Express Luxury

The ritz-carlton, macau is the perfect home away from home.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel
The ritz-carlton, macau is the perfect home away from home.
My Reading Room
My Reading Room

Cruising into Macau terminal with Sands Macao and Fisherman’s Wharf on the left, the wobbly gangway, eager crowds rushing through immigration – everything looked familiar. What was different was the inviting The Ritz-Carlton, Macau’s sign that waited at the arrival hall.

I knew I was in good hands. Though discreetly situated in a corner of the Galaxy Macau with a subtle lobby dressed in marble, a centrepiece and a few couches to match, the hotel’s majesty is only truly evident at check-in on – wait for it – the 51st floor.

Despite the candy table in the middle of the lounge, the kid in me was quickly distracted by the floor-to-ceiling windows that looked across to Cotai. After check-in, I was whisked to my room on the 32nd floor (beneath which was the JW Marriott Hotel Macau), one of The Ritz-Carlton, Macau’s 250-plus all-suites rooms that each measure at least 880sqft.

Aside from motion-activated toilets, curtains and televisions, and his and hers robes, pyjamas and slippers, the suite’s interior design also impresses. Mosaics cascade down bathroom walls, grey rippled marble adorns the powder room, but perhaps most breathtaking was the view. Though foggy, I was fortunate to face the revered coned roofs of The Galaxy Macau (whose dancing lights at night proved to be entertaining I later discovered), and the world’s biggest sky pool – which, from above, looked like a winding river amidst a green oasis.

As with the candy table in the lobby, treats are expected, and a plate of goodies such as caramel square, almond cookie and nougat was placed in the room. The evening assortment changed to a multicoloured selection of macaroons, thoughtfulness that is quintessentially The Ritz-Carlton.

My Reading Room
My Reading Room
My Reading Room
My Reading Room

Opened last summer together with its neighbour JW Marriott Hotel Macau, the property shares the rooftop Grand Resort Deck with Galaxy Macau, the world’s largest rapids waterpark and shopping at The Promenade. However the outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, ESPA, friendly staff are all its own, as well as award-winning culinary experiences at the The Ritz-Carlton Bar & Lounge, The Ritz-Carlton Café and Lai Heen, where my lunch awaited.

The Cantonese restaurant on the 51st floor features a water theme, with lit-up waves at the entrance, while the main area is decorated with ceramic vase chandeliers, classic China vessels, walls of Azulejo ceramic tiles and blue glass pendants for an extra touch of sophistication.

Helmed by young Hong Kong chef Bill Fu, who was paramount in earning two Michelin stars at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong’s Tin Lung Heen, where he worked previously, the signatures at Lai Heen are traditional with a twist. The classic char siu is replaced with ibérico pork drizzled in aromatic honey and – my personal favourite – the Chef’s Special braised pork belly with preserved vegetables is reimagined by adding fried preserved vegetables inside a rice cone, which deliciously complements the moist, slow-cooked pork.

Extremely satisfied, I headed to ESPA for a body treatment: a 120-minute body scrub, wrap and massage with jade stones. But first, the wet facilities. Like its sister outlets around Asia, the ESPA labyrinth houses a sauna, experience showers, steam room, ice fountain, vitality pool and relaxation area and is enveloped in dark wood and black walls, with refreshments available in every corner.

The treatment room comprises its own shower and bathroom. I was instructed to sit in a corner as the therapist collected the essential oils for the detoxing ritual I had chosen (wise considering how much I ate over the Lunar New Year). And after a short foot treatment using Restorative Bath & Body Oil, I was ready to be pampered.

Exfoliation is the quintessential example of the saying “the bitter must come before the sweet”. Like any other scrub, it’s an experience made bearable only by focusing on the flower petals swirling around the inhalation bowl beneath my face. The treatment left my skin silky smooth, it was worth it after all.

Then the wrap: choosing the detoxifying routine meant being lathered in algae cream and bound in foil, the concoction making a warm cocoon. Though initially uncomfortable, the therapist diverted my attention, or rather, hypnotised me into a blissful stupor, with a head massage using the Pink Hair and Scalp Mud – a conditioning treatment that helps promote healthy hair and scalp with mineral-rich red clay, watercress extract and apricot kernel oil.

The last part of the treatment was a massage with heated jade, which felt hot upon initial contact; but as the heat quickly dispersed around the area and rippled throughout the body, I felt fatigue and stress evaporate, leaving behind a soothing warmth. And like any ESPA treatment, I left feeling rejuvenated.

Though it was well into supper time by the time the treatment ended, I was still full from lunch but decided to swing by The Ritz- Carlton Café on the first floor for a quick look-see: mission failed. Continuing its theme of clean marble and mosaics, the French brasserie – inspired restaurant is home to a cheese cabinet, charcuterie spread and oyster bar – and those are sort of healthy, right? Right.

By the time the food made it to my table, so did hunger. The waiter brought his recommendations of beef tartar served on thin toast alongside a bed of salad, and the Pigeon de Racan, which in my opinion could be less seasoned and more tender – but an enjoyable experience overall. Satisfied and relaxed, I was ready to call it a day.

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