The Fontaine

Rooms and decor

Picture a warm, Mediterranean-style boutique tucked into the Country Club Plaza district — that is The Fontaine. The appeal here is not size or grandeur but design that has been thought through, so every corner looks good. It runs from a contemporary, warm-toned lobby up to rooms with wood floors that feel relaxed and homey. The bathrooms come with a rain shower that feels like standing under warm rain, and the detail reviews agree on most is the soft Egyptian-cotton sheets and beds comfortable enough to sleep right through the night. Rooms are boutique-compact rather than sprawling, but they are laid out well and feel like staying somewhere with taste. If you like a hotel with its own character and design, rather than identical rooms on every floor, this place should land from the first step.

Food and amenities

If The Fontaine has a heart, it is the rooftop pool everyone talks about. The pool is heated, so it is comfortable even when the weather is not hot, and around it sit cabanas to stretch out in the sun in private and a poolside bar that brings cold cocktails and snacks right to your lounger. What makes it special is the city view running a long way out around the deck. Heading up in the soft evening light to sip a drink and watch the sun set over the Plaza is a mood you do not get easily at a hotel this size. Many reviews call it one of the rooftops they most want to head up to in the area. Beyond the pool, there is a bar and a drinks corner to relax in, with the friendly service you expect from a boutique. The charm here is spending easygoing time on the rooftop that makes it feel like a real break rather than just a place to crash.

Location and getting there

Location is another strong card. The hotel sits in the Country Club Plaza district, one of the oldest and prettiest Spanish-style open-air shopping areas in America. Step out and you reach name-brand shops, restaurants, cafes, fountains and tile-roofed buildings topped with Seville-style towers — good for an evening stroll and photos, especially in winter when the whole district lights up so brightly it has become famous for it. The neighborhood feels calm, safe and upscale, a contrast to the bustle of downtown, which is about 10 to 15 minutes away by car. If you want the renowned Nelson-Atkins art museum, that is a short drive too. For a trip where you wake up to walk, grab coffee, shop and eat in a pretty district, then come back to the rooftop pool in the evening without a long drive, this spot fits perfectly.

Things to know before booking

To help you decide, here it is straight. First, The Fontaine is a compact boutique, so the rooms and lobby are not the grand, spacious kind. Anyone expecting lots of space or full-resort facilities, like a large gym or a full spa, may find the options limited. The focus here is design, the rooftop and the location rather than a full slate of amenities. Second, the rooftop pool is popular: summer weekends get fairly crowded, and at times there is a party feel with music. If you want quiet, or you are with family, going up early or on a weekday is easier. Last, parking is valet, with an added per-night fee, and some reviews note hearing noise from neighboring rooms or the hallway on certain nights. Light sleepers should ask for a high floor or an interior-facing room, and check that the curtains close fully if you are sensitive to early light.

Our take

After reading through plenty of real guest reviews, The Fontaine is a hotel that sells stylish design, a rooftop pool with a city view, and a location near Country Club Plaza at a reachable price, and it does it with real character. If the trip in your head is staying in a good-looking design hotel, waking up to shop and grab coffee in a pretty district, then closing the day soaking in the heated rooftop pool with a cocktail and a sunset view, this is the well-judged, great-value pick. But if you are after large rooms, a grand lobby and a full gym and spa, the compact boutique scale here may not be your thing. Overall we give it 8.7/10, best for couples and easygoing travelers who love a stylish design hotel with a rooftop city view at its heart.