines Arena, and the Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater provide venues for theater, dance, sports and concerts.
The shops, clubs, and restaurants of Lincoln Road, Espanola Way, and Ocean Drive are a few minutes south.
Fontainebleau guests can play golf on the famous Turnberry course, just a few miles north in Aventura.
Fishing or sightseeing charters can be arranged at the Fontainebleau Marina, located directly in front on Collins Avenue.
And for those interested in an ecology adventure, Miami-Dade County is home to Everglades National Park and has many scenic waterways.
The resort will connect you with the Miami-Dade Parks Department, which runs bicycling, kayaking, snorkeling, canoeing and wilderness adventure trips of varying lengths and requiring different levels of experience.
Vibe at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel
Puff Daddy and Mariah Carey may have replaced Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, but the Fontainebleau remains a spot where anyone can be comfortable. On my visit I saw guests of all ages, some with children, and everyone had a smile.
It is a resort where you can choose the über-sophisticated route, or the more casual and comfortable. I saw an older couple holding hands, looking around and pointing, as if they were remembering a previous stay.
As expected, there were many younger couples and groups on vacation together.
The hotel, according to original architect Lapidus, is centered around its guests. Jeffrey Beers, who did the renovation, is on the same page.
If you are looking for a beach resort you don’t have to leave for your entire trip, you have found it at the Fontainebleau. You have also found an excellent base from which to explore the area, if that is your choice.
The actual check-in area is around the bend from the bright, main lobby. Though the desk has a color-changing light box from artist James Turrell behind it, the check in area itself is dark and does not say “welcome to Miami Beach.”
Also, the hotel's Web site is so showy that it is time-consuming to to navigate.
Despite these minor hassles, if you can afford a stay, the The Fontainebleau is a pleasure to visit and a regret to leave.
Fontainebleau Resort Miami Beach
4441 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach FL 33140
The Fontainebleau Web Site
305-538-2000
Check Rates Now
Compare Prices at Other Miami Hotels
Flying to Florida
Miami International Airport is the closest, about half an hour away. Slightly further is Ft. Lauderdale International Airport, which is home to many popular low-cost airlines.
Search for a Flight
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with a complimentary meal for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
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