Fairmont The Breakers Long Beach sits right in downtown Long Beach on East Ocean Avenue, and this old hotel has a long and interesting history, since it first opened in 1926, sitting on 232 feet of oceanfront and looking out over the Pacific, and the central tower rises up thirteen stories above the rest. People remember it for its famous guests from Hollywood's Golden Era, and the place stands out as a true landmark, even being a base for Red Cross workers after the 1933 earthquake. Over the years, it's been through many owners-Hilton, Fred Dunn, Frank Fishman, Fred Miller, and others-and it's changed purposes too, serving as a hotel, senior housing, and even went through a big $150 million renovation and restoration to open again in 2024, keeping its Romanesque and Spanish Renaissance style. Inside, the building holds 163 rooms and 22 suites (sometimes listed as 185 rooms, but that changes over time), with special rooms set up for accessibility and some with private balconies or patios, and the rooms feel clean and modern but still have those classic touches, with large beds, calm colors, and little touches like Le Labo bath items, Nespresso machines, light-up mirrors, and mini fridges, plus you can always ask for a kettle if you like tea.
You'll find a lot of places to relax and spend time in here, since there's the famous Sky Room restaurant with its history from the 1930s, a rooftop lounge and pool with views of the water, plenty of places to sit inside or outdoors, and even an indoor pool on the third floor, along with a two-story spa and a fitness center with treadmills and machines. Food is a highlight too, with options like Nettuno for coastal Italian, the Sky Room for events or special meals, and spots like Alter Ego, Halo, and La Sala offering different kinds of dining, and a coffee shop for lighter meals or a beauty and barber shop for grooming. People like gathering here for weddings, meetings, and other special events, with 10,000 square feet of space between the ballrooms and meeting rooms, and the staff can help plan or cater anything you need. Guests enjoy amenities you'd expect from a luxury hotel, like smart shops, event spaces, a dedicated concierge team, bathhouses like the Turkish baths, and even old touches like radio speakers in each room connected to the building's tower, and an elevator built just for surf bathers to reach the sand from the arcade level. The Breakers always tries to offer care and comfort, and you'll notice the staff look after you, whether it's arranging a spa treatment, helping with luggage, or just making sure the coffee's fresh in the morning. The lobby has big windows and welcoming chairs, and the hotel tries to keep a calm, chic feel, with murals by the beds, wide desks, and plenty of light. Over its near-century in Long Beach, The Breakers has had a lot of different lives and stories, but now it's open again, brought back to its old grandeur, and still ready to host guests and families looking for something special near the ocean.
