Foodies will love it here as the dining possibilities are endless, with choices ranging from intimate and romantic to large and loud; from authentic Macanese and Portuguese flavours to traditional and contemporary Asian tastes; from hotel buffets to Michelin star restaurants … but be warned, you’ll leave here heavier than when you arrived and I don’t mean your suitcases!
1. Beijing Kitchen
Beijing Kitchen is one of our favourite restaurants in Macao – a delightful experience that engages all the senses, thanks in part to the ‘show’ put on by the chefs in one of the four open kitchens of this chic restaurant, which always delights and amazes as they toss food filled woks over high bursts of flame. The cuisine is authentic Northern Chinese, which we love as it’s quite spicy and so different, with specialities like wood-fired Beijing Duck, Shanxi hand-shredded noodles with pork and double-baked Superior Bird’s Nest, just a tiny sample of the delectable dishes on offer. Open for lunch and dinner: macau.grand.hyatt.com
Antonio
2. Antonio
Tucked away on the corner of a narrow laneway in Taipa Village is a charming, Portuguese restaurant aptly named Antonio after its larger-than-life chef/owner, Antonio Coelho. Having dined here twice, I can say that this is a must-visit restaurant, not only for the authentic Portuguese cuisine such as sauteed garlic clams, Portuguese sausage, codfish cakes, gratinated goats’ cheese with olive oil and honey, seafood stew with crab, prawns, clams, scallops and fish, and duck rice (all delicious) but also for the warm ambience and friendly service – reservations essential. antoniomacau.com
Restaurant Litoral
3. Restaurante Litoral
If you’re visiting A-Ma Temple around lunchtime and want to indulge in a true Macanese dining experience, take the short walk along Rua do Almirante Sérgio to Restaurante Litoral where you can savour what is arguably the best old Macanese cuisine in Macau. With its warm and inviting decor of whitewashed walls and gleaming timber furniture plus the standout cuisine, with dishes like African Chicken and curried shrimp with crab meat as a small example, it’s a sure winner for lunch or dinner. restaurante-litoral.com
Wing-Lei
4. Wing Lei
You can’t come to Asia and not have dim sum – especially the hand crafted dishes made by the master chefs at the two Michelin star, Wing Lei – a sumptuously decorated restaurant at Wynn that will delight every sense and tantalise every taste bud! Dine under the austere gaze of the flying dragon, made with 90,000 pieces of crystal, which decorates one entire wall in this opulent temple of fine dining. Open for lunch and dinner starring a menu of classic Cantonese dishes. wynnmacau.com/en/dining.
Vida-Rica
5. Vida Rica
Start your evening with a cocktail in the spectacular Vida Rica Bar before making your way to your special table and let Chef Dirk and his team weave their magic for a night you won’t easily forget. The restaurant is elegant and sophisticated and the food – well, the food is a medley of the finest and at times, rarest ingredients worked with the freshest available produce to create dishes that excite the palate as much as they satisfy the tummy. mandarinoriental.com
6. Zi Yat Heen
Zi Yat Heen
Two Michelin stars give an indication that you are dining somewhere special when you enter the elegant dining room of this Chinese Restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel. Chef Ho has created a menu that is both traditional and contemporary – creative, light and fresh – where air-dried seafood and meats are sauteed, casseroled, wok-fried and steamed to create dishes of a signature, delicate taste. Open for lunch and dinner. fourseasons.com/macau
7. O-Manel
A tiny restaurant on the edge of historic Taipa Village, O-Manel specialises in Portuguese cuisine which is as popular with locals as it is with international guests. Host Manuel Cozinha creates a homespun fare which washes down well with a bottle Vinho Verde (green wine). Make sure to order the clams in lemon sauce (and plenty of garlic) along with the bacalhau (cod cakes). They are both popular choices among many tantalising dishes. However, don’t expect fine dining as the decor has a homely feel with a wall of football posters. And there are only six tables, each dressed with red tablecloths. The atmosphere is low key and very relaxed. It’s even included in the Michelin Guide to Macao – read what they have to say here. Phone 853 2882 7571
8. Mezza9
The biggest decision to make in this elegant yet casual restaurant is what to order as diners are spoiled for choice. The vast establishment, inspired by an award-winning namesake Mezza9 in Singapore, thrives on dishing out an array of international cuisine from individual kitchens – under the one roof. In one area is The Grill, another the Sushi and Sashimi Bar, and The Wok for stir-fried Asian dishes. The Steam Basket serves soups and steamed seafood, Australian lobster included. And, yes, Macanese cuisine is prepared, the famous African chicken and Macanese duck rice piping hot favourites. Sunday buffets are extremely popular – and for good reason. Adults pay a nudge under $50 and a free-flowing wine price of about $12 accompanies the deal. macau.grand.hyattrestaurants.com/mezza9Macau
