Once a quaint port city, Macau’s cultural landscape is designed by its rich Portuguese heritage and Chinese culture. Today, the booming casino industry has shaped Macau’s skyline and transformed the city into China’s Las Vegas attracting thousands of high-spending tourists each year. Dining venues in Macau are diverse ranging from rustic Macanese eateries to Michelin-star restaurants that give a contemporary twist to local dishes or serve diverse international cuisine.
One of the most visited cities in China, many of Macau’s star-class restaurants are housed in the city’s luxurious casino resorts. Like in Galaxy Macau Hotel Resort, Macau’s casino resorts boast a wide selection of restaurants that serve Chinese Food alongside other Asian and international cuisines. A reputed international city, Macau’s restaurant catalogue features restaurants that serve the intricate flavours of Cantonese and Thai dishes, succulent Japanese seafood and delicious Italian fare alongside coffee shops and bars.
However a culinary tour of Macau will not be complete without a visit to the city’s Portuguese and Macanese restaurants. A former Portuguese colony, Macau is home to many restaurants that serve Portuguese favourites including deep-fried salted cod in Restaurante Albergue 1601, octopus salad and succulent duck rice served with the ideal wine accompaniment at O Santos and an array of delicious seafood dishes at Miramar restaurant. Visit Café Ou Mun for a traditional Portuguese breakfast and a mug of galao, the Portuguese version of espresso before sitting down to a traditional Macanese lunch at Riquexo, a local cafe founded by a former chef fondly referred to as the Godmother of Macanese cuisine. Macanese cuisine is a blend of the city’s colonial culinary traditions and Chinese influence and many eateries can be found serving delightful Macanese dishes alongside popular Dim Sum. A trip to Macau would not be complete without tasting the famous Portuguese egg tart at the landmark Lord Stow’s Bakery. Lord Stow’s egg tart with its sweet shell and creamy egg-based custard filling is a local favourite and cannot be emulated even by Lord Stow’s fiercest rival Magaret’s Cafe e Nata.
Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.