Revealing best-kept secrets of this spectacular city.
Revealing best-kept secrets of this spectacular city.
A weekend in Macau isn’t just about casinos, shopping and buffets. It also offers a cultural slant with traditional cuisines, local design and even nature trails, all with a touch of indulgence of course.
Day 1 11.30am
After the Cotai Water Jet sailed into the Taipa Ferry Terminal, I looked for a new shuttle bus outside belonging to the latest property on the peninsula, Studio City Macau (Estr. Flor de Lotus). After a short trip and a friendly front-desk rep who let me check-in a few hours early, I stood in front of panoramas of imposing silver Heroes of Steel statue in my room in the Celebrity Tower.
12.30pm Given the sporadic spring showers, I decided on a low-key day around Cotai and hailed a cab to Taipa Village for lunch at Café Leon (Na Taipa Rua Do Regedor No. 79. Chun Fok Village-2 Fase Wai Tai Kok, Rés-Do-Cháo Q, Vila de Taipa), a Portuguese restaurant that serves delicious traditional fare like baked seafood rice and ribs. Patience is key when eating there, however, as food may take up to an hour to be served.
2pm A stroll in Taipa Village, despite the rain, is always interesting: mosaic tiled floors and facades, rustic lamp posts, winding roads – everything reminiscent of the city’s yesteryear as a Portuguese colony. Known for its local snacks, Taipa Village has a new attraction worth mentioning: the Cunha Bazaar (Rua do Cunha No. 33-35 R/C Taipa) – a three-floor building showcasing Macau’s famous almond cookies; souvenirs by local designers such as Mavis Wong, the mastermind behind the revered Soda Panda; a leather workshop and even a postcard post office.
3pm After the retail therapy, I picked up some Macanese snacks – a pork bun, which comes out fresh at 3pm every day at Tai Lei Loi Kei (No. 18, Largo Gov. Tamagnini Barbosa, Vila de Taipa) and a slice of serradura, or the sawdust dessert – and made my way down to the lily-pad pond beside the Tea Museum for a mini picnic. Unless there are exhibitions, the area is usually quiet and makes for a perfect place to observe all the new developments in Cotai surrounded by greenery.
4.30pm A lazy day is never complete without one of Macau’s major highlights: spas. For something different, opt for Shine Spa at Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel (Estrada do Istmo. s/n, Cotai), where the normal consultation of focus areas, treatment goals and allergies are replaced with an investigation into my ‘element of the day’ which involves learning about my most active hours, Chinese zodiac, favourite colour and season. My elements are earth and water, which translated into a 30-minute Brown Sugar Scrub with Terraké followed by a 60-minute Mineral Stone Massage with precious red jasper, crystal and hot stones to replace negative energy with some good vibes. The therapist first used Earth Oil comprising rosewood, mandarin, sandalwood, kaffir lime and frankincense to prepare the body for treatment. Then, the cool and warm rocks were placed over the skin as she drew figure of eights on the back, massaged my ribs with the tips of the rocks and moved energy up and down my limbs. Though not a treatment that easily puts guests into slumber (as the heat of the rocks was quite strong initially), it definitely eliminates fatigue and stress – highly recommended for releasing muscle tension, rejuvenation, relaxation and generating positive energy.
7pm After a quick refresher, I headed to The Macallan Whisky Bar & Lounge (203, 2/F, Galaxy Hotel) for a quick bite and some of the best tipples in town. With interiors that pay tribute to prestigious clubs in the Scottish Highlands, it houses more than 400 top-grade malt whiskies, including the rarest selections from The Macallan Distillery – all served against a backdrop of smouldering embers in a crackling fireplace, stag-antler chandeliers and live music. The cosy interiors are worth visiting even if you’re not a fan of whisky.
8.30pm A stay at Studio City Macau would be inomplete without a trip on the Golden Reel: a 130-metre-high Ferris wheel that loops in a figure of eight, offering panoramic views of the hotel’s revered RiverScape aqua adventure, golden Galaxy Macau complex and lights dotted around the city. The more adventurous can even brave the strip of glass floor in each cable car. Though the ride only lasts a few minutes, it’s definitely one to remember.
9pm Finally, the moment I’ve been waiting for: House of Magic (Level 2, Studio City) curated by illusionist Franz Harary. Composed of three stages, the show ranges from close-up street trickery to Las Vegas – brilliant performances, each one topping the one before with the finale ending in explosive cannons, burning cages and Ferraris. It’s the perfect end to a relaxing day.
Day 2 11am
After a day in Taipa, it’s time to venture to old Macau. Luckily, the sun came out so I grabbed a Portuguese tart from the hotel’s Macau Gourmet Walk for breakfast and jumped into a cab to Mong Ha Hill Municipal Park (Rampa do Forte de Mong Ha), where the Mong Ha Fortress was once used as barracks for soldiers from Portugal. Though long abandoned, the brick-walled fort still holds artillery pieces from those days.
1pm A few blocks down from the park is the Macau Design Centre (Travessa da Fabrica No. 5) – a three-year-old building that comprises local artist studios, exhibition halls, a shopping promenade as well as a coffee shop and rooftop garden for some quiet time. Recent events included a symposium with Macau-born photographer Chong Hoi, aerial dance choreographer Charlotte and the Luso Design Show. But even without the exhibitions, it’s still a place to put on your itinerary if you wish to break away from touristy Macau, enjoy a quiet afternoon or tap into the youth of the city.
2.30pm Though Macau is known for its international fare, there’s probably nowhere else in the world as skilled in making Burmese food, given the peninsula’s sizeable population of Burmese- Chinese immigrants. Nga Heong Café’s fish noodles (277 Rua do Almirante Sergio) are perhaps the best: rice vermicelli drenched in a viscous golden fish-flavoured broth speckled with lemon grass, crispy fish skin and cilantro. Otherwise, opt for the tasty Burmese coconut chicken noodles with a serving of homemade black soymilk on the side.
4pm Satisfied, it’s time to do some shopping. First on my list is The Portuguese Corner Shop (Albergue 1601, Calcado da Igreja de Sao Lazaro No. 8) a local gem that sells eclectic artisanal products like Claus Porto soaps, Pinhais sardines (which are difficult to find outside Portugal due to its small-scale, family-business production), homemade quince marmalades, assorted jams, chocolate, vintage wooden toys, hand-painted tile art and linen handkerchiefs from Portugal.
5.30pm On the other side of the Ruins of St. Paul’s is another shop with a focus on handmade jewellery. En Masse (37 R/C A, Rua das Estalagens) features accessories by independent designers like leather-maker O.N.E. as well as jewellers Midnight Handmade, Madegrey, Stand On and Kris Nations Jewellery. You can even grab some ice cream next door at Vanille when you’re done browsing!
7pm I chose Dillon’s (Av Praia Grande 337) for my last meal in Macau because it doesn’t get more authentic than this. Serving delicious Mediterranean fare ranging from oxtail soup, Bacalhau, sardines, clam, chickpea stews and enchidos, it’s a little piece of Portuguese heaven. With a full stomach, I am ready to head home.
Concierge Insider
• Give Dillon’s a call once you arrive to see when they’re open, as their operating hours can be inconsistent
• When in Mong Ha Hill Municipal Park, look out for the kilometrelong fitness trail with a breathtaking view of the peninsula at the top.
• If you’re not into European crafts, the artistic atmosphere spills out to the neighbourhood in Albergue 1601, where local artists’ workshops and intimate exhibitions take place regularly. You’re bound to find something here.
• Studio City Macau’s RiverScape is closed from December 1 to March 24.
