Vegas’ new megaresort gets a lot right, but is lacking in fun

7 hours ago 4

The hotel

Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Nevada

At 67 storeys, Fontainebleau Las Vegas is the tallest habitable building in Nevada.

Check-in

It took a long time for the Fontainebleau megaresort to arrive – construction began in 2007 and it opened in late 2023 – but the bigger, bolder Vegas offshoot of the much-loved Fontainebleau in Miami is now the tallest habitable building in Nevada’s party capital.

Stepping beneath the elliptical dome into the 1850 square metre lobby, an enormous display of fresh roses leads to the long, curving reception. Crucially, there’s no walking through the casino to check in which is a clear departure from Strip norms.

The look

By day, interlocking pools, cabanas and daybeds are sought-after spots for relaxation.

High ceilings and an enthusiastic embrace of natural light are other strikes against Vegas orthodoxy, but the Fontainebleau is hardly going for understated. Grand-scale conversation-piece artworks are given room to impress across the property. Oceans by Breakfast, a kinetic sculpture that visualises tides in different parts of the world, is the most quietly absorbing.

There’s no shyness about supersizing, but the Fontainebleau’s design hones in on tall rather than sprawl. Nothing is too much of a trek from this giant blue tower’s lifts – something those who have spent hours traipsing around other Vegas properties may appreciate.

The room

Floor-to-ceiling windows have views across Las Vegas.

Floor-to-ceiling windows bring invigorating brightness, but a chilled blue, white and silver palette makes it feel more like a night where the sun doesn’t set in the North Atlantic than melting in the Mojave.

Drapes, lighting and airconditioning are button-operated, while there are just enough elements of playfulness to avoid blandness: golden sea urchin-esque fittings on the headboards and the bow tie emblem worked into several unexpected spots are cases in point.

The big white-grey marble bathrooms are the real heroes, though. Gloriously uncramped shower cubicles vie for attention with sunken bathtubs so deep you have to abseil into them.

Food + drink

Typical Vegas dazzle features in the dining areas.

Fontainebleau Las Vegas eschews chains for a vast collection of originals. These range from cheery breakfast bakery joint Chez Bon Bon – the croissants are baked in the shape of bowties – to sumptuous steakhouse Don’s Prime, where red velvet-jacketed waiters nail the old-school service schtick. Elsewhere, the richly-decorated Chyna Club evokes a rich trader’s Shanghai mansion while serving up champagne and honey-glazed black cod.

The unifying theme among the 36 bars and restaurants is attention to detail. All look deliberate and thought-through, with significant cash splashed on getting the look and vibe just right.

Out + about

A section of the Oasis Pool Deck at Fontainebleau.

The first step into the sunlight should be to the tremendous pool deck, which covers more than two hectares, and chains a series of interlocking pools. Some are showy, with heavily made-up patrons in designer swimwear lounging in cabanas. Others are quieter hideaways. The LIV Beach day club, where DJs such as Calvin Harris play, is kept separate with what feels like a stadium wrapping around the pool.

Fontainebleau’s immediate surrounds on the slowly rejuvenating northern end of the Strip are pretty drab, alas. The Convention Center is next door, while the Adventuredome indoor theme park at Circus Circus is within easy walking distance. Proper Vegas is a short cab ride to the south.

The verdict

Fontainebleau gets a lot right that Las Vegas traditionally gets wrong, but perhaps loses a dose of fun in the process. It’s a discerning pleasure to stay in, but isn’t the spot to play in.

Essentials

3644 rooms, prices from $US269 ($405) including taxes and resort fee. Its website states that it offers accessible accommodation. The Fontainebleau. 2777 S Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada, US. See fontainebleaulasvegas.com

Our score out of five

★★★★

Highlight

The pool complex is genuinely enjoyable even in the ferociously hot Las Vegas summer. The tower provides a welcome element of shade, keeping the pool cooler than the near-boiling outdoor bathtubs elsewhere.