Long Beach may not be the first place that springs to mind when dreaming of a glamorous Southern California escape, but Fairmont Breakers Long Beach makes a persuasive case for reconsidering that assumption. First opened in 1926, the landmark on Ocean Boulevard has lived several lives over the course of a century. Now, following an ambitious restoration, it has returned as the 185-room Fairmont Breakers Long Beach, complete with 22 suites, a spa, rooftop pool and bar, live music, and the resurrection of its legendary Sky Room restaurant.

The restoration, with interiors by HBA and RVD Associates, wisely resists making everything match. Instead, wandering through the hotel becomes part of the fun. One corner might be wrapped in fanciful wallpaper; another populated with ornate candelabras, curious objets d’art, or playful monkey sculptures. Patterns, textures and periods mingle freely, giving the hotel an eclectic, almost maximalist exuberance—glamorous, occasionally whimsical and always ready for its close-up. Original architectural details, including historic plasterwork, have been preserved amid the contemporary flourishes.

But beautiful hotels are plentiful. What distinguishes the Breakers almost immediately is its people. From the receptionist to the porter, there is an unusual warmth to the service, the kind that makes you suspect the staff actually enjoy being there. Smiles feel genuine rather than rehearsed, and throughout an overnight stay, hospitality seemed less a performance than part of the personality of the place.

Upstairs, the Deluxe Suite provides plenty of room to settle in, offering a calmer counterpoint to the visual theater downstairs. Generous proportions, polished contemporary comforts and a marble bathroom stocked with Le Labo Rose 31 amenities make retreating to the room considerably more tempting than it ought to be. Then again, staying upstairs for too long would mean missing one of the hotel’s greatest attractions.

The Sky Room first made its debut in 1938 and became one of Southern California’s glamorous dining destinations, drawing Hollywood names including Clark Gable, Cary Grant and Rita Hayworth. Its revival restores something Long Beach has been missing: a restaurant where dinner still feels like an occasion. Fortunately, the food lives up to the room. Cappelletti filled with slow-braised beef delivers richness in delicate little parcels, while the steak tartare is a beautifully executed nod to the classics. And for dessert, there is that increasingly elusive bit of tableside theater: Bananas Foster, prepared before you in all its flaming, caramelized glory. In an age when so much dining has become casual and abbreviated, there is something wonderfully indulgent about watching dessert become part of the evening’s entertainment.

As the Breakers celebrates its centennial in 2026, that may be the most fitting achievement of its rebirth. A hotel that once helped define glamorous Long Beach hasn’t returned as a monument to what it used to be. It feels alive again.

— Ghalib Dhalla

Fairmont Breakers Long Beach
210 E Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802
562-317-1000
fairmont.com/breakers-long-beach