Once a sleepy Portuguese seaport, Macau has established itself as an entertainment mecca often referred to as the ‘Las Vegas of the East’. Only 60 kilometres west of Hong Kong, the metropolis is a melting pot of European culture and Oriental charm, colourful neighbourhoods leading into exclusive shopping malls and mega-resorts. Gambling revenues in Macau have surpassed those in Las Vegas, attracting visitors alongside those there for the shopping, to try out the top-class spas and eat at the many fine dining restaurants too.
The BusinessClass.com guide to the best luxury hotels in Macau:
Wynn Palace - 9/10
Wynn Palace brings fantastical flair to Cotai Strip. Meticulously planned and very indulgent, the design plays on petals of all shapes and sizes, something you’ll see in the wallpaper and carpets, as well as floral displays created with tens of thousands of living flowers. With 1,706 rooms, Wynn Palace doesn’t sacrifice on quality. Every room has an oversized television and bedside consoles that control lights and curtains while charging your devices, custom toiletries, Bang & Olufsen speakers, Italian marble bathrooms and floor-to-ceiling windows. There are five garden villas – by invitation only. Wynn Palace has 14 cafés and restaurants, all imaginatively representing other parts of the world. Try upmarket Cantonese at Wing Lei and decadent pastries at Sweets. The steak and seafood at SW are exceptional, while Michelin-starred Yuki Onishi is renowned for its ramen menu. Café Fontana’s tiered seating adds to the breakfast experience. The hotel doubles as an art gallery with 18th-century tapestries and Pop Art sculptures displayed throughout.
Don’t miss Performance Lake, which springs to life every 20 to 30 minutes. Best viewed at night, the choreographed light and water show feature 5,505 multi-coloured beams that dance dramatically into the sky. Wynn Palace has added SkyCab gondolas that circle the lake to max the experience. The Spa at Wynn Palace offers customised massages and treatments. There’s a fitness centre and expansive outdoor pool with an adjacent café, as well as over 50 designer stores at the Retail Esplanade. The casino has a large gaming floor with over a thousand gaming machines and live tables, making for an excellent place to try your luck.
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City of Dreams – Morpheus - 9/10
Morpheus is a landmark hotel in the City of Dreams. Designed by the late architect Dame Zaha Hadid, it is the world’s first high-rise building supported by a free-form steel exoskeleton. The focal point of the masterpiece is the three voids that pass through the centre of the hotel, shaping it into two distinct towers connected by a sky bridge. The interiors are no less striking, nor are the high-speed panoramic lifts. Ultra-luxurious, the 772 futurist guest rooms and suites are by Remedios Studio of Hong Kong, beautifully styled and equipped with the latest technology. The nine villas enjoy 24/7 butler service, six of them connect to private salons, and three have private interior pools.
All of the rooms have city views. Indulge in French cuisine by two-starred Michelin chef Alain Ducasse. Feast your eyes on panoramic views of Cotai while dining at the Chinese restaurant Yí on the impressive 21st-floor Sky Bridge, and visit Art on 23 to see the hotel’s exclusive modern art collection. There’s a spa to pamper body and soul, or commit to a high-tech workout in the state-of-the-art Fitness Club. A swim under the stars in the rooftop sky pool is a must. The property includes a collection of retail stores, private lounges and gaming salons. Named after the Greek God of Dreams, Morpheus strives to redefine hospitality for the most discerning guests.
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Mandarin Oriental, Macau - 9/10
Mandarin Oriental, Macau occupies a prime position in the heart of the prestigious Nape waterfront. With its sophisticated flair, the hotel is ideal for anyone seeking a non-gaming retreat. The 213 chic rooms are elegantly designed and decorated and offer views of the Nam Van Lake, Macau Tower and Taipa Island. Each room has a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom with a walk-in shower, and all the latest touch point technology and successfully combines contemporary design with oriental calm. Vida Rica Restaurant serves a variety of Chinese and Western dishes. Vida Rica Bar has three specialised concepts – a cocktail bar, champagne and tapas bar, as well as a coffee bar.
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Macau is an escapist healing sanctuary with soothing views that follows either Traditional Chinese Medicine or signature holistic therapy in the eight treatments rooms, Thai Shiatsu Room and VIP Suite. There’s a dedicated nail spa and relaxation lounge, fitness centre and sauna. Directly connected to One Central Macau and part of the prestigious mixed-use complex, the hotel is within walking distance of a wide range of high-end stores. A highlight is the 25-metre heated outdoor pool overlooking the city and the South China Sea. Service throughout is attentive and sincere.
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Four Seasons Hotel Macao - 9/10
Four Seasons Hotel Macao offers traditional hospitality combined with a high standard of service on the fast-paced Cotai Strip, giving guests easy access to upscale shopping, dining and entertainment. The spacious rooms have tasteful details, heritage touches, muted yellows and grand golds. All come with a 42-inch flat-screen TV and minibar, most have city views and the full bathrooms are fitted with baths, separate walk-in rain showers and a flat-screen TV. The adjacent Grand Suites complex is a first for the luxury hotel brand. The 40-story tower has 289 residence-style suites designed to create a home-away-from-home feel.
The Zi Yat Heen Restaurant offers delicious Cantonese cuisine. Other dining options include Southeast Asian dishes and international buffet spreads at Belcanção, as well as burgers and comfort food at Splash Cafe. Afternoon tea is best at Windows Restaurant. The serene Four Seasons Spa gives a choice of 14 private spa suites and a wide range of soothing treatments and signature massages, in addition to the sauna, experience shower, ice fountain and vitality pool. In true resort style, the Hotel has five outdoor pools – two of which are designed for children while one is a lagoon pool. Those looking to swing their clubs will appreciate the close proximity to the 18-hole Caesars Golf Macau.
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Wynn Macau - 9/10
Wynn Macau’s high-ceilinged lobby, signature Wynn carpet, elaborate red chandelier and wall of windows opening onto a foliage-fringed pool, set the stage. The 600 luxury rooms and suites further define the experience. Decorated in a variety of colours, all are bold and warm with duvet-topped beds, generous sofas and cutting-edge technology, such as LCD TVs and remote-controlled curtain and light panels. The floor-to-ceiling windows guarantee prime views of Nam Van Lake. There are six gourmet restaurants in the hotel. For a superb Cantonese dinner head to Wing Lei, a restaurant decorated in tones inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers painting, and with a show-stopper flying dragon made of 90,000 Swarovski crystals on the wall. The seasonal specialities include everything from double-boiled fish maw to black truffle pudding. Mizumi is an ode to Japanese food and uses fresh ingredients flown in from Japan. It has an impressive sake offering. Café Esplanada is where breakfast is served, and at the Italian restaurant, Ristorante il Teatro, you’ll find fresh homemade pasta.
Allow the spa staff to spoil you, or shop for something chic at one of the luxury shops on the premises. Wynn Macau’s pool area has lush gardens and palm trees and is heated year-round. Attendants deliver sunscreen on silver trays and heated towels are available if there’s a chill in the air. Crowds gather for Wynn Macau’s nightly light and water symphony, which runs every fifteen minutes. Whether or not you’re there to try your fortune, a stroll through the casino’s maze of baccarat tables and slot machines is in itself a thrill.
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The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel - 9/10
The Venetian Macao shines bright on Macau’s casino boulevard. Built to pay homage to the northern Italian city, the resort has become an iconic symbol of the city. Designed to impress and be noise-free, choose from five different suite categories that range in size from 70 to 170 square metres. Refurbished in 2018, there is Italian-influenced décor, flat-screen TVs, spacious lounge areas and en suite bathrooms with standalone baths. The amenities include slippers, a bathrobe, a hairdryer and a minibar. Families may like the Famiglia, which features a bunk bed, kiddie's play area and multi-coloured Disney-like murals. The thirty dining options include plush Chinese, Indian, Portuguese, Italian and Japanese restaurants, there’s a steakhouse, Irish pub and a food court.
There's also a shopping mall. Qube is the kids' club that’s spread over 800 square metres and includes rooms for private parties. Choose from four outdoor pools or the numerous entertainment options such as mini-golf. The two concert venues regularly stage sell-out international acts, such as Katy Perry, Bon Jovi, and Celine Dion. There are gondoliers punting their way along the central canal and the 24/7 casino has more than 600 tables and 1,000 slot machines.
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Banyan Tree Macau - 9/10
Banyan Tree Macau is the first high-rise hotel in the city to have private relaxation pools in each of its spacious suites, and the only luxury hotel with full-sized resort villas, each with private outdoor pools and indoor jet pools. The stylish 245 suites offer views of Cotai or the neighbouring Hengqin island of Zhuhai, while the ten lavish villas span at least 450 sqm and are perfect for a romantic or family getaway. The Presidential Suite is expansive with two bedrooms, a dining courtyard and a private entertainment room. Banyan Tree Macau’s signature restaurant is Saffron, located on the highest Level 31, Saffron serves authentic flavours of Thailand. Relax at the outdoor pool surrounded by eight private cabanas where you can unwind for a drink or enjoy an al fresco dinner. There’s all-day dining, beautifully presented high tea and coffee on offer in the Banyan Lounge.
The award-winning Banyan Tree Spa has more than 20 treatments, a number of which have been specially developed by the Banyan Tree Spa Academy to care for your needs. All guests of Banyan Tree Macau get exclusive access to Grand Resort Deck, as it's one of the only hotels on the resort. Home to the world’s longest Skytop Aquatic Adventure River Ride and Skytop Wave Pool, sky-high waterfalls, a cinema and countless restaurants and shops, from luxury flagship stores and designer boutiques.
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MGM Cotai - 9/10
MGM Cotai’s striking façade can be compared to a jewellery box. Made of nine glittering blocks, the high-rise is just steps from the Cotai Strip. Sister hotel to MGM Macau, the opulent lobby leads to the aptly named Spectacle, a four-storey multi-sensory realm lined with restaurants, stores, vertical gardens, and 25 wall-mounted LED screens that showcase China’s cities and natural beauty, sometimes turning the cameras to the guests gathered below. The resort has more than 1,400 rooms and suites including Emerald Tower, Emerald Villa, and Skylofts. The Villas in The Mansion are by invitation only. In the striking rooms, the floors are marble and wood rather than carpet, softened by pastel-hued touches. The beautiful bathrooms have separate showers and baths, with the bath angled towards the view. Supplied smartphones and television provide info and entertainment.
There’s a glamorous ballroom, gym, spa and outdoor pool, as well as a predominantly Asian art collection that includes Qing dynasty carpets, collages and abstract paintings. A playful ceramic line-up of the main animal characters from the classic Chinese folk story Journey to the West is a popular attraction. There are eight restaurants and bars. Janice Wong, named the world's top pastry chef on multiple occasions, runs a confectionery shop here. Two Michelin starred television star Graham Elliot brings his influence. Mitsuharu Tsumura is behind the Peruvian-Japanese Aji, and Mauro Colagreco serves perfectly aged beef at Grill 58. There are four Chinese restaurants, a Starbucks Reserve, and a bar named Patuá. Other amenities include the luxe Tria spa, outdoor pool, a hot tub and a gym, as well as a theatre and wonderful indoor garden.
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Altira Macau - 9/10
Altira Macau is a deservedly multiple awarding-winning hotel in the heart of Taipa. Built as an addition to the casino that shares the same high-rise building, it’s an indulgent, no expenses spared, cutting-edge triumph. Every detail has been carefully curated to ensure an elegant stay with lavish furnishings. This is felt in the 216 rooms, 24 deluxe suites and four villas. Posh and airy, the rooms feature flat-screen TVs, minibars and sea views. Even entry-level accommodation features a lounge area and walk-in wardrobe, while the bathroom’s centrepiece is an oval stone bath and Japanese-style shower. Villas come with kitchenettes, steam rooms and butler service. A tea/coffee maker and a minibar are also included. There are three formal dining options – Japanese, Mediterranean and Cantonese – as well as Yi Pavilion, a private dining area at the top of the hotel. Breakfast is served at Monsoon, which is open round the clock. For a panoramic drink, the top-floor Lounge 38 lies with its indoor and outdoor seating and live music is a hit. A sophisticated bar offers live entertainment and a terrace.
Altira Spa is dedicated to result-oriented wellness treatments aimed to invigorate and replenish. Facilities include vitality pools, crystal steam rooms, saunas, an ice fountain, Rasul and experience showers. The showpiece indoor infinity pool resembles a floating spacecraft – the water laps against the window, there’s music when you submerge, and the views are inspirational.
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St Regis Macao - 9/10
The St. Regis Macao in the heart of the entertainment strip has over 850 exclusive shops and an array of premier dining options within easy reach. Embracing the city’s heritage and with understated glamour, the hotel takes pride in service and style. In the grand foyer, there’s a gleaming bronze staircase and an amber and gold glass chandelier hanging overhead. Traditional Chinese elements blend with modern finishes in the 400 guest rooms and suites, of the biggest in Macau they have sweeping views of the Cotai Strip. There are smart room controls and extra plush beds, Portugal-inspired blue and yellow carpets, and marble bathrooms with signature Remède amenities. Also butler service throughout.
The Manor ticks all the boxes for first-rate eating. Designed to feel like a palatial home, each of the five dining rooms has a different theme — from the beautiful breakfast spread to afternoon tea and elegant dinners. The menus include Miyazaki wagyu from Japan, highly coveted Culatello di Zibello from Italy and black Angus beef from Australia. The wood-filled St. Regis Bar is renowned about town. You can unwind at the outdoor swimming pool or in one of its private cabanas, keep to your work-outs regime at the fitness centre or take to the Iridium Spa. The 1,300 square meters of meeting space including the Astor Ballroom, are ideal for special occasions. Don’t leave without having a St Regis signature Bloody Mary and creamy Portuguese egg tart – their speciality!
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