Fly Me To Lapis Spa: A Vegas Wellness Oasis

by Hadley Henriette

It's always time to rest at the Fontainebleau's Lapis

Las Vegas evokes non-stop entertainment: clubbing, indulgent gourmet dining, drinking, live shows, gambling, pool parties, and hangovers. It's not exactly about rest and relaxation.

We're all about balance at Goldilocks Wellness and the Fontainebleau Hotel might just be the best place to find that balance in Sin City. For example, David Guetta is starting a residency this month, but they have a lot of ways to recover.

First off, there is Nutridrip, the chicest IV lounge I've ever seen. At the ready to equally serve poor hungover souls with immediate electrolytes and anti-nausea meds, right alongside intrepid biohackers ready to lay down a grand and a few hours for a NAD+ IV.

It's always a starry night at Fontainebleau's Lapis

But the reason for my visit is Lapis Spa, a cavernous two-story sanctuary that makes you forget time and place more than a casino ever could. Lapis, named for the blue "stone of the heavens," has luxurious versions of ancient wellness hacks so old they're new again. This includes a Himalyan Salt Room, Cold Plunge, Infrared Sauna, and a large, co-ed sauna so big, it can double as an event space. There are mineralized vitality pools of varying temperatures both co-ed and not, as well as a steam room, snow room, and a simulated stargazing room. Basically, everything I look for when choosing a hotel ;)

Although it is easy to lose track of time and space in the spa, they do have planned activities around the time of day with "Lo Tide Mornings" 9am- 2pm that emphasize calming aromas like lavender and chamomile. Aufguss or "infusion" rituals, which enhance a sauna experience with fragrant essential oils, music, and towel work occur daily at 10am, 11am, 3pm, and 4pm. In Lapis' version of the German ritual, a bikini-clad saunameister places essential oil-laden snowballs over the coals and does towel work with up to 25 other guests. The morning version is slightly different than the afternoon.

Aufguss event in Fontainebleau's Lapis' Sauna

After 2pm, "Hi-Tide Afternoons" begin. The music shifts to more upbeat tunes. Scents turn from relaxing to invigorating and the Aufguss takes on a little more of an upbeat atmosphere. Talking is encouraged and nobody is going shake their finger at you and shame-whisper "Spa Voices!" in the party sauna.

Another unique experience was the "Reboot Lounge," a theater-style treatment room with giant chairs that immerses visitors in Alpine scenery while giving them leg and foot treatments. It's ideal for a quick walk-in treatment focused on those tired dogs of yours with massages, Theragun, collagen masks, and compression boots.

After it's all done and you've washed away your sins and sweat out the substances, you can either hit the hay, or head right next door to IGK. It's an outpost of Miami's trendiest salon where you're sure to get a good blow (out).

I might be a bit biased. I am a Miamian and the gleaming new hotel, with copious nods to the 1954 Miami Beach original, felt a lot like home.

It wasn't just the friendly face with the gleaming Escalade that met me at the airport, or being whisked to a plush, VIP lounge for check-in (where you will occasionally find the hotel's mascot, Fifi.) The shimmering new hotel just has that "Fontainebleau feel" and I was there for it.

They will pamper you the way they pamper Fifi, the hotel's mascot.

Everything is new and crispy. The lushly carpeted halls dampen all sounds, marble bathrooms sprawl, and Goldilocks-approved mattresses cradle. Motorized, black-out drapes obscure a picture-perfect view of the glowing Sphere while staying radio silent, making a perfect sleep score a breeze.

Gluttonous meals at Don's Steakhouse and Mother Wolf both lived up to the high standard of cuisine that the original Fontainebleau's restaurants Hakkasan, Mirabella, and Prime 54, have set. I found delicious options that were nourishing and yes, pretty healthy.

But this is Vegas, and honestly, there is great food and shopping to be found around (almost) every corner. But do you know what is not found around every corner? Attractive, well-dressed crowds. Calm, peaceful areas, and.... ways to get beautiful healthy. Fontainebleau has all three.

Worth noting was that I was so utterly relaxed after my Odyssey Massage that I plum forgot to put back on my cherished Leela Quantum Tech EMF neutralizing quantum field necklace. I walked right out and left it in the locker right at closing time. But, to my surprise and delight, the powers that be made sure to get it back to me before the end of the evening.

Now that is class... and you can't put a price on that (but the Odyssey massage starts at $254 for 60 minutes and goes up from there).

File under: The very best Vegas Wellness Spa