Macau consists of a main peninsula ans two small islands and is located just off the southeast coast of China. It’s a booming tourist destination mostly because of its development as a gambling Mecca to rival Las Vegas but this former Portuguese colony offers much more than bright lights in the thrill of the dice.
Be sure to take in the colorful alleyways, squares, markets, and colonial history because here, Chinese culture blends with Western European influences to create a one of a kind and quite lovely hybrid. No doubt Las Vegas is alive right here in Macau and perhaps knowing more enthusiastically than at The Venetian, a three thousand room Renaissance theme to a hotel resort acting as anchor point for mammoth casino and series of interconnected hotels. Several suite options are available all with requisite marble, dark cord and European style drapes and some are quite palatial but the main attraction is of course downstairs.
Above the casino, visitors are transported to Venice itself. Well, almost with three indoor canals, chandeliers, plenty of entertainment and a huge range of luxury shopping opportunities. Of course, you are coming here for the Disney east landscape so marvel in the excess. Shop, be entertained, and as all good visitors to Macau must do head back to the tables and try your luck.
On the small island of Taipa, you’ll pass through colorful alleyways that equate neighborhoods and finally come to Café Litoral, a cozy offshoot of the famous family run Restaurante Litoral. Here within whitewashed walls and under duct timbered beams, you’ll enjoy a tasty lunch or a dinner based on Macanese recipes, pasta from generations of the Ferreira Family.
Filipe Ferreira: Macanese food, it’s only here in Macau and it’s really traditional because Macanese mix with Portuguese and Chinese. My mother is really a good cook and maybe with the help of the recipes of my great grandmother. Generation to generation and now it’s my turn.
The classic atmosphere together with this original east-west fusion cuisine makes Café Litoral well worth to visit. For relaxation and a breath of fresh air spend the afternoon in Coloane, the second island. Stop at the beach for a while kick back or play in the waves. Afterwards, check out the Lord Town Temple then drop by laid back Coloane Village. Stroll through the café line square, visit the small Portuguese church and soak in a bit of history and whatever you do, do not miss Lord Stow’s Bakery.
Eileen Stow: My brother found this bakery with the idea of just delivering out to supermarkets.
In 1989, Andrew Stow opened the bakery to feel the expert need for familiar baked goods. He didn’t know he was about to become famous.
Eileen Stow: Realizing he had poach this customers he feels, “I should give them the favorite Pasteis de Nata that’s been in Portugal since the 1300’s but my brother didn’t have the recipe and being obnoxious, he wasn’t going to lost and get in one else for it so he decided to create his own recipe. He used a lot of his knowledge about our home-made custards in Britain and made a fusion egg tart.
His version of the traditional Portuguese egg tart but with the flaky across then more creamy filling has become a Macanese sensation.
Let’s do think we’re going too cultural on you. Let’s head back to the maintenance left for a night on its town. At the MGM Hotel and Casino, a number of possibilities are waiting. Among them is Rossio, sophisticated yet casual and designed by the acclaimed Tokyo designed firms seafood potato, light airy and featuring high ceilings and an open kitchen, the modern aesthetic incorporates not for materials that just wood, stone, and even water.
Gary Doucet: If you’ve been in the Palazzo at Las Vegas, there’s a restaurant consenting that you walk in and it really get that same earth and stone feeling. It’s very much a warm menu. It’s comfort food.
Rossio also known for its wonderful Sunday branch office clean contemporary international cuisine including Asian, Mediterranean, American and Portuguese influenced dishes as well.
In Macau, late night opportunity is abundant. Starting with gambling and the cosmic-gambling but some might want to get out of the casino sea and that’s their Cubic luxury members only club comes in. Upstairs, settle into the VIP lounges, downstairs it’s decidedly more energetic with high ceiling, lasers, DJs, and if you’re luck eve dancing girls. The owners mean to attract celebrities and others who insist on the latest and contemporary sounds and design more intimate than America Club, Cubic offers a more sophisticated choice for privacy or on batch revelry.
Macau’s glamour industry is growing at great speed and while luxury casinos, restaurants, clubs and boutiques are there for the taking, you’ll discover that simple joys are still to be had. Browse the local markets and shops, explore the islands and sample the unique blend of Asian and European culture. It all makes this world heritage site a delightful surprise.
Transcription by:
Scribe4you Transcription Services