I'm in my bathing suit sitting on the lower of two tiers of wooden benches in the co-ed event sauna of Lapis Spa & Wellness at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, the newest resort on the Las Vegas Strip. It's 165 degrees with 10% humidity as about two dozen others make their way through the steam and find themselves a seat. Serene music plays, calming images are displayed on a video screen, and we're instructed to breathe in deeply. Soon the aufguss ("infusion" in German) sauna begins, and the temperature soars to more than 175 degrees and about 20% humidity.
The aufguss meister, a physically fit twentysomething, pours a bucket of ice balls with pure essential oils onto hot rocks, and the cabin fills with delightful scents such as pine and citrus. He circles the room, theatrically waving a white towel choreographed with music and lights to spread both the heat and the aroma.
It's the last place in Las Vegas I'd expect to see a show, but the aufguss sauna is a sensory journey that both soothes and invigorates.
"The communal aspect of the sauna experience is part of its origin, and saunas are re-emerging as a social tool for building community and healing," said Jennifer Lynn, director of spa and wellness for Fontainebleau. She noted that many Northern European countries have sauna traditions that span from decades to centuries old, and she's inspired by growth of the sauna culture in the U.S.
"We have seen a proliferation of this bathing culture in the U.S. recently as Americans are seeking more holistic and ancient healing traditions to revive their spirit," Lynn said.
The aufguss ritual, conducted several times throughout the day, lasts for about three songs and 15 minutes. Not exactly wishing to shock my senses, I rinse off using the warmer tropical setting on a nearby shower rather than the arctic setting. But soon, seeking frigid relief, I'm dipping my lower legs into a small pool set for 55 degrees to cool off.
Those contrasting therapies, all designed for relaxation and rejuvenation, are found throughout the spa's Celestial Waters Passport, a four-hour experience where guests can go at their own pace. There's the mellower "low-tide" mornings and the more energetic "high-tide" afternoons. Changes in lighting and soundtrack convey the moods.
In addition to men's and women's areas, the 55,000-square-foot spa includes a co-ed space with an infrared sauna, salt mist chamber, snow shower and an herbal inhalation room. The spa, adjacent to a 14,000-square-foot fitness center, has 44 treatment rooms, a lounge for foot therapies and a nail spa.
Lapis Spa & Wellness is just one of many experiences I discovered as a guest of the Fontainebleau, the 67-story, 3,644-key resort that opened next to the Las Vegas Convention Center in December 2023. Depictions of bow ties are everywhere at the lavishly decorated resort, a call-out to Morris Lapidus, designer of the fabled Fontainebleau Miami Beach.
Many amenities
The traditional, midcentury-modern Don's Prime, with three distinct rooms, is one of two steakhouses and features meats such as a tomahawk ribeye and the bone-in filet mignon presented by stewards in velvet jackets. The other is Papi Steak, which has nightly DJ performances and a more contemporary vibe.
The chic Chyna Club features a crispy, juicy Peking duck carved tableside and served with sauces, vegetables and see-through-thin wraps. Mother Wolf is a Roman-Italian cooking destination, and an elegant French-inspired breakfast and brunch can be found at La Fontaine.
Bars include Collins, named by Esquire as one of the country's 42 best, which is just off the flower-filled lobby. Its soundtrack plays American classics and jazzy standards. Nowhere, with live entertainment, references Fontainebleau Miami Beach's iconic "Stairs to nowhere." The Bleau Bar is the centerpiece of the 150,000-square-foot casino. Staring up at its massive chandelier, I see more bow ties at the tips of the golden glass lights.
Saint Laurent, the largest of the company's shops in the U.S, has joined the resort's array of high-end retailers that includes Bottega Veneta, Alaia, Alexanderwang, Gucci, Boucheron and Missoni. Australian fashion house Zimmermann also has a 2,000-square-foot store, its first in the Las Vegas market.
What's coming?
Fontainebleau Las Vegas has upcoming events and activities to appeal to a wide swath of guests.
• Pool season will begin this weekend with the reopening of Oasis Pool, the resort's six-acre pool district with six pools, four bars, restaurant La Cote and a small gaming area. Daylife venue LIV Beach, with performers such as David Guetta, John Summit, Dom Dolla and Tiesto, will also open this month. The Oasis Cinema Club will screen popular films weekly beginning in May and throughout the summer.
• BleauLive Theater, with its 80-foot-wide LED screen and on-site betting stations, will augment the Tavern in the resort's sports book, as spots to watch the opening weekend of March Madness, the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. Admission to the theater is complimentary, with single-day open-bar passes and reserved VIP seating options available for purchase as well as a 30% off room packages. Reservations can be made by emailing marchmania@fblasvegas.com. All guests must be at least 21.
• The Mikaela Mayer-Sandy Ryan women's welterweight boxing title rematch is set for March 29 in the BleauLive Theater.
• The Signature Series, led by chefs, mixologists, baristas and other experts, offers guests the opportunity to learn the techniques to re-create their favorite dishes and drinks at home.
• Grammy winners Alabama Shakes, joined by Shannon & the Clams, will perform at the BleauLive Theater on Aug. 9. Other performers in the coming months include Pitbull as well as Toto, with Christopher Cross and Men at Work.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas has become part of Virtuoso's luxury travel partners. The inclusion will present new sales and marketing opportunities to the network's luxury advisors, according to Maurice Wooden, president of Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
"Being accepted into Virtuoso after just one year of operations is a tremendous honor and a testament to the team's unwavering commitment to world-class service and experiences," Wooden said.