Rediscovering Macau: A Feast of Culinary Delights at a Luxurious Landmark — Your Complete Holiday Guide

On September 23, Macau visa applications resumed nationwide, and mainland residents can once again travel to Macau. Macau may be small, but you can visit it a hundred times without ever getting bored. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been there, yet every visit leaves me reluctant to leave and every departure is tinged with a sense of longing. I love Macau’s “compactness” — it’s so small that you can easily reach every attraction on foot or by hopping on the numerous free shuttle buses. I also love its “grandeur” — open, inclusive, a blend of East and West, where glitz and glamour coexist with down-to-earth local life. Every trip to Macau brings me new surprises.

Macau is known as the “Las Vegas of the East,” with soaring towers and glittering hotels, famed for its fusion of Chinese and Western cityscapes and its vibrant, colorful entertainment. This tiny patch of land is crammed with luxurious entertainment venues — hotels, performance centers, shopping malls, you name it — making it a true “entertainment capital” in Asia and beyond.

Among Macau’s many destinations, the Grand Lisboa Hotel is the most eye-catching landmark. Located at the heart of the Macau Peninsula’s cultural, shopping, and entertainment hub and a key transport node, the building’s design is novel and unique, resembling a lotus flower or a torch, vividly expressing the passing of the torch of the city’s history and culture. It not only highlights Macau’s traditional cultural heritage but also creates a fashionable visual icon. From many vantage points around Macau, you can see the glittering Grand Lisboa, and the building has naturally become a tourism symbol of Macau, frequently appearing in promotional materials.

The exterior is resplendent and magnificent, while the lobby is sumptuously luxurious and opulent. The spacious, bright space is adorned with crystal chandeliers and mirror walls, columns covered in gradient mosaics and luxurious soft furnishings, and elegant patterned floor tiles that interplay harmoniously, presenting a noble and sophisticated style. The lobby is a highlight, making you feel as if you have stepped into a magnificent, jewel-encrusted palace.

In the centre of the spiral staircase, the lotus pond cleverly incorporates the lotus, symbol of Macau, and also embodies the feng shui concept of “gathering water brings wealth.” The crystal chandelier is particularly eye-catching, dazzling and crystal-clear, cascading from the ceiling like an immaculate waterfall, with water flowing endlessly into the lotus pond, symbolising a continuous flow of fortune.

The lobby also displays many art treasures collected by the hotel’s founder. Strolling through it is like visiting an art museum, with exhibits including exquisite ivory carvings, wood carvings, and various fine antiques. A standout is a flawless cushion-shaped diamond from Africa, weighing 218.08 carats, the world’s largest of its kind, symbolising a worry-free life. There is also a cushion-shaped perfect emerald from Colombia, weighing 210.34 carats, called the “Treasure of Assembled Fortune.” This gem has been highly praised by the American Gem Trade Association and the Gübelin Gem Lab in Switzerland, hailed as “a rare perfect treasure” with the meaning of “accumulating wealth and achieving great success.”

The hotel’s design blends modern and classical elements. In the lift corridors on different floors, the floor and ceiling decorations feature regal dragon and phoenix patterns, exuding a strong Chinese traditional cultural atmosphere. The golden lift doors further enhance the opulence of the Grand Lisboa — a vision of golden splendour.

In Macau, where space is at a premium, the guest rooms at Grand Lisboa are surprisingly generous compared to the typically cramped hotel rooms elsewhere. The design is elegant and well zoned. The overall interior colour palette is based on brown-grey and natural wood tones, accented with bright red or jade-green touches, creating an unusual sense of nobility that is both grand and enduring, giving a visual impression that is both restrained and vibrant.

As the welcome fruit platter and dessert plate show, the hotel not only pursues quality excellence but also strives for visual perfection. The chocolate dessert plate features a lotus design representing Macau, complemented by the elegant phalaenopsis orchids by the windowsill — a delight to the eye.

The bathroom is a separate, spacious and bright space, with floors and vanity tops made entirely of natural marble — the materials alone exude luxury. In addition to a city-view bathtub, there is also a private dry sauna. The toiletries are from the Hermès “Eau d’Orange Verte” range, featuring citrus essential oils and lemon fragrances, with a refreshing blend of bergamot, lemon, and orange — an understated yet luxurious sensation.

For gourmets seeking culinary thrills, the Grand Lisboa is on many people’s Macau “star-collecting” list. It houses two three-Michelin-starred restaurants — the French Robuchon au Dôme and the Cantonese The Eight — plus The Kitchen, a one-star steakhouse by the same creative team.

The Eight (Address: 2nd floor, Grand Lisboa Hotel)

The Eight specialises in exquisite dim sum and luxurious modern Cantonese cuisine, and has been awarded three Michelin stars by the Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau for seven consecutive years. The restaurant is exquisitely designed, cleverly incorporating Chinese auspicious cultural elements such as goldfish and the number “8,” creating a delightful atmosphere.

The Eight is helmed by a veteran Cantonese chef from Hong Kong, offering an endless array of innovative dishes. Using premium fresh ingredients and creative flavour pairings, it also boasts an extensive wine list with over 17,000 labels, allowing every guest to fully enjoy a warm, elegant, and highly innovative dining experience.

The dishes are nothing short of the luxury version of Cantonese cuisine. Just their exquisite presentation and artful plating are breathtaking. Signature items like barbecued meat platters, fish maw, shredded duck and conpoy soup, golden garlic jade star grouper fillet, crispy blue angel prawn with “hundred flowers” pipa chicken, and abalone and diced chicken stewed rice in a clay pot — nearly 200 dim sum and dishes in total — are mostly made-to-order, though some labour-intensive ones require advance booking. It rightfully represents the pinnacle of Macau’s Cantonese dining.

Robuchon au Dôme (Address: 43rd floor, Grand Lisboa Hotel — take the lift to 39F then change to the top floor)

Visiting Robuchon au Dôme at Macau’s Grand Lisboa is a dream for countless food lovers from China and around the world. This haute cuisine establishment has been awarded three Michelin stars by the Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau for 12 consecutive years. Earning one star is hard; holding three stars for 12 years is even harder. But the moment you arrive, you can’t help but be awed — this three-star restaurant truly lives up to its reputation.

Set inside the dome atop the Grand Lisboa, 238 metres high, the glass-and-steel structure creates a strong futuristic feel, designed like a circular art gallery. It offers a 270-degree panoramic view of bustling Macau — just the design and ambience are enough to lift your spirits.

As Macau’s premier restaurant, Robuchon au Dôme has the most comprehensive wine collection in the city. Its cellar houses tens of thousands of fine wines from around the world. Since 2005, it has been awarded Wine Spectator’s “Grand Award of Excellence” for 15 consecutive years.

A pilgrimage site for French cuisine fans, Robuchon au Dôme dazzles the moment you sit down. A bread trolley groaning with dozens of freshly baked artisan breads, prepared by the chef team, is available in unlimited quantities for all diners — an extravagantly generous touch.

Robuchon au Dôme is widely considered one of the top restaurants in Asia and the world, representing the pinnacle of luxury gastronomy. It’s the kind of place “worth planning a special trip” to visit. It is said that many foodies fly in just to dine here, but you must book at least a month in advance. I was lucky enough to “collect” another star here on my second visit, and it was even more unforgettable! Everything, from the amuse-bouche and starters to mains and desserts, can be paired with the perfect wine — fine food and fine wine, inseparable, echoing and enhancing each other, making the dining experience infinitely delightful.

Each creative French dish at Robuchon au Dôme is crafted with the freshest premium ingredients sourced worldwide and meticulously prepared by the French chef team. Every course is a feast for both taste and vision. Signature dishes like caviar and king crab tower with seafood jelly, freshwater lobster ravioli with cabbage, roasted beef fillet and foie gras with port sauce, and crispy soft-boiled egg with caviar and smoked salmon are visually stunning, almost too beautiful to touch, while the flavour and nutritional pairings are exquisitely balanced. The entire meal is truly memorable and well worth the price.

Café 24 (Address: Upper 2nd floor, Grand Lisboa Hotel)

Beyond the high-end Michelin-starred restaurants, the Grand Lisboa has many other dining options, including some unpretentious yet tasteful spots. One is the 24-hour Café 24, where pastry chefs and bakers prepare a variety of Western cakes, pastries, and breads, as well as popular comfort foods like Hainanese chicken rice, Vietnamese beef pho, and Macau’s Portuguese-style serradura cake. The food is delicious and the prices are affordable, giving diners a glimpse of the Grand Lisboa’s down-to-earth side and a chance to sample authentic local flavours in one sitting. I highly recommend the bubble tea at Café 24 — be sure to order a glass.

Crystal Lounge (Address: Upper 1st floor, Grand Lisboa Hotel)

Crystal Lounge is another great spot for affordable Cantonese and Macanese comfort food. Open 24 hours, you can enjoy a refreshing iced red bean drink with a freshly baked pineapple butter bun, plus a simple plate of barbecue pork rice or pork chop rice. The strong Macau flavour makes you understand what simple culinary happiness tastes like.

Porridge & Noodles Corner (Address: Upper 2nd floor, Grand Lisboa Hotel)

Also open 24 hours, the Porridge & Noodles Corner features antique-style décor with pavilions, corridors, bridges, and lotus ponds. Modern materials create scenery that feels both novel and traditional, a warm and unique dining environment. Tea masters and noodle chefs from mainland China perform live tea ceremonies and noodle-pulling shows, adding to the fun.

The Porridge & Noodles Corner serves an all-day array of snacks and dishes, a place that satisfies the “Chinese stomach.” Traditional delicacies from across China — congee, noodles, rice dishes — are all available, from Southern-style seafood congee to Northwestern-style pulled noodles, Southwestern-style pickled fish, and Eastern-style Drunken Chicken in Huadiao wine. There’s something for every taste and budget, all delicious and reasonably priced.

Don Alfonso 1890 (Address: 3rd floor, Grand Lisboa Hotel)

Don Alfonso 1890 is not to be missed. Here, top Italian chefs present a wide range of exquisite Italian cuisine, the most famous being authentic Neapolitan-style pizza made with premium imported Italian ingredients. It delivers the genuine flavours of Southern Italy, and it’s no exaggeration to say you’ll find the freshest, most delicious pizza in Macau right here.

Casino Stage Bar (Address: 1st floor, Grand Lisboa Hotel)

When night falls, head to the hotel’s casino Stage Bar, where you can sip a freshly made cocktail while enjoying free stage performances. The performers are the Crazy Horse Paris dance troupe, with professional dancers rotating through French cancan, Indian dance, pole dancing, swing, and more — a blend of artistry and sensuality that is both dazzling and eye-catching.

Grand Lisboa Spa & Wellness Centre (Address: 5th and 6th floors, Grand Lisboa Hotel)

The Grand Lisboa also houses a 1,000-square-metre spa & wellness centre with comprehensive, state-of-the-art beauty and spa facilities — an ideal place to relax the body and cleanse the mind. In addition to excellent spa treatments and professional therapists, the design is lavish and exquisite, featuring high-quality natural essential oils, platinum mosaic wall tiles, and a lobby with resplendent ceilings and lighting that inspire awe. A 60-minute full-body essential oil spa treatment costs only around 1,000 RMB, offering exceptional value.

Nearby Sightseeing Recommendations:

Largo do Senado: The Grand Lisboa enjoys a superb location. Just a short walk brings you to the heart of Macau’s city centre. At Largo do Senado, one of Macau’s four major squares, wander through the Portuguese-flavoured old streets by night and soak up the city’s nocturnal charm.

Hong Kung Night Market & Cultural Creative District: Alternatively, head to the popular Hong Kung Night Market for a “walk-and-eat” experience, or explore the surrounding cultural-creative backstreets to find the trendy “Portuguese Rooster” photo spot. Try different ways to experience Macau’s nightlife — eat good food, have a drink, chat about life, and enjoy the most relaxing urban holiday moments.

Ruins of St. Paul’s: Macau’s most famous landmark, the Ruins of St. Paul’s, is also within easy reach. Under the deep blue night sky, when you glance back, you’ll see the time-honoured ruins still standing on the Macau skyline, watching over the city as if for a hundred years. Now, with the pandemic keeping crowds away, the empty Ruins are a rare sight — the perfect moment for that iconic photo.

Macau’s long-awaited individual travel scheme has fully reopened, and our travel-hungry feet can hardly wait. So bring your family and friends to Macau, set out from the Grand Lisboa Hotel, and rediscover the long-missed Macanese charm. It will surely be an unforgettable leisure holiday.

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