Scene
Old Miami elegance transported to the Las Vegas Strip.
It’s no hyperbole to say the Fontainebleau Las Vegas is the longest-awaited hotel in Sin City. The 745-foot-high blue glass and steel tower (the tallest hotel in Las Vegas) started rising in 2007, only to be smacked down by the financial crisis like a bad hand at the blackjack table. For years, the building’s looming half-built skeleton changed hands, was plagued by legal disputes, and faced myriad funding challenges that prevented its completion. Finally, in 2021, the owner of Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Jeffrey Soffer, repurchased it, reigniting the dream of bringing the brand’s iconic luxury to the desert.
It’s the first and only sister property of the famed Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, which opened in 1954. The OG quickly became a symbol of modern luxury, built with sweeping curves that defined a new era of resort architecture. Hosting celebrities, politicians, and cultural icons like Elvis Presley, Liz Taylor, and the Rat Pack, the Fontainebleau Miami Beach was considered one of the first destinations hotels in the U.S. And its blend of art deco glamor and extravagance continue to make it one of the most photographed hotels in the country.
Though it took over two decades from purchasing the land in 2000 to completion in 2023, Fontainebleau Las Vegas is proving to be worth the wait. Already, the over-the-top, but surprisingly affordable digs (midweek rates start at $176) have made it a hotspot for everyone from high rollers to foodies.
Much like the Miami location, Fontainebleau Las Vegas stands out with its curvilinear lines, light-filled open spaces, and mid-century modern glamor. A 1,600-ton cantilevered porte-cochère entrance in the shape of a bow tie greets arriving guests. It’s the first of many bow ties they’ll see throughout the 67-story property—they are woven into the gaming chairs, stamped on the walls, inlaid into the floor tiles, incorporated into the drawer pulls, and 1,200 of them make up the glass columns near the escalators. Visitors then step into the palatial, light-filled 20,000-square-foot lobby, which blends modern minimalism with art-deco flourishes, for check-in and then are whisked to their rooms via one of the many elevator banks.
Location
Situated on the northern end of The Strip, immediately adjacent to the Convention Center
With Fontainebleau Las Vegas’ proximity to the Convention Center and the Sphere, chances are good that if you’re staying here, it’s to attend a conference or a live performance that will eat up a sizable chunk of your time on the ground. And while there’s so much to do in the Fontainebleau that you don’t otherwise have to leave, if you want to explore more of the area, the hotel’s closest neighbors are Circus Circus, Resorts World, and the Wynn. Before you head out, do yourself a favor and check how far your desired destination is—the large buildings can warp the perception of how far away things are and can lead to some sweaty walks, particularly in the summer.
Below are some things to do near the hotel and on the Strip. For more, check out Fifty Grande’s in-depth Las Vegas guide.
- The Sphere: This high-tech 366-foot-tall dome is covered inside and out with a massive LED screen, turning every show into an eye-popping spectacle. Past residencies have included U2 and Dead + Company.
- Lip Smacking Foodie Tour: It’s hard to have a bad meal in Vegas, but if you want to sample the best of the best, this restaurant crawl delivers. You’ll visit some of the Strip’s most storied institutions and up-and-comers on their Savors of the Strip and Ultimate Streakhouse Tours.
- ARTE Museum: One of the newer museums on the Strip, this digital art exhibition has 14 rooms where immersive artworks are projected onto the walls.
- Superfrico: Located in The Cosmopolitan, Superfrico is the kind of restaurant that blurs the line between food and art. Italian-American cuisine meets modern Vegas flair in a setting where every corner is like stepping into an art installation. Come for the pizza, stay for the vibe.
Rooms
Sprawling suites with rave-worthy showers and soaking tubs
There are 3,644 guest rooms throughout Fontainebleau Las Vegas, each featuring silver and blue water tones with coral flourishes (an homage to the beaches near its sister location), custom art-deco-patterned carpet, curvaceous furniture, and Arabescato marble and brass details. The floor-to-ceiling windows are also standard, but the view—either mountains or the Strip—varies depending on location within the massive hotel.
Guest Rooms: Even the starter Bleau Room is fairly swanky. All are between 488 and 494 square feet, with a king or two queen-sized beds, a long soaking tub, his and her vanities, and two smaller seating areas. From there the Gold and Platinum Rooms offer between 80 and 200 additional square feet and use that extra space on oversized showers (but no tub) and a larger seating area.
Suites: Just shy of 900 square feet, the lowest-tiered Regal suites boast a king-sized bed, ensuite bathroom with a tub and separate shower, two closets, and separate living and dining room areas. Then there’s the Noble Suite and Royal Suite, which uses an extra 36 or 37 square feet for a larger seating area, a bar privé, and a second full bathroom, making them a solid choice for those who plan to play the role of entertainer (the distinguishing feature of the latter is that it is only available on floors 54 and above).
Luxury Suites: This is where the vibe becomes decidedly high-roller. The 1,138 square foot Executive Suites, for example, have a dramatic double door entryway, king-sized bed, two full bathrooms (one with both a soaking tub and walk-in-shower big enough to park a compact car in), and an additional powder room, a bar privé, a sprawling seating area, and a dining area big enough to accommodate eight. From there, the Panorama, the corner suites, offers much of the same, but spread out over another 400 square feet. Finally, the 2,022 square foot Grand Panorama, adds more seating, a pool table, and moves the soaking tub the the middle of the bathroom for a more dramatic look.
Fleur de Lis: The five topmost floors are the 76 Fleur de Lis suites, ranging from the 980-square-feet one-bedroom Monogram Suite to a 3,497-square-feet two-bedroom Chateau Suite (which also includes an adjoining Entourage Guest Room, featuring two queen beds and a separate entrance). Beyond the palatial layout, these rooms come with airport pick-ups via a Rolls Royce, a dedicated team of butlers, welcome chocolates from Patric Caillot (a gold medal-winning World Pastry Team champ), fresh-cut flowers, custom Italian linens, access to the resort’s exclusive Poodle Room, and a private VIP pool.
Amenities
Restaurants and Bars: With 36 first-to-market concepts — 36! — you certainly won’t go hungry at the Fontainebleau (though you may go broke). There’s Don’s Prime, an American-style steakhouse with Japanese wagyu prime cuts; Ito, an omakase experience with seating for just 12 guests; and Mother Wolf, a spin-off of the famed Hollywood concept featuring Roman classics, just to name a few. For something more casual, the second-floor food hall offers eateries like Miami Slice, Capon’s Burgers, Roadside Tacos, and Nona (a sandwich and salad shop).
Lapis Spa: If you’re looking for a little daytime detox before your all-night retox, this 55,000-square-foot wellness center offers a robust menu of massages, facials with Dr. Strum products, and purifying wraps. Before, after, or between treatments, you can relax in the hydrotherapy area, with hot tubs, saunas, and cold plunges, or in the lounge, where the aromatherapy and lighting used throughout the day change to better match guests’ circadian rhythms. Down the hall, there’s also an IV Drip Lounge, with solutions meant to do everything from preparing for a night out to curing jet lag and hangovers.
Fitness Center: You know that week or two after New Years when the gym is packed with those starting “fitness journeys?” Every day feels like that here, except everybody is already hot. With a footprint of 14,000 square feet, the gym includes rows of cardio machines, including Peloton bikes, VersaClimbers, and Hydrow Rowers, as well strength training equipment ranging from dumbbells to tractor tire flip areas. There’s also a movement studio where daily group fitness classes are offered.
Pools: The six-acre Mediterranean-inspired Oasis Pool Deck is a bit of a choose your own adventure for sun-drenched, all-day revelry, with six distinct pool areas, four bars, two restaurants, and a 2,300 square foot gaming area. There’s also the adult-only LIV Beach, where there are often DJ sets.
Nightlife: Beyond the 150,000-plus square feet of gaming, with blackjack tables, slots, and sports betting, Fontainebleau also offers the BleauLive Theater with eating for 3,8000 patrons on three levels.
Art: There are myriad museum-quality art pieces scattered throughout the property, from a vibrant painting by Richard Prince to an abstract 46-foot sculpture crafted by Urs Fischer from aluminum, stainless steel, and gold leaf meant to depict two lovers meeting. However, the most interesting is arguably the kinetic sculpture by BREAKFAST. Made with steel bricks arranged in a similar shape to Fontainebleau Miami, the piece undulates real-time data of tides around the world.