by Le Concierge Orient
the ultimate guide to the
top hospitality addresses of macau
With decades of history in hospitality, Macau has rightly garnered a reputation for excellence amongst worldly travellers. Here are some of the best hotels, restaurants and spas in Macau.
The Ritz-Carlton, Macau
Possibly the only all-suite Ritz-Carlton property in Asia, The Ritz-Carlton, Macau has plenty to offer, from the opulence of its stately interiors to the perfection honed in its service orientation. Splendid chandeliers hang from the ultra-high ceilings of the property with suites that open to white marble bathrooms and beds of clouds. Well-curated objets and books fill the spaces as a rarefied ambience of neo classicism makes this a quintessentially Ritz-Carlton establishment. As we grapple with an era more attuned to the assembly-line mentality, it is highly gratifying how all the boxes are ticked at this Ritz-Carlton, with a heightened sense of luxury only the Galaxy Macau folks can muster.
Culinary
Lai Heen is a 1-Michelin star Cantonese fine dining restaurant. (Image: The Ritz-Carlton, Macau)
Helmed by Executive chef Ho Hong Sing, Lai Heen is a 1-Michelin star Cantonese fine dining restaurant renowned for its stunning interiors and inventive dishes like deep fried Chilean Sea Bass and pan-seared bird’s best with crab meat. Inspired by a traditional French brasserie, The Ritz-Carlton Café serves classic dishes, fresh seafood, fine wines and delectable pastries. The Ritz-Carlton Bar and Lounge sits atop the hotel at level 51 and is a splendid spot for tipples and a good laugh. Fashioned with the ambience of a luxury Manhattan residence, The Club Lounge impresses with highly personalised service and numerous culinary presentations throughout the day.
Wellness
The Ritz-Carlton Spa combines the latest technology with traditional therapies within ten stylish treatment rooms and three couples’ suites. A therapeutic massage at this idyllic wellness retreat is just the ticket after a day out exploring the highlights of Macau.
Banyan Tree Macau
A most opulent city resort that bears the Banyan Tree name, this Macau installation has all the gleaming aspects of a five-star wellness retreat and more. Firstly, it is an all-suite establishment, probably the first in Asia, with jaw-dropping aspects including a soaking pool in the living room, a wooden tub in the bathroom, luxurious private cabanas by the plush resort pool, and on-call butler services at any hour of the day or night. This is a lavish sanctuary where you gargle with Evian water, and your amenities are monogrammed with your initials. Anything that can be desired is already on standby, all but the luck of the draw at the gaming tables.
Culinary
Banyan Tree Macau is home to Thai fine-dining restaurant, Saffron. (Image: Banyan Tree Macau)
True to its roots, Banyan Tree Macau is home to one of Macau’s best Thai fine-dining restaurants, Saffron, headed by Jan Ruangnukulkit, an award-winning chef best known for her traditional and authentic flavours coaxed from premium ingredients. Located on Level 31 of the hotel, Saffron offers stunning views of Cotai. For a more relaxed gourmet moment, resort dining (fries with black truffle shavings are superb here!) can be enjoyed in one of the pool cabanas bedecked with lovely tropical accents.
Wellness
The award-winning Banyan Tree Spa Macau offers 19 treatment rooms, inclusive of couples’ suites, with a menu listing over 20 treatments including fabulously delivered mani and pedi options and several other highlights specially developed by the Banyan Tree Spa Academy. Talented and skilled therapists are the best aspects of this cavernous wellness retreat, as are the pampering accents like flower baths and after massage refreshments one is wont to enjoy over a session here.
The Galaxy Hotel, Macau
One of the most renowned homegrown hotels in Macau, the ambience here is luxury with a familiar bent, where the accoutrements are more attuned to the aesthetics of the broader-base demographics than what one would expect from, say a Raffles or a Ritz-Carlton, both of which are part of the Galaxy integrated resort complex.
But that is exactly what the minders of this sprawling resort complex are gunning for — something for someone at any level. That said, the pampering accents are hardly diminished here — the rooms are amply sized and suitably plush, and butler service is available for suite guests, capably ensuring that all that is required, materialises.
Culinary
The wood fire roasted duck is a popular delicacy in Blossom Palaces. (Image: Galaxy Macau)
The Galaxy Macau complex is filled to the brim with some of the best restaurants in Macau, so many, in fact, that one is most spoiled for choice. For Chinese cuisine, one can head to the newly launched Blossom Palaces for its beautiful wood fire roasted ducks and elegant dishes curated from the regional flavours of China.
For some of the best culinary representations of Italian in Macau, head to 8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA, the third restaurant of three-Michelin-starred Chef Umberto Bombana, and feast on the most authentic and flavoursome Italian creations drawn from the colourful Mediterranean and Sicilian culinary cultures. For something more rustic curated from the quintessential Italian kitchen, visit Terrazza, which only selects the freshest and finest produce for every dish.
Mandarin Oriental Macau
One of very few hotels in Macau not attached at the hip to an integrated resort, the Mandarin Oriental Macau is a comfortable base for visitors to the territory who crave a spot of respite with the wellness luxuries this urban retreat offers. Thoroughly modern and gleaming with lavish accents, the rooms and suites here are comfortable and elegant, complemented by a battalion of service professionals dedicated to the personal comforts of guests. The hotel is pretty much self-contained with a hidden bar, a trio of restaurants and a decadent spa with treatment suites bedecked with plush accents like steam rooms and gigantic Jacuzzis.
Culinary
Guests can indulge in the delightful flavours of east and west at the hotel’s three restaurants — Lobby Lounge offers afternoon teas and Asian favourites like Chicken Rice and Laksa, Vida Rica Restaurant offers fabulous dim sums and regional Chinese classics and some Portuguese dishes, while Vida Rica Bar is a secret hideaway to feast on Italian grub while indulging in a cocktail or two.
Wellness
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Macau is a plush haven where some of the treatment suites are invested with views of the Macau Peninsula, private steam room and jacuzzi to boot. The Spa boasts enhancing signature programmes created exclusively by Mandarin Oriental (the MO massage is a must try signature) as well as specifically developed treatments inspired by local traditions and customs.
Raffles Macau
Raffles at Galaxy Macau is the latest all-suite pleasure palace installed at the Galaxy Macau integrated resort which combines a rarefied hospitality heritage with some impressive hardware — lighting in the suites are wired to movement sensors and with just one click, an in-suite decorative art piece becomes in-suite entertainment. The lobby on level two is a showstopper where a gigantic crystal chandelier hovering above a tea parlour commands both attention and awe.
True to form, something massive is scintillating at every turn, and guests will encounter a collection of thoughtfully curated art pieces from the likes of glass artist Latchezar Boyadjiev, sculptor Joris Kuipers, and contemporary artist Chen Chun Hua. Residential suites open to living room fireplaces, luxurious wooden flooring and, in some cases, private heated pools surrounded by lush gardens and double-storey loft windows. Maison Caulieres bathroom amenities, clothes hangers etched with your name and dedicated personal butlers are just a few of the entry-level provisions aimed at blowing away the most unflappable of guests.
Culinary
Master Chef Masaaki Miyakawa, one of the few elite sushi chefs to have earned three Michelin stars in Japan, brings his panache and craft to Raffles Macau with the newly opened Sushi Kissho by Miyakawa, a splendid sushi bar with some of the best Edomae-style sushi and accompanying sake in town. Next to it is Teppanyaki Shou, an elegant joint serving Japanese omakase-style teppanyaki made from the finest ingredients sourced from Japan and the region. The food at both restaurants are top-notch premium affairs with wonderful service staff that deftly defines Omotenashi.
Morpheus Macau
Morpheus Macau was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. (Image: Morpheus Macau)
A Zaha Hadid edifice bearing the late designer’s signature futuristic imprints, Morpheus Macus sticks out amongst the faux chateaus and golden blocks of Cotai as only a work of Hadid would and sets new ground within an entrenched neighbourhood not quite given to audaciously avant-garde architecture. The lifts of the structure take one on a dramatic ascent through crimson doors followed by visages of an interior encapsulated by geometric forms; only then is one greeted by the monumentally enigmatic Kaw piece upon reaching the guest levels. One might expect the interiors of this modernist spire to match its facade, but truth be told, the rooms and suites within are somewhat milder in conception, albeit utterly contemporary in feel.
The Karl Lagerfeld Macau
A lot is known of Karl Lagerfeld, the legendary couturier who ruled the world of high fashion for decades. Interestingly, his best kept secret is probably this stunning designer hotel that bears his signature sartorial style with edgy interiors that are principally red, white and black, one of the hardest palettes to adopt without the unfortunate Dracula subtext. A liberal dash of gold was also applied, as are numerous vases and furnishings of neo-chinoiserie and classical forms, because these are apparently the great loves of the late Kaiser K.
It is heartening that Karl the designer paid homage to his own quirks and penchants with the details etched into this hotel, creating a space where lesser mortals like you and I can inhabit and revel in the resplendent dens raised by one of the creative greats of the current epoch.
Culinary
Mesa by José Avillez offers contemporary Portuguese cuisine and petiscos (Portugal version of tapas), as well as cocktails and Portuguese wine in a visionary interior that is stylistically bombastic, to say the least. Michelin-starred Chef José Avillez has crafted a menu that highlights selected dishes from his restaurants in Portugal, presented with culinary artistry in brand-new ways, while also showcasing Macau’s local gastronomy through signature dishes such as spring piri piri chicken and crispy suckling pig with orange salad. Both of these dishes are sensational and definite must-trys over a sitting here.
St Regis Macau
St Regis Macau is an intimate escapade raised right next to the colossal Sands integrated resort complex. Its distance from the action is also its principal advantage in the packed territory — minutes from the thick of action, yet worlds apart is how one might describe the space. Unhurried is another adjective that seems apt, a word one wouldn’t use liberally to describe the other hotels around Macau’s Cotai strip. The luxurious accents of this St Regis installation are refined and resplendent, so much so that one wouldn’t even guess that there are 400 rooms and suites within the block. The Metropolitan Suite is a lovely space to inhabit over a stay, with ample views of the European replications all around (look out for the hourly chime from the life-sized Big Ben visible from the suite), and signature St Regis delights like butler service, chocolate teddies, and plush marble clad bathrooms, all adding to the charms of the property.
Culinary
The hotel’s sole restaurant, The Manor, puts an emphasis on the finest, sustainably sourced ingredients from around the world and assembles them with European culinary inspirations and finesse for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The St. Regis Bar brings the renowned New York heritage that’s synonymous with the St. Regis brand together with artisan cocktails and beverages. The Macao version of the Bloody Mary, aptly named Maria do Leste, is just the tipple to get into the mood with the bar’s daily live musical performances.
Wellness
The St. Regis Spa Macau is officially described as ‘a sensorial escape honouring the art of decadence… a modern jewel box designed for indulgence and defined by joie de vivre’. After a visit, we can vouch that the reality wasn’t far off. The treatment rooms are designed to be lush and comforting with vibrant hues and fabulous equipment, and the treatments here range from bespoke body massages and revitalising facials to energising body scrubs and nourishing wraps. All would be naught if the therapist were rubbish; however, we are happy to report that the massage sampled was quite simply heavenly. Studied, measured strokes were applied with a liberal dosage of fabulous oils, and that roughly translates to a blissful moment flat out within this pampering enclave in Macau.
Grand Lisboa Palace Macau
Encapsulated within the palatial facades of the Grand Lisboa Palace Integrated Resort are three distinctly designed hotels, with the Grand Lisboa Palace Macau taking center stage. This main tower’s 1,350 contemporary guestrooms offer opulent moments with grand views of Cotai or the resort’s Jardim Secreto, a stately garden with over 1,000 square metres of perfectly manicured greens, landscaped patios and romantic gazebos.
The spacious rooms and suites are amply sized, with luxurious in-room amenities and attentive services that are elevated and expedient. The colour palettes of the rooms are a spirited splash of bright hues amidst liberal applications of jewel tone blues. The bathrooms are all clad in white marble accented by splendid matt gold taps and trimmings. Subtle without being boring, these are some of the territory’s best designed rooms.
Culinary
There are over a dozen of culinary addresses to choose from within the resort complex, but one can do no wrong with the fine dining Chinese cuisine at the resplendently raised Palace Garden. The interior here is splendid, while the menu features inventive yet authentic Cantonese entrees such as Premium Partridge Bisque and Crystal King Tiger Prawns, best paired with the selection of premium Chinese tea on offer.
Wynn Palace Macau
With no lack of competitors on the saturated Cotai strip of Macau, Wynn Palace is neither the flashiest nor the grandest of the lot. In fact, the seasoned hospitality group has played it safe with this 1,706 key property, electing to offer rooms based on a 3-colour scope — peacock blue, sunrise yellow, and sunset orange. The suites are even more muted in appearance — these are cavernous but sparsely furnished spaces washed out in cream, yellow, and brown tones.
That isn’t to say that there aren’t a few splendid surprises set aside at this behemoth one-stop resort integrating retail, entertainment, and hospitality functions. The floral installations featured a windmill pieced together using exotic blooms when we visited, a jaw-dropping sight to say the least. One can even take a cable car ride around the facade of the hotel over the performance lake if desired. A host of fabulous restaurants and wellness outlets also provide sterling persuasions for pleasure-seeking visitors to the sensorial Lala-land that is Macau.
Culinary
There are plenty of dining options to choose from within the Wynn Palace integrated resort, but its signature outlets are worth a visit to satiate one’s epicurean cravings. SW Steakhouse is an elegant restaurant that dishes out premium cuts paired with selected vintages and dinner entertainment that isn’t quite the conventional act.
Sushi Mizumi presents scrumptious morsels hand-prepared right before your eyes at the dining bar crafted from ancient Hinoki wood. Chef Tam’s Seasons is a conceptual masterpiece by renowned Master Chef Tam Kwok Fung who selects and prepares the finest fresh seasonal produce for his menu here. The furnishings and design of the restaurant are visually stunning, and the ambience certainly adds to the exquisite flavours that the Chef exacts and presents for his ever-changing menus.
Palazzo Versace Macau
The ambitions of Italian high fashion brand Versace to branch out into hotel designing has recently hit a snag with the closure of its first-born Palazzo on Australia’s Gold Coast. But when a door closes, somewhere, a window opens. Thus enters the resilient brand into Macau via this window, which puts it in one of three towers of the Grand Lisboa Palace integrated resort.
As expected, the rooms and suites at Palazzo Versace Macau are dripping with the golden heads of Medusa, the brand’s iconic logo, etched into every tap and knob and shampoo bottle. Expect to see its signature flashy prints on everything, from pillowcases and bed covers to living room carpets and silken headboards. Versace is a force that thrives on overkill, and it is fun to take a plunge in the shimmering gold and blue mosaic pool here or pick canapes off porcelain wares decorated with the snazzy dragon motifs specially designed for the first and only oriental Palazzo Versace in this neck of the woods.
Culinary
As the Macau outpost of the Michelin-starred, family-owned restaurant in Sant’Agata sui Due Golfi, Don Alfonso 1890 pays homage to the millenary culture and food traditions of Italy’s Sorrento Peninsula and the Amalfi Coast. Every element of the restaurant is gleaming with the opulence and glamour tied to the House of Versace — think haute couture married to fine cuisine, with the elevated and authentic flavours of Southern Italy teased from premium imported ingredients like Nocellara del Belice olives and Namonte lemons, in a menu curated by Head Chef Federico Pucci.
Spa
The SPA at Palazzo Versace Macau offers a holistic, integrated approach to wellness in a setting exquisitely decorated with splendid Versace-designed mosaics and marble. Treatments within this intimate retreat include revitalising massages within plush treatment suites or the Italian rendition of the classic Turkish hammam within a splendid bath etched with signature Versace imprints.
Andaz Macau
Andaz Macau is marketed as a vibrant lifestyle hotel rooted in local art and culture. In truth, it is a 700-key establishment joined at the hip with the Galaxy International Convention Center (GICC) and the behemoth events venue, the 16,000-seat Galaxy Arena. The luxurious accents here are thus somewhat pared down when compared to the neighbouring Raffles and Ritz-Carlton, but the design elements are distinctive, with interiors that are inspired by the city’s colourful heritage that is a blend of Chinese and Portuguese cultures.
Certain rooms come with balconies, a rarity in Macau, while others are imbued with serene verdant vistas, also a rarity here. The Andaz Suites in particular, feature a spacious living and dining area, a separate king bedroom with grand views and an expansive bathroom with dual sinks, a plush bathtub and a smart glass window for instant privacy at the flip of a switch.
Culinary
Andaz Kitchen is an all-day dining affair featuring Portuguese, Macanese and local neighborhood dishes — think Piri Piri chicken and roasted suckling pig amidst Hainanese chicken rice. The inspiration behind the restaurant’s design stems from a series of old Macau shophouses where the mélange of flavours conjured reflect the culinary versatility on offer.
Conrad Macau
Nobody really expects a business hotel in a leisure enclave like Macau. While Conrad Macau fits the bill of a quintessential business hotel with comfortable classic furnishings, roomy layouts, and perfunctory efficient service, it also promises deliverables attuned to the tastes and references a broader demography not too finicky with details.
Being part of the behemoth Sands Macau complex is its greatest allure, with all the malls and attractions a mere skip and a hop away. From the Conrad, one can set off and explore the fantastical maze of Macau’s teamLab Super Nature exhibition, strike poses in front of the built to size Big Ben, miniature Eiffel Tower, Venetian gondolas and the opulently replicated royal coach et al, and feast to one’s content with the many, many restaurants and grub joints of the integrated resort.
Culinary
There is a grand plethora of F&B outlets in The Londoner complex of Sands Macau in which the Conrad resides. The closest restaurant of repute raised at its doors is The Mews, a stables themed Thai restaurant helmed by noted chef Nongnuch ‘Nuch’ Sae-eiw who delivers authentic and refined flavours from her homeland amidst a culturally resplendent dining hall. Chelsea Garden is an upmarket contemporary food court with a bright and cheery ambience serving a vast range of comforting signatures like dim sum and roast meats from Hunan to Hong Kong. For a truly enthralling epicurean initiation into fine dining Cantonese cuisine, make your way to the Venetian complex a short trek from the hotel and feast on the elegant and surprising renditions of dim sums and regional classics reimagined by executive chef Cheung Kam Tung.
