Fontainebleau Miami Beach

Rooms and decor

Picture staying inside a page of Miami history — that is Fontainebleau Miami Beach. It has been open since 1954, designed by architect Morris Lapidus, the man who created the "Miami Modern" (or MiMo) look that blends golden-age Hollywood glamour with soft curves and a sense of play. The white curved main tower stands grandly on the sand, and the lobby is the part everyone stops to take in — the famous spiral staircase and the star-patterned (bow-tie) marble floor that became the image of that era. A major renovation has brought it up to date, and there are now over 1,500 rooms and suites spread across 4 buildings, done in clean contemporary white-and-cream. Many open onto a balcony with the deep-blue Atlantic filling the view. Beds are soft and the layouts work well, and plenty of reviews say the ocean-facing rooms are worth it for the morning view. Anyone who loves a big hotel with a legend behind it and classic grandeur will probably be sold from the first step into the lobby.

Food and amenities

If this place has one beating heart, it is the resort-city scale. Step out of the building and you hit a pool deck with 6 pools stepping down in a row, plus striped private cabanas, sun loungers and poolside bars bringing cocktails and snacks right to you. Beyond that is a wide private beach with staff on hand, where you can soak up the sun to the sound of the waves all day. Inside, the large Lapis spa has treatments and a mineral-water area to soak and unwind. As for food, you barely need to go anywhere — there are 9 restaurants in different styles, from seafood and a steakhouse to Japanese food and easygoing poolside spots and cafés. And the thing that made Fontainebleau famous worldwide is LIV, the upscale in-house nightclub where big-name DJs and celebrities turn up all the time, giving the nights here a buzz that is hard to match anywhere. Check in and you can live the whole day and night inside the resort without stepping out once.

Location and getting there

Fontainebleau sits on the beach in Mid-Beach, a location that splits the difference between privacy and convenience. Open the door and you are on the Miami Beach Boardwalk, which runs along the ocean for a morning walk or run. The area is an upscale resort zone, more open and easygoing than the crush of South Beach, but it is not sleepy either, because the resort itself stays lively at all hours. If you want nightlife, shopping or the old streets, a car or taxi gets you to South Beach, Ocean Drive and the Lincoln Road pedestrian strip in about 10–15 minutes. From Miami International Airport it is about a 20–25 minute drive. The upside of this setup is a beachfront resort with everything on hand, while the rest of Miami stays within easy reach — ideal if you plan to spend most of your time on the pools, the beach and the restaurants, then head into the city now and then.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide — the thing reviews mention most is the huge size and the crowds. With over 1,500 rooms, the lobby, lifts and pools get packed and noisy at peak, and some reviews find it too hectic and feel the service does not reach everyone the way it would at a smaller hotel. If you are after quiet privacy, this may not be your style. The second point is the extra charges: on top of the room there is a resort fee, valet parking, and pricey food and drink on site, plus the better cabanas and poolside beds that cost more — add it up and the bill can run higher than you first planned, so check the fee list clearly when you book. The third is the party atmosphere, since the LIV nightclub is built in; some nights, weekends especially, get loud and lively, and certain rooms catch noise from the pool or the club. If you are a light sleeper or want quiet rest, ask for a room set back from the main pools and the club.

Our take

After reading through hundreds of real guest reviews, Fontainebleau Miami Beach sells "legendary icon plus a complete resort-city plus non-stop entertainment" and pulls it off with full confidence. If the trip in your head is waking up to walk the private beach, moving from one pool to the next among 6 pools, sipping a cocktail in a cabana in the afternoon, picking from 9 restaurants, and closing the night with a party at the LIV nightclub without ever leaving the resort, this is about as fitting as it gets — and it captures a golden-age Miami feel that is hard to find anywhere else. But if you are after quiet privacy, the close service of a boutique hotel, or a tight budget with no fiddly add-ons, the size and the buzz here may give you pause. Overall we give it 8.4/10, best for couples, families and luxury travelers who love a big lively resort, want entertainment on tap, and want to experience a legendary Miami Beach icon.