Fontainebleau Apartment Community in St. Louis, MO

Pros

• The staff are amazing and go above and beyond.
• The community is well kept.
• The pool is open year-round and heated.
• Maintenance is great and resolves issues quickly.
• The property offers exceptional customer service and a great community.
• The heated pool in winter is a loved feature.
• Fontainebleau Apartment St. Louis is a great place to live with friendly staff and neighbors.

Cons

• They would give the apartment complex a zero because the marketing is very misleading.
• The call system for guests to enter the building doesn't work; it's all for show.
• The building has a strong nursing-home odor, leaky sewage, mold, and plumbing issues, all painted over.
• The pool is supposed to be heated, but it isn’t heated.
• The whole building is outdated from inside to out, and management is unapproachable and extremely unprofessional.
• The leasing office is always closed and never open during business hours.
• The on-site manager is totally unresponsive to issues.
• They twist themselves into knots to avoid paying out the deposit to next of kin.

Review

Fontainebleau Apartment Community in St. Louis is best suited for independent seniors who want a service-forward living experience, a robust social scene, and a well-kept property they can rely on day to day. This community rewards residents who value responsive staff, convenient access to groceries and dining, and the reassurance that maintenance requests are addressed quickly. It is well matched to those who prefer sizable, sunny apartments and a built-in sense of safety and privacy, along with year-round access to a heated pool and a calendar of resident events. In short, Fontainebleau works when the priority is a lively, supportive environment with strong interpersonal touches from management and staff. It is not ideal, however, for neighbors who demand flawless operations, perfectly transparent financial handling, and a maintenance record that never wavers.

The strongest positives center on people and service. The staff routinely earns praise for going above and beyond, and the property is consistently described as well kept. Maintenance requests are resolved promptly, often the same day or the next, which matters deeply for seniors who need reliable assistance. The pool stands out as a standout amenity, heated and open in winter, a feature residents celebrate as rare and valuable. Large apartments with natural light, a well-equipped gym, and proximity to groceries, restaurants, and parks round out the practical benefits, supporting independent living with ease. The on-site culture appears welcoming, with frequent social activities that help residents connect, reduce isolation, and create a sense of community. Taken together, these elements deliver a high-quality daily life for those who prize consistent service and sociability.

Yet the negatives are hard to ignore and can redefine the value proposition for many families. Several reviews raise serious concerns about financial transparency and management reliability, especially around the handling of deposits after a relative’s death. One family’s experience suggests a lack of clear, documented procedures for returning money to next of kin, culminating in confusion and frustration over a small-to-mid-sized balance and ambiguous charges. On-site leadership is described by some as unresponsive, with reports that the leasing office is frequently closed and the call system for guests unreliable. Structural and environmental issues also appear in multiple accounts: odors, plumbing leaks, mold in some areas, and aging infrastructure that can feel out of step with the modern expectations of a senior apartment community. Laundry facilities and communal equipment occasionally fail, and the overall building maintenance is seen by some as inconsistent, with signs of wear that mar the sense of polish. These factors are not mere nitpicks; they touch the core reliability families rely on when entrusting a loved one to a residence.

The key pros can offset the main cons for residents who prioritize daily service, social engagement, and immediate problem-solving capability. For independent seniors who want to stay active, the combination of a heated pool, frequent resident gatherings, and a responsive maintenance team creates tangible daily value. The large, light-filled apartments reduce feelings of confinement and support comfortable living, while the neighborhood conveniences and safety assurances add practical peace of mind. In other words, Fontainebleau delivers a compelling lifestyle package for those who can look past potential management fragility and aging infrastructure in favor of a robust, people-centric environment. The stronger the emphasis on human service and community immersion, the more the positives can outweigh the risks.

There is a clear signal for families who should consider alternatives. If financial transparency and predictable, accountable administration are non-negotiable, or if the fear of opaque deposit handling is real, other communities with proven, consistent processes will be more suitable. If maintaining state-of-the-art facilities and a consistently responsive on-site leadership team is a priority, look beyond Fontainebleau to options with stronger reputations for day-to-day operations and fewer red flags around control of funds and leases. For households seeking a setting that leans heavily into assisted living or more formalized care management, Fontainebleau’s independence-oriented model may fall short of expectations. In short, Fontainebleau is attractive for a certain lifestyle, but not for those who require near-perfect operational reliability.

Practical next steps cut through the noise. Prospective residents should request a clear, written deposit policy with explicit steps for refunds, especially in the unfortunate event of a relative’s passing, and insist on a documented timeline for any disbursement or closing charges. Tour the facility during regular business hours and meet the on-site team in different shifts to assess accessibility and responsiveness. Speak with current residents about maintenance response times, the reliability of the call system, and the consistency of the leasing office’s hours. Inspect the common areas, test the pool’s warmth in winter, and perform a thorough unit walk-through focusing on odors, plumbing, and mold concerns. Clarify who handles newsletters or communications to avoid signs-only updates and ensure a transparent escalation path for issues. If these checks align with priorities, service, social life, and safety, the Fontainebleau experience can deliver a strong, fulfilling independent living environment. If not, it remains prudent to pursue alternatives that offer firmer financial clarity, more dependable operations, and a maintenance record with fewer caveats.

This part of St. Louis, Missouri, offers a convenient and bustling neighborhood with easy access to essential amenities such as pharmacies, restaurants, cafes, parks, physicians, theaters, places of worship, transportation options, and hospitals. With multiple Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy locations nearby for medication needs and various dining options including fast food chains like McDonald's and upscale establishments like The Capital Grille, residents can enjoy a range of culinary experiences. Parks like Shaw Park provide green spaces for outdoor activities and relaxation while coffee shops like Starbucks offer cozy spots for socializing or enjoying a quiet moment. Access to reliable transportation through the Metrolink North Hanley Station and car rental services makes it easy to explore the surrounding area or visit loved ones. Additionally, proximity to reputable medical facilities such as Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St Louis Children's Hospital ensures quality healthcare services are readily available. This diverse neighborhood presents a vibrant community with amenities suitable for seniors looking for a lively yet accessible living environment in St. Louis.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• Schnucks (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3 miles)

Restaurants

• MOD Pizza (1.1 miles)
• McDonald's (1.1 miles)
• White Castle (1.5 miles)
• The Capital Grille (1.8 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2.9 miles)
• St Louis Bread Co. (3.1 miles)
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (3.2 miles)

Parks

• Shaw Park (1.6 miles)
• Tilles Park Neighborhood (3.4 miles)
• Wohl Recreation Center / Sherman Park (5.2 miles)
• Blackburn Park (6.1 miles)
• Bar K (6.2 miles)
• Des Peres Park (6.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.9 miles)
• Panera Bread (3 miles)
• Blueprint Coff (3.2 miles)
• Starbucks (4.2 miles)
• Starbucks (4.2 miles)

Physicians

• University Club Medical (2.9 miles)
• Barnes-Jewish Hospital (5.6 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Esquire 7 (3.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Ann Catholic School (4 miles)
• Old Orchard Church (5.1 miles)
• St Ambrose Church (5.9 miles)

Transportation

• Metrolink North Hanley Station (4.1 miles)
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (4.1 miles)
• Zooline Railroad The Wild (4.3 miles)
• National Car Rental (4.5 miles)
• Hertz Rent A Car (4.6 miles)
• Budget Rent A Car (4.7 miles)
• Terminal 2 Parking (4.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Metropolitan St Louis Psychiatric Center (4.5 miles)
• St John's Mercy Surgery Center (5 miles)
• St Louis Children's Hospital (5.4 miles)
• The Rehabilitation Institute of St Louis (5.8 miles)
• Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital (6 miles)