My Current Top Ten Favorite Things to do in Macau

Many folks have told me that the easiest weekend getaway from Hong Kong—just an hour away by ferry—is becoming tiresome and repetitive. Been to one Hed Kandi pool party at the Venetian, been to them all, I guess. Have you elbowed your way through the mob of tourists in Senado Square once and decided never to return? Please reconsider. Without further ado, here are my current top 10 favorite things to do in our sister SAR.

1. Have a nightcap at the Galaxy’s new nightclub China Rouge ((+853) 2888 0888). This could be my new Lion’s Bar. It’s got crazy cool (and somewhat risqué) pseudo-vintage-Chinese décor, and lots of space to imbibe—whether you want to lounge or you want to dance. The cocktails are reasonable; the cover band is fantastic; the crowd is nouveau riche meets Chinese hipster.
2. Eat at Espaco Lisboa ((+853) 2888-2226). A longtime favorite among my friends, this Macanese eatery has the most delectable honeyed goat cheese, African chicken, fish stew, gratinated potatoes, serradura…erm, where was I?
3. Check out the brand-new Sands Cotai Central. Okay, the giant gold Buddha with which all the mainland tourists pose for a photo is a little tacky, and the décor inside the mall is very Indiana Jones, with fake rocks and waterfalls that span floors, but hey, you can say you’ve seen Asia’s largest Conrad hotel and the world’s biggest Sheraton! Plus, all the hotels are running really good deals right now.
4. Chow down on some Portuguese fare at Guincho a Galera. This Michelin-starred restaurant in Portugal opened its first outpost outside of that country in Macau late last year. I found each dish had balanced flavors and beautiful presentation—and the service is impeccable.
5. Indulge at the Spa at the Mandarin Oriental Macau (www.mandarinoriental.com/macau/spa). I was lucky enough to try out one of their 110-minute signature treatments, called Spices of Portugal, during which I deeply inhaled scented goodness, was exfoliated up and done and then massaged with hot stones.
6. Stay at the Pousada de Coloane ($780 and up per night, www.hotelpcoloane.com.mo). A little gem of an inn along the black sand beach in Macau’s southernmost district, this hotel is all dark-wood furniture and blue-and-white tiled walls. A gorgeous tiled balcony overlooking the water and stellar Portuguese food complete the experience.
7. Shop for gold jewelry, olive oil and sweet-smelling soaps imported direct from Portugal at The Portuguese Corner Shop (8 Calcada da Igreja de Sao Lazaro, (+853) 2856-2709) while browsing the nearby shops bearing local fashion along Rua de S. Roque (especially number 47) in the area around the St. Lazarus Church.
8. Take a break at The Taipa Houses Museum ($5, housesmuseum.iacm.gov.mo). It’s walking distance from City of Dreams, Venetian or Galaxy but feels worlds away. A large pond with floating lily pads and a peaceful park where local musicians play set the scene for the museum itself, which is a row of houses with vintage furniture inside to replicate the way the old-timey Macanese lived.
9. Have a drink with a view at Sky 21. This new bar that opened up less than a year ago has two things going for it. First, it’s not in a casino (woot!); and second, it offers a view of that completely OTT goliath, the Grand Lisboa. You know you love to hate its glorious tackiness.
10. Eat Burmese food. In the northern part of peninsular Macau, in an area called the Three Lamps district, there’s a large community of Burmese Chinese cooking up what I hear is some authentically delicious cuisine in the streets that branch off (like the spokes of a wheel) from the Rotunda de Carlos da Maia. Nga Heong (ngaheong.silver.yp.com.hk) is one of the most well-known. On my next trip, I want to finally hunt them down. See you there?