Food and Beverage
If you are heading to Macau for the Macau Grand Prix this weekend, you will surely work up quite an appetite watching all of that excitement along the Guia Circuit.
Macau has always had great Chinese restaurants, and eateries serving Portuguese and Macanese fare have never been in short supply. What has changed in recent years, however, has been the arrival of fine dining.
Here is a short list of 10 of Macau’s top restaurants.
And not all of them will break the bank! There are plenty of others, which we will tell you about in the future – so don’t be disappointed if your favourites have not made this list.
For the sake of objectivity, they have been listed in alphabetical order.
Antonio Portuguese
3 Rua dos Negociantes, Taipa (853) 2899 9998
Whether it’s sardines, prawns with garlic, or pata negra (black ham) that you’re hankering for, there’s no better place in town for authentic Portuguese fare than at Est. de Comidas Antonio. Start with pasteis de bacalhau (codfish cakes). Move on to caldo verde, a traditional Portuguese soup made with potatoes and cabbage and topped with choriço. And then savour Bacalhau com Todos, or boiled codfish with boiled potatoes, chick peas, and cabbage – the national dish.
A Lorcha Portuguese
289 Rua Do Almirante Sergio, Macau (853) 2831 3193
Long favoured by Macau’s Portuguese community, A Lorcha serves authentic Portuguese dishes in informal surroundings. The prawns, sardines, and clams are all favoured by seafood lovers. And the estufada, a type of beef stew served with mashed potatoes, is divine.
Aux Beaux Arts French
MGM Grand Macau Avenida de Dr Sun Yat-sen, NAPE, Macau (853) 8802 8888
A Parisian style brasserie right out of the 1930s, Aux Beaux Arts serves French classics in warm,comfortable surroundings. Savour cavier in the Russian Room followed by champagne in the Ice Bar. Or enjoy the best high tea in town on the terrace.
Beijing Kitchen Chinese
Grand Hyatt City of Dreams, Cotai (853) 8868 6636
From Peking duck to hand pulled noodles, you will find all of your Northern Chinese favourites at this stylish eatery. The atmosphere is contemporary Chinese.
Clube Militar de Macau Portuguese
975 Avenida da Praia Grande, Macau (853) 2871 4000
The bar and lounge are open to members only, but anyone can dine in the very stylish dining room of the Club Militar de Macau. All but the facade of the original club was torn down before the change in administration. It was totally rebuilt, and to a much higher standard. You go here as much for the colonial atmosphere as for the stylish Portuguese fare.
Golden Flower Chinese
Wynn Macau Rua Cidade de Sintra, NAPE, Macau (853) 8986 3689
Yummy dishes from Sichuan and Shandong province as well as Tan Cuisine, one of the few restaurants in the world to serve this unique style of cooking, which was popular in the 1930s. Wine and tea sommeliers will help you pair the right dishes with the right beverages in this stylish eatery.
Horizons Grill
Crown Towers City of Dream, Cotai (853) 8868 6636
This stylish restaurant combines classic steakhouse fare with grilled favourites and fresh seafood. Floor to ceiling pictures windows and the restful beige and pale blue surroundings make this one of the best spots in town when you’ve worked up a serious hunger.
99 Noodles Chinese
Encore Rua Cidade de Sintra, NAPE, Macau (853) 8986 3663
Slurp down some of the yummiest noodles in town at 99 Noodles, located right off the casino at the Encore. There are 99 types to choose from in addition to other tasty dishes. Guests must be 18 years or older.
Robuchon a Galera Continental
Lisboa Hotel 2-4 Avenida de Lisboa, Macau (853) 8803 7878
With “Chef of the Century” at the helm and three Michelin stars to its credit, you can set your expectations high when you dine at Robuchon a Galera. With a wine list of more than 7,000 labels, it was the first restaurant in Greater China to receive the Wine Spectator’s “Grand Award”. Le Caviar and Le Foie Gras are particularly recommended.
Waves American
Hard Rock Hotel City of Dreams, Cotai (853) 8868 6636
From milkshakes and cocktails to hot dogs, Southern fried chicken, and Philly Cheese Sandwiches, junk food junkies will find all their favourite types of American fare at this informal outdoor eatery by the pool at the Hard Rock Hotel.
Readers Respond
Writes Suellen Zima, author of Memoirs of a Middle-aged Hummingbird, in Laguna Woods, California:
I salivated through your post about the food in Macau. I remember one class of all Portuguese adults that I taught at the Canadian College of Macau. They took me out for a fabulous Portuguese dinner at the end of the class. I don’t remember the beef stew that you mentioned, but it sounds yummy. I remember Taipa had one of the best Portuguese restaurants that the locals loved, but I don’t remember the name of it.
19 November 2010 (via email)
Accidental Travel Writer Responds:
There were two cute little Portuguese restaurants that were popular with the local Portuguese community in Taipa. Santos was located on the main drag of Taipa Village, and Petiscera (spelling?) was on a sidestreet. Both had great food.
Writes M. in Hong Kong:
Great stuff – next time I know where to go for a nice Portuguese dinner in Macau! 19 November 2010 (via email)
Writes A. in Lisbon, Portugal:
Useful! Thanks!
18 November 2010 (via Facebook)
Accidental Travell Writer Responds:
De nada!
Copyright: Michael Taylor Pictured: 99 Noodles at the Encore (top); the chefs at Golden Flower at the Wynn Macau (middle); sweet and sour cabbage with chili vinegrette Photos Courtesy of the Encore and the Wynn Macau
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