Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, part of the Accor portfolio, has opened the Fairmont Breakers Long Beach, Calif., in partnership with Long Beach-based investment and development group Pacific6. The historic building underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation as part of its return to hospitality after decades serving other roles.
Located 25 miles south of Los Angeles, the renovated property combines historic style with modern Pacific trends. Originally built in 1926, the property has a spa and rooftop bar as well as a pool terrace alongside two signature restaurants, including the historic Sky Room.
“It is an honor to play a role in the revival of an iconic landmark within this community," Mark Steenge, general manager of Fairmont Breakers Long Beach, said in a statement. “This property is a testament to the evolution of Long Beach as a thriving destination and Fairmont’s commitment to set a new standard for luxury, elegance, and high-touch service with each and every experience.”
“With the highly anticipated debut of Fairmont Breakers Long Beach, we are not just bringing a piece of history back to life, but together with our partners at Pacific6, we are also ushering in a new era of luxury for Long Beach,” said Omer Acar, CEO of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. “At the heart of who we are at Fairmont, we are at the social epicenter of the destination, celebrating life’s most momentous occasions together. Since signing this project, we have heard so many meaningful stories about the significant role this hotel has played in the lives of those who grew up in and around Long Beach, and those who visited the hotel in its prime. It is our distinct honor to now be a part of those special stories, and to carry them forward.”
History and Design
Over its years as a hotel, The Breakers building was visited by Elizabeth Taylor, Cary Grant, Babe Ruth and Clark Gable. Today, the property has 185 guestrooms including 22 suites designed with a coastal palate, anchored by deep blue tones and popped with touches of gold and mixed metals to emulate sunlight on the ocean. Rooms range from 287 square feet to 790 square feet, including ADA mobility and hearing-accessible room types.
Led by design teams HBA and RVD Associates, the hotel’s restoration honors the building’s heritage while incorporating modern design touches. The property’s historic features have been restored or maintained, including untouched plaster molding, the original mailbox in the lobby and exterior ornamentation. In the lobby, chandeliers, marble flooring and furnishings complement the original architecture.
The hotel has a curated art collection featuring work from local artists, photographers and more. The hotel pays homage to its past through a mix of pieces and vintage photos displaying decades of the hotel’s history, including curated gallery walls in Nettuno and Sky Room.
Food & Beverage
The hotel's leadership team has tapped Chef Giuseppe Musso, Chef Maxwell Pfeiffer and Chef Jared Reeves to oversee the food and beverage programming.
The Sky Room has been a fine dining restaurant since Conrad Hilton opened it in 1938. Now overseen by Pfeiffer, the restaurant will serve daily caught seafood and regional produce alongside an extensive wine list. Inspired by the Italian coast, Nettuno serves seasonal Italian dishes overseen by Musso.
As the only rooftop bar in Long Beach, Halo serves cocktails backdropped by 360-degree views stretching from downtown Los Angeles to Catalina Island. The design also includes a mix of patterns, bold-toned tiles and bright hues throughout. The large marble bar has brass accents and reflective surfaces. The custom-designed wallpaper has vibrant hues, showcasing bird-inspired motifs and nods to the art deco era. During the day, the property is a rooftop terrace.
Alter Ego, the property’s jazz bar, pays homage to the hotel’s roots in the Roaring Twenties, with dimly-lit interiors complete with historic design touches, including the use of original wood paneling along with custom wallpaper and gold accents. Plush velvet seating, reminiscent of classic jazz clubs and speakeasies, evoke the style of a century ago.
The La Sala lobby bar, in turn, evokes a 1930s garden solarium, incorporating the original facade from the hotel’s first front desk. Incorporating green hues, palm tree-inspired chandeliers and botanical accents, the space is meant to promote relaxation and conversation.
Public Spaces
The 10,000-square-foot Fairmont Spa has eight treatment rooms and a pre- and post-treatment relaxation lounge.
The property also has just under 10,000 square feet of event space, including intimate ballrooms, meeting rooms and an outdoor reception terrace.
The resort’s two-story fitness center has floor-to-ceiling windows as well as strength and cardio machines from Technogym. The Acqua Pool is right above Ocean Boulevard.
Fairmont Breakers Long Beach is within walking distance of the beach and close to the Terrace Theater, Queen Mary and Aquarium of The Pacific. It joins the brand’s extensive collection of properties across California, including the brand’s flagship hotel, Fairmont San Francisco; Claremont Club & Spa, A Fairmont Hotel, in Berkeley; Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa; Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles; Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica; and Fairmont Grand Del Mar, in San Diego.
Fairmont Breakers marks Fairmont’s 89th property worldwide, and is the first of a pipeline of more than 30 hotels under development, with openings planned in Prague, Udaipur, Tokyo, Hanoi, New Orleans, along the southern coast of Spain, and in the English countryside over the next year.