Macao is home to some of the most extravagant integrated
resorts in the world—and thus to some of the top
fine-dining restaurants. Travellers have long known
about the resorts, but are increasingly learning that the
city has developed an unmatched reputation for the latter.
As Macao shifts its focus to non-gaming entertainment, one upside is award-winning culinary experiences in the most opulent of settings. Today the city has the highest number of Forbes Five Star-rated hotels in the world—and within these integrated resorts are award-winning eateries that have elevated local fine dining to even more sumptuous heights.
“
”
Combining authentic Chinese dishes with offerings from overseas as well as contemporary fusion approaches to create a truly astonishing smorgasbord, Macao’s finest restaurants invite the epicurious to explore the intersection of food and luxury—and savour a culinary experience like no other.
What’s on the menu
The Eight
Eight is considered a lucky number in China, and one will feel that fortune has smiled upon them as they enter this Michelin three-star eatery located in the Grand Lisboa Hotel. Choose from more than 40 different kinds of dim sum for lunch or indulge in Cantonese and Huaiyang specialties for dinner, such as steamed spotted coral grouper fillet. The sumptuous interior features goldfish, a symbol of vitality, and, of course, the numeral eight.
The Eight
Jade Dragon
This year, no resort in Macao has attained more number of Michelin stars than Melco Resorts & Entertainment. Leading this achievement is Jade Dragon in Cotai’s City of Dreams, the only restaurant in Macao that boasts three Michelin stars and three Black Pearl diamonds. The world-class chefs at Jade Dragon prepare exquisite Chinese and international dishes such as crispy suckling pig with caviar, spotted grouper and slow cooked Australian lamb rack with cumin and chilli. A menu of seasonal healing soups of abalone, fish maw and duck is designed to recharge one’s batteries.
Jade Dragon
Alain Ducasse at Morpheus
Also in the City of Dreams, Alain Ducasse’s two-Michelin-starred temple to fine gastronomy at the Morpheus hotel pays homage to the savoir-faire of French gastronomy while reinventing the classic cuisine with Ducasse’s own contemporary vision. The stylish surroundings, featuring unique oak sculptures by Pascal Oudet, are the perfect setting to enjoy creations such as steamed duck foie gras with raw and cooked figs as well as line-caught sea bass with tender celeriac. The petits fours will surprise with Japanese muscat, pineapple granita and candied kumquats.
Alain Ducasse at Morpheus
Five Foot Road
Channelling the fine-dining experience of Chengdu’s high society in the 1940s, Five Foot Road’s menu takes patrons on a multi-sensory journey into the heart of Chengdu cuisine; even the core ingredients used, such as fresh spices, are directly imported from Sichuan and Yunnan. The Michelin one-star is helmed by a born and bred Chengdu resident, chef Yang Dengquan, whose creations are infused with his roots and deep personal ties to the cuisine. The aim is to showcase a different side of Sichuanese cooking—one that is about more than just spice. This concept brings to the table classic delicacies like stewed minced chicken bouillon with bird’s nest and marinated fresh abalone.
Five Foot Road
Feng Wei Ju
For eight years running, Feng Wei Ju—whose name means the house of authentic flavours—has been a Michelin two-starred tribute to Hunanese and Sichuan traditions. Offering panoramic city views from the StarWorld Hotel, and set in auspicious red and gold décor, the open kitchen promises diners not just a feast, but also a show, as executive chef Chan Chek Keong and colleagues prepare the restaurant’s signature dishes. The menu is for lovers of Sichuan spice: turn on the heat with crispy chicken fillets, boiled mandarin fish fillets in chilli oil, or steamed carp head with pickled chilli or assorted chillies.
Feng Wei Ju
Wing Lei
Under the gaze of a giant crystal dragon in an opulent jade dining room, patrons can sample Cantonese classics at the Michelin two-star Wing Lei at Wynn Macau. Award-winning chef Chan Tak Kwong presents beautifully plated delights such as crispy three-yellow chicken smoked with Iron Buddha tea leaves, blue lobster in an egg white and Shaoxing wine sauce, and lychee wood-roasted goose dressed with black truffles.
Wing Lei
Robuchon au Dôme
Set in the glittering dome of the Grand Lisboa Hotel with its sweeping views of the city, Robuchon au Dôme is a delight both for the eyes and the taste buds. Boasting an astounding wine list of over 17,800 labels and a Michelin three-star ranking for 15 years straight, Joël Robuchon’s gastronomic palace in Macao offers a one-of-a-kind immersion into French cuisine, with an authenticity experienced thousands of miles away from its origins.
Robuchon au Dôme
“
”
In recognition of its centuries-old culinary history, Macao was designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2018, a title the city has continued to prove justified and to live up to, as restaurants and eateries all over town put their own spin on gastronomy, combining tradition and modernity, concocting a fusion palette. And when it comes to haute cuisine, Macao is certainly not to be overlooked. With an extensive buffet of fine gastronomy promising to offer visitors an insider’s guide to the city’s culture and heritage via their palate, Macao is putting itself on every epicurean’s map. Slowly but surely, the city is cementing its status as a must-visit destination for serious gourmets with a passion for fine cuisine.