Macau has excellent food as a result of it's history as a spice trading port melded with Portuguese and Chinese cooking called Macanese. Make sure to try Portuguese delicacies such as pasteis de nata (crispy egg tarts), pato de cabidela (chicken stew cooked in blood) and caldo verde (potato and kale soup). On the flipside, many locals say that Macau has the most authentic Cantonese food, especially dim sum (Chinese tapas) and generally, eating out is very reasonable in Macau.
Bars and Pubbing in Macau
With most of the casinos open 24 hours a day, Macau pretty much never sleeps. That also means that there is always something going on. Many of the stylish bars and clubs are located in the casinos, such as those at the Wynn, Venetian, Sands, or MGM.
Many of the popular clubs are clustered around the Docas area, the waterfront in the so-called NAPE area (south of Avenida da Amizade, Macau). This includes the newer casinos like the Wynn, Sands and MGM, as well as the Mandarin Oriental. Popular casino bars include: the Bar Cristal, Wing Lei Lounge and Cinnebar at the Wynn, Champagne, The Russian Room, Veuve Cliquot Lounge, and Lion’s Bar at MGM and The View at the Sands. However, there are plenty of non-affiliated night spots to enjoy in the NAPE. One of the most stylish places is L’arc Lounge (Avenida 24 de Junho, NAPE, Macau), which offers elegant cocktails. For some pole dancing action, head to the MP3 (1333-1337 Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen, NAPE, Macau), while a popular nightclub and karaoke spot is Fashion Club (Block I, Trinidad, Fisherman’s Wharf, Macau). Just outside the NAPE area in the AIA Tower, is the extremely popular D2 (AIA Tower, 251A-301 Avenida Comercial de Macau, Macau) club with live DJs.
A new area around the Venetian in Cotai is quickly developing as an alternative to NAPE for nightlife. The Venetian is considered to be the largest casino in the world and has no less than 19 restaurants. The Bellini Lounge offers live music and performances featuring leading artists from around the world. There are at least three other bars to choose from with Club Lotus one of the most popular in Macau.
Dining and Cuisine in Macau
To experience great dining in Macau, you'll have to venture beyond the hotels and outside the casinos to try some authentic Portuguese and Macanese cuisine. Adventurous visitors should head to Coloane Village to eat at Restaurante Espaco Lisboa (Coloane Village, Macau), known for its rustic Portuguese fare. Reservations are a must on weekends. Another local favorite is Antonio (3 Rua dos Negociantes, Macau), where chef Antonio Coelho serves up all kinds of Portuguese delicacies.
Opinions diverge when it comes to the best Chinese food in Macau. Everything is available from cheap roadside eateries to ritzy casino restaurants and everything in between. For dim sum, the top-end includes the Wing Lei at the Wynn casino, Tim’s Kitchen (Lisboa Hotel, Macau) and Imperial House Dim Sum (Venetian, Macau).
No visit to Macau would be complete without stopping by Lord Stow’s Bakery (1 Rua da Tassara, Macau). Andrew Stow, an English baker, is credited with spreading the love of the pasteis de nata in southern China. The famous egg tarts are a must have, but other goodies like the cheesecake are also scrumptious. If you're not in the area, Lord Stow’s Café (9 Largo do Matadouro, Macau) and Lord Stow’s Garden Café (105 Rua da Corodaria, Coloane, Macau) are a few other outposts.
For an absolute view while dining, no restaurant can match 360˚ Café (Macau Tower) on the 60th floor of the Macau Tower. Another spot with a different kind of view is the Italian Ristorante il Teatro (Wynn, Macau). Located inside the Wynn, it overlooks the so-called Performance Lake (fountains), where diners can enjoy the water, music and light show while eating. Dress code is smart casual (no shorts) and children under five are not allowed.