The Fontainebleau, designed by Miami’s award-winning designer Morris Lapidus, launched “Miami-Modern,” Miami Beach’s signature architectural style. The dramatic iconic curve of the 1,500-room Fontainebleau Miami Beach is famous the world over. Renowned for its retro glamour and archival photos in the hallways, guests feel like they’re part of its storied past, when the 50s “Rat Pack” hung out here with Frank Sinatra, and Liz Taylor vacationed here. Scenes in the James Bond film, Goldfinger, starring Sean Connery were shot here, as well as scenes in The Bodyguard, starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner.
Guest rooms range from ocean view or bay view rooms to the Trésor Penthouse Suite, a five bedroom, five-and-a-half bath suite, with a private wrap-around balcony offering a rooftop whirlpool and panoramic views of the ocean. The posh Lapis spa offers luxurious facials wraps inspired by the ocean, and after spa treatments guests enjoy amenities such as mineral pools, massage-jet showers, and eucalyptus steam baths, and marble chaises by the pool in a room modeled after the hammams of Marrakech.
Best bets: the hotel’s lively bars and posh restaurants: Hakkasan, Scarpetta by Scott Conant, Stripsteak by Michael Mina, and the more casual La Côte.
Visit: 4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33140; 800-548-8886; fontainebleau.com
