MacauSoul delivers the goods: good food, good wine and good music in the heart of one of the city's most historic neighbourhoods, near St Paul's ruins.
The months-old wine lounge debuted earlier this year, but it was placed firmly on Macau's nightlife map this month with the appearance for 10 days of low country blues band Shrimp City Slim and vocalist Wanda Johnson, who played to overflow crowds and, according to MacauSoul's owners, promise to be the first of many such headliners to take the downstairs stage.
Old Macau hands were reminded of the Jazz Club, a local institution that has been sorely missed since it closed a few years ago.
Low country blues isn't as exotic or primitive as the name suggests, if Shrimp City Slim's selections are anything to go by. Their music is bluesy, jazzy and authentic to the United States south, but at the same time accessible and easy on the ears.
Johnson held the opening night audience in the palm of her hand with her often touching original songs along with some upbeat old favourites, such as Wine spo-de-o-de. Carolina-based keyboardist, singer and songwriter Gary Erwin and the band were on their first trip to Asia, but Erwin says they're looking forward to future bookings, and no doubt quite a few new fans in Macau will welcome them back when they return.
British expatriates Jacky and David Higgins have created a sense of the old Macau in a truly local venue, with high quality food and drinks that are reasonably priced in an atmosphere that is sophisticated and comfortable.