A Michelin Star-Hunting Journey at Hotel Grand Lisboa Macau!
Ever since Macau fully resumed individual travel on September 23, it has gradually regained its pre-pandemic bustle. The long-missed Macau is deeply favored by food lovers, especially those with high standards and pursuits for gastronomy, who can now head to Macau again to check in various Michelin-starred restaurants!
On September 22, the Guangzhou Michelin Guide list was released. Whether or not your favorite made the cut, it's definitely a step up. From two consecutive years of one-star status to two restaurants earning two stars this year, Guangzhou's dining scene is increasingly recognized by the public. However, when it comes to three-star Michelin restaurants, Macau still has the most in China and stands out. Well, come with me on this Michelin star-hunting journey!
This time, I visited Hotel Grand Lisboa Macau. As a landmark of Macau, it is often known as a must-visit photo spot or a free sightseeing bus transfer station. Its positioning is both approachable and exudes high-end luxury, truly embodying the saying, 'Welcome all guests, whether you spend much or little.'
Entering the opulent lobby of Hotel Grand Lisboa, you are greeted by a statue of Dr. Stanley Ho and priceless jewels: the 'Star of Stanley Ho' and the 'Gem of Fortune and Prosperity.' The 'Star of Stanley Ho' originates from Angola, Africa, weighs 218.08 carats, and is the world's largest pillow-shaped flawless diamond. The 'Gem of Fortune and Prosperity' comes from Colombia, weighs 210.34 carats, and is a cushion-shaped emerald. With the Azure Dragon on the left and the White Tiger on the right, wealth is gathered from the moment you step in.
A short walk away, the lotus pond in the hotel lobby symbolizes wealth accumulation, implying that guests staying here will make a fortune. It is definitely worth a photo.
The room comes with welcome desserts and fruit, simple yet grand. In the various rooms of Hotel Grand Lisboa, you can enjoy stunning views. Outside the window is Macau from different angles and styles, from near to far, the history and heritage of Macau unfold before your eyes. I have to admire Dr. Stanley Ho's excellent choice of location, taking in the entirety of Macau.
Hotel Grand Lisboa rooms feature different color schemes. My room was in the 'purple of intoxication and luxury.' Understated yet luxurious, the room was adorned with fresh flowers, adding vitality. The Hermès bath set exudes extravagance, making the accessible luxury of Hermès feel within reach.
With a valid ID, you can apply for a Grand Lisboa membership card for free, offering up to 20% discount on dining. Once registered, our culinary journey can begin!
After freshening up, I first took everyone to the most affordable restaurant at Hotel Grand Lisboa: the Day & Night Coffee Shop. This café, with breads and desserts overseen by a Turkish chef and a Japanese chef respectively, is a frequent haunt for locals in Macau. With premium ingredients and exquisite presentation, it has won many loyal fans. Its affordability is evident at the entrance: a glass cabinet displays desserts priced at 30 MOP, which is even cheaper than many dessert shops in Guangzhou. Of course, popular desserts often sell out quickly, and the chef promptly replaces them with another variety, so you never have to worry about missing out on good desserts here.
I highly recommend the Serradura, a distinctive Portuguese-style dessert in Macau. Made by layering biscuits, cream, and other ingredients and freezing each layer, this pudding cake is beloved by diners. Give it a try!
The chef also recommends some Southeast Asian specialties, which always satisfy the discerning palates of diverse diners. In Macau, a city of flavors blending together, such affordable restaurants can easily become trendsetters!
Watching free shows is a great way to unwind before dinner. The Stage Bar on the first floor of the casino offers live cocktail mixing, allowing guests to enjoy cocktails while watching performances.
The Parisian Crazy Dance Troupe, combining artistry and sensuality, has been performing in Macau for over 40 years. Dancers from around the world present unmissable French cancan, Indian, pole, and swing dances daily, delivering powerful visual impact!
Macau's three-star Michelin honor for seven consecutive years is held by '8 Restaurant,' a high-end Chinese cuisine establishment specializing in exquisite dim sum and innovative Cantonese delicacies. The restaurant cleverly incorporates the auspicious '8' symbol and vibrant goldfish motifs into its interior design, creating a unique and traditional Chinese atmosphere. The menu offers an extensive variety of dishes. Executive Chef Xie takes pride in combining fresh ingredients from around the world to create innovative flavors.
Executive Chef Xie especially boasts about the Honey-glazed Black Pork Char Siu. Made from the pork collar of Okinawa pigs in Japan, each kilogram yields only enough for two char siu pieces, making it extremely precious. 8 Restaurant cares little about costs but prioritizes the guest experience. The tender char siu, infused with honey and a faint charcoal aroma, is exceptionally rich and flavorful!
Fish Maw with Shredded Duck and Conpoy Soup clearly reveals its age! I thought it was a new creation by the executive chef, but was told it's a very traditional dish originating in the 1940s–1950s, popular in 1960s Guangzhou, and evolved in Hong Kong. It was a dominant dish at banquets back then. Now, to taste such a traditional soup, you must visit 8 Restaurant! The fish maw is thickly shredded, and the duck shreds and 30-year-old tangerine peel enhance the aroma, creating an outstanding texture.
Bamboo Pith Stuffed with Bird's Nest—you might, like me, associate bird's nest only with desserts. But it also works well in savory dishes, making this healthy, light bamboo pith stuffed with bird's nest a favorite among diners!
Garlic and Emerald Grouper Ball—premium chicken broth with shredded Yunnan ham adds umami. The warm broth is rich and flavorful, and the firm, thick grouper pieces are completely deboned. This seafood dish is a must-order for all ages!
8 Restaurant's menu includes nearly two hundred dim sum dishes, most made-to-order. However, a few dishes require advance booking due to their complex preparation. Among them is the Crispy Blue Angel Prawn and Phoenix Chicken! Using French Blue Angel prawns for a crispier texture, the fresh chicken is deboned, coated with a 'mixed sauce' of seafood sauce, sesame paste, etc., and roasted to crispy perfection. The flavor is irresistible!
Clay Pot Braised Rice with Abalone and Chicken—fresh Australian abalone, conpoy, and chicken pieces simmered in stock until the rice absorbs the flavors. It's incredibly soft, rich, and layered—a perfect dish for sharing!
8 Restaurant is among the three-star Michelin restaurants of Hotel Grand Lisboa, which holds a total of seven stars. My first stop on this star-hunting journey—a three-star Michelin restaurant. Have you added it to your collection?
For breakfast, you can enjoy Hong Kong and Macau local specialties at the Crystal Lounge. Authentic Hong Kong and Macau drinks and dishes will surely leave you wanting more. Choices include 'Red Bean Ice' made with Japanese Tokachi red beans and Hokkaido 5.0 milk, various nostalgic beverages, 'Hong Kong-style Pineapple Bun,' 'Pan-fried Cocktail Bun,' 'Four Treasures Rice,' and 'Signature Char Siu with Fried Egg Rice.' There's something for everyone.
To visit the long-admired Robuchon au Dôme French restaurant, I first went to the hair salon on the fifth floor. The salon features 'integrated' independent leather barber chairs with dedicated mobile shampoo carts. Rick, who has served at the salon for years, personally washed, cut, and blew my hair. The perfect hairstyle complements the dome!
Robuchon au Dôme
Do you have a restaurant in your heart that you consider perfect? On this Michelin star-hunting journey at Hotel Grand Lisboa Macau, I visited Robuchon au Dôme, which has held three Michelin stars for twelve consecutive years. It offered an experience of luxury and ultimate taste. The ambiance, service, and flavors were impeccable—definitely a restaurant worth remembering for a lifetime. Perfect score!
Since 2009, Robuchon au Dôme has been the only establishment in Macau to earn three Michelin stars in the Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau for twelve consecutive years. It boasts the most extensive wine list in Asia, with a cellar housing over 17,000 fine wines from around the world. We tasted Dom Perignon 2009 Champagne, filling us with happiness!
Robuchon au Dôme is located in the highest dome of Hotel Grand Lisboa at 238 meters, offering a 270-degree view of Macau's stunning scenery. The restaurant's centerpiece is a huge chandelier made of 131,500 Swarovski crystals, cascading from the 19-meter-high domed ceiling. Reflected in the marble floor and flanked by Baccarat crystal floor lamps, it creates a captivating atmosphere. Additionally, a glass cabinet displays eight handcrafted wooden wine cabinets specially made by British designer Viscount Linley, showcasing eight famous wineries. Zitan chairs are designed with modern flair, adding French elegance. The restaurant selects luxurious tables, chinaware, and decorations from around the world, including Riedel crystal glasses and Bernardaud high-relief platinum plates, setting a new standard for top-tier dining.
From the moment you enter, ultimate luxury surrounds you. A pianist plays melodious tunes at the center. The sommelier introduces fine wines from around the world. After choosing your main course, a bread cart is brought to your table, allowing you to select various breads accompanied by two types of handcrafted butter, beginning the most wonderful part of the day.
The menu doesn't offer an extensive selection, which I believe stems from the chef's pursuit of perfection—only carefully chosen dishes can achieve a perfect score.
Caviar and King Crab Tower with Seafood Aspic is one of Robuchon au Dôme's signature dishes, perfectly blending the rich, fresh flavor of caviar with smooth cauliflower cream. This handmade dish leaves no room for error. When plating the seafood aspic, any mistake means starting over. It is this artisan spirit that perfects each dish.
Roasted Beef Fillet and Duck Liver with Port Wine Sauce is a ceremony-rich dish. A wooden box presents the beef fillet and spices to diners. Only the center part of the beef fillet is used to ensure charred tenderness. Duck liver and red wine are an impeccable pairing; one small taste and you'll fall deeply in love.
Dessert cart laden with colorful sweets—each seems to be a goddess's favorite. You can choose your preferred dessert, as each is crafted with care and is a temptation for the taste buds!
Grand Lisboa Spa
A 60-minute Signature Grand Lisboa Massage combines pure essential oil aromatherapy with precise pressure on spinal and foot acupoints, using Swedish massage techniques to relax the body and mind, relieve muscle and joint pain from exercise, and improve circulation.
Almost no one can resist the charm of massage therapy. Especially for a media professional who burns the midnight oil, a proper massage quickly alleviates the day's fatigue, leaving me energized!
Some say a woman who can drive a BMW as well as ride a bicycle is most adorable. I say a woman who can enjoy Michelin cuisine as well as congee and noodles is happiest. At the 'Day & Night – Congee & Noodle Area,' tasting handmade pulled noodles prepared by the chef and watching the famous 'Kung Fu Tea' performance is a rare experience.
'Day & Night – Congee & Noodle Area' offers a variety of authentic Chinese dishes, including Cantonese congee and Sichuan-Shanghai snacks. It features one-thread noodles, sliced noodles, scissors-cut noodles, knife-pared noodles, turnip-shaped noodles, and Lanzhou pulled noodles, among others.
The Sichuan-style Sour Fish Soup is so detailed that even a single Sichuan pepper comes from Leshan, Sichuan. I have to admire Hotel Grand Lisboa's rigorousness and persistence!
Affordable, great value, budget-friendly... all such labels fit 'Day & Night – Congee & Noodle Area.' Remember to apply for a Grand Lisboa membership card in advance for even more surprising prices!
On this Michelin star-hunting journey, I have successfully collected six stars. Leaving one star as a suspense, I look forward to the next visit, when I will collect all the Michelin stars at Hotel Grand Lisboa!
