Retail Revolution
Macau’s high-end shopping scene is on the rise. Rick Gangwani flashes his gold card.
With so many malls here at home, who would ever think about shopping in Macau? Well, with an influx of wealthy tourists, shopping havens offering unique experiences are cropping up all over. Here’s the new generation of Macanese mega malls where you can spend your hard-won riches.
The Grand Canal Shoppes
The gargantuan shopping complex at The Venetian Hotel is now in its final stage of development. At over 350 outlets, it’s the largest shopping mall in Macau, spanning a total of 968,000 square feet. It’s a lot like Harbour City, except for that whole faux Venice thing. It also features several specialty stores that aren’t exactly widely available on our side, such as tanzanite gem dealer Shimansky. The South African jeweler specializes in rare stones, many of which can only be found along a five-kilometer stretch at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. Tacky touristy fun abounds with gondola rides and an hourly “Streetmosphere” (their term) performance featuring classically trained vocalists, musicians, and, yes, a stilt walker, all dressed in elaborate Venetian costumes.
Open daily, Mon-Thu 10am-11pm; Fri-Sun, 10am-midnight. The Venetian Macao, The Cotai Strip, Taipa, 2882-8888.
The Shoppes at Four Seasons
The Shoppes, Macau’s newest luxury shopping mall, is located right at the heart of the Cotai Strip and is connected to both The Venetian and The Four Seasons Hotel.
The swanky facility spans a whopping 211,000 square feet and is home to as many as 180 high-end retail brands. Not only were 60 of these retailers previously unheard of in Macau, many of them, such as Chloe and Celine, are also launching a wide range of limited-edition products unavailable elsewhere in the region. And boy are they aiming for the high-roller: personal services offered include a unique image consultant (USD$257 per hour) and a personal limousine service (USD$58 for a single trip or USD$58 per hour with minimum of two hours). There’s even the option of hiring your very own private shopper. Needless to say, at those prices you’ll be finding us at good old Yaohan by the ferry pier instead.
Open daily, Mon-Sun 10am-11pm. Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip, Taipa. 8117-7800.
Wynn Esplanade
Since opening its doors in late 2006, The Wynn Esplanade at the Wynn Hotel has seen well-heeled shoppers rushing to spend money in stores like Rolex, Hermès and Louis Vuitton. The recent expansion features 11 new shops, including one of the first Ferrari boutiques in the region, complete with a real-life formula 1 car inside. No, you can’t take it for a test drive, but for USD$3858, you can purchase your very own replica steering wheel, the ultimate of frivolties. If that’s not enough opulence for you, be sure to catch the Wynn’s sublime yet ridiculous “Tree of Prosperity,” a giant tree covered in gold leaf that ascends from the floor every half hour in an impressive display of hydraulics and lighting. If you’re looking to grab a quick drink, stop by Cinnebar. Situated just a stone’s throw from the shopping area, the swanky lounge boasts an extensive range of signature cocktails as well as a large selection of interesting snacks from Japanese restaurant Okada next door.
Open daily, 10am-midnight. Wynn Macau, Rua Cidade de Sintra, Nape, 8986-9966.