This is the ‘Las Vegas of Asia’
Macau is more than just a haven for entertainment, it’s also a true paradise for food lovers. With its inimitable merger of Portuguese and Cantonese influences, Macau’s food scene bridges two wholly distinct gastronomic traditions into one unmistakably Macanese cuisine.
Along with that amalgamation of international influence comes heritage architecture, buzzing nightlife, and luxury shopping abound. Do note that Macau is made up of two parts, connected by bridges: Macau Peninsula is an offshoot of mainland China, while Taipa island (and the land connected Coloane island) make up the southern end.
Day 1
Morning
Begin your day as the locals do, at the old school-style cha chaan teng (Hong Kong diner) Nam Peng Café. Along with that dose of nostalgia comes some righteous teahouse fare, namely the velvety milk tea and the ever-popular char siu and egg sandwich. Stacked taller than your average sando, the height is owed to fluffy eggs and a generous serving of meat all piled atop simple white bread. Prices are notably cheap and cheerful.
With a full belly, wander over to Macau’s top tourist attraction, the Ruins of St. Paul. This iconic 17th-century granite façade of the former Church of Mater Dei and St. Paul’s College was designed by Jesuits in the early 1600s. Destroyed by fire during a typhoon in 1835, this UNESCO World Heritage site represents an intermingling of Western Baroque and Eastern architecture, now serving as the most recognizable symbol of Macau.
Continue walking five minutes further east and you’ll find yourself at 10 Fantasia. This prominent cultural center in Macau’s St. Lazarus District is located in a marigold-hued historic Portuguese-style building with two exhibition halls and ten showrooms, plus monthly rotating shows.
Next, pass by the canary yellow St. Dominic’s Church to Senado Square. This pedestrianized UNESCO World Heritage site boasts black and white wave-patterned Portuguese mosaic paving and pastel-colored neoclassical buildings, like the Holy House of Mercy.
Make sure to stop into Choi Heong Yuen Bakery, Macau’s premier 90-year-old bakery brand, for a mid-morning treat. Beloved for its buttery Cantonese cakes, charcoal-baked almond cookies, Phoenix Rolls, and pork jerky, this is an ideal spot to pick up souvenirs and treats to bring back home.
From Senado Square, it’s a quick two-minute jaunt to Rua da Felicidade (Street of Happiness) – a historic, formerly 19th-century red-light district lane that has since been converted into a pedestrian-friendly zone lined with preserved Chinese-style buildings where patrons can peruse the numerous snack and souvenir shops.
Pick up a treat at Yee Shun Milk Company, a traditional Chinese breakfast joint known for milk pudding. Served hot or cold, the pudding comes with various toppings like sweet red bean, chopped mango, and lotus seeds.
Not for the squeamish, the Mercado De S. Lourenço is a local seafood market favored particularly amongst Macau’s finest chefs.
Afternoon
With lunchtime nearing, Loja Sopa da Fita Cheong Kei fits the bill, a Macanese noodle shop specializing in shrimp roe noodles. Thin, springy egg noodles are dusted in an umami-rich dried shrimp roe powder, presented alongside the restaurant’s signature shrimp clear broth – a tidal wave of oceanic salinity. The noodles are made in the traditional way, with the dough folded over onto itself several times before being pressed down on hundreds of times with a heavy bamboo tube.
Another nearby Macanese shrimp roe outpost, Lok Kei Noodle serves a myriad of local dishes to savor alongside a piping bowl of noodles.
Onwards with the adventure, head to Macau Tower at the southern tip of Macau Peninsula. The 338-meter edifice opened in 2001 as a premier landmark offering panoramic 360-degree views, upscale dining, and high-adrenaline adventure activities. Here, you can partake in the world’s highest commercial bungee jump (a whopping 233 meters), the Skywalk X (a guided and strapped in walking tour around the outer rim without handrails), and the revolving 360° Café.
Evening
For dinner, keep it local at Lun Kee Cheung Fun Rice Roll, Macau’s most viral chang fen (è‚ ç²‰), or Cantonese rice rolls, spot. An everyday street snack across Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangdong province, chang fen are rolled up like a bouncy white crepe, stuffed with diner’s choice of filling.
At this legendary shop, the real kicker is in the sauce: a trio of peanut sauce, soy sauce, and a sticky hoisin-like sauce, plus an optional kick of heat from homemade chili crisp.
As evening marches on into night, it’s time to lean in to what Macau is most known for: casinos. Casino hop between the flashy MGM Macau to the lavish Grand Lisboa, from the magnificent Wynn Macau to the elegant Sands Macau.
Rest up before a full day tomorrow at the Mandarin Oriental Macau, a luxury, non-gaming hotel with panoramic views over Nam Van Lake.
Day 2
Morning
The next morning, work your way south to Taipa island, and check in to Wynn Palace Macau, an opulent, floral-themed premier resort.
From here, continue to Coloane Village at Taipa island’s southern tip. This quaint fishing village is brimming with pastel-colored Portuguese colonial architecture and narrow winding lanes flanked by hidden coffee shops, boutiques, seafood markets, and picture-perfect nooks.
Prime your stomach with the country’s most famous Portuguese egg tart from the original Lord Stowe’s bakery in Coloane. Now a Macau icon, Lord Stowe’s egg tarts are famous for their buttery, flaky pastry crust and creamy custard filling. Less sweet than the traditional Portuguese pastéis de nata, the Macanese version strikes a better balance to fit local tastes.
Pass by the historic Chapel of St. Francis Xavier before strolling over to Coloane Pier to check out the fisherman displaying their daily catch and to purchase dried seafood from local vendors.
From there, make a beeline to trendiest café, 3345 Coffee & Vinyl. The coffee shop sits on the street level, while music lovers find themselves seeping up the stairs to finger through the 1,000+ records on sale. Coffee drinks range from the customary to creative – dried mango cold brew, red date and coconut latte, and roselle infused wine cold brew.
After seeking caffeinated inspiration, work your way north to Old Taipa Village, a charming, well-preserved enclave built around a former fishing hamlet that showcases a blend of Portuguese and Chinese culture.
Popular shops span Gelatina Mok Yi Kei (an 80-year-old dessert shop), Koe Kei Bakery (a buzzing snack and souvenir shop), Rest Yangon (a Burmese café with standout coconut chicken noodles), Old Taipa Tavern (a rustic Aussie-style gastropub and sports bar), and much more.
AfternoonÂ
Gather a group for a Fernando’s lunch, an institution celebrated for its mighty spread of Portuguese cuisine, best served family style as portions are large, and diners are transported to a Macau of yore. Do not miss the succulent Portuguese chicken nor the crispy codfish croquettes.
Following the feast, make your way down to A-Ma Cultural Village, a 7,000-square-meter complex dedicated to Mazu, the Goddess of Seafarers. Featuring an impressive 20-meter white jade statue of A-Ma and an ornate Tin Hau Temple, the space features Qing dynasty-style architecture.
Evening
End your Macau adventure with a dinner splurge at either one-MICHELIN-starred 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Galaxy Macau – a prestigious Italian restaurant by renowned Chef Umberto Bombana – or at two-MICHELIN-starred Chef Tam’s Seasons in Wynn Palace Macau for a deep dive into the eponymous Chef Tam’s culinary ethos that follow the 24 Solar Terms. The menu highlights glistening char siu pork belly and other Cantonese specialties.
Finish the night with a bespoke cocktail at Wing Lei Bar, a 22-seater cocktail lounge designed to resemble a jewelry box, St. Regis Macao Bar, a high-end cocktail destination recognized among Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024, or Bar Patua, a dram den in the MGM Cotai spotlighting Chinese, Portuguese and Macanese flavors in sippable form.
Boa noite to a fun-filled Macau weekend getaway!
Image credit: Sophie Steiner/Pinterest
Sophie Steiner is a food & beverage, travel, and lifestyle journalist and photographer, based in Shanghai for the last 10+ years. She loves exploring culinary culture, from local to luxe, across Asia and beyond. Her works have been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, World’s 50 Best, Business Insider, Michelin, and LUXE City Guides.
