The St Regis Macao; White Swan Hotel Guangzhou; Four Seasons Shanghai; La Quinta Inn & Suites San Francisco Airport West

BACKGROUND

The St Regis Macao, Cotai Central opened in December 2015.

WHERE IS IT?

In the heart of the Cotai district on the main drag, facing the Venetian hotel. Macau International Airport and the Taipa Ferry Terminal are both between five and ten minutes’ drive away. Macau’s city centre is 15-20 minutes away by road.

WHAT’S IT LIKE?

My experience started off with a pick-up from the Taipa Ferry Terminal by one of the hotel’s butlers and a driver. Within minutes I was in the St Regis lobby. With its low-key elegance, refinement and sophistication, this hotel contrasts quite starkly with some of the more flamboyant hotels on the Cotai Strip.

ROOMS

I was staying in a Deluxe King room on the 32nd floor. It was nicely decorated. Welcoming me was a platter of fruits and a note. There was a large, widescreen TV mounted on the wall. In the corner of the room, by the window, was a lounge area with two comfortable chairs and an ottoman. Opposite this sofa area, there was a table with two different styles of chair.

On each side of the bed there was an easily adjustable reading light, and on one bedside table was a Bose bluetooth speaker. There was also a Philips alarm clock, into which you could plug your phone. A stationery box containing a pen, pencil, highlighter, sticky notes, an eraser and paperclips was provided.

There was a well-stocked minibar of chargeable items, while the tea- and coffee-making facilities included four types of TWG tea and a Nespresso machine. I was impressed by the size of the in-room safe, which could fit my 15.4-inch MacBook Pro fairly comfortably.

The bathroom was spacious and had two sinks, whilst the shower was spacious and had good water pressure from the main shower head. Shower amenities were by Laboratoire Remede. The bathtub was large and spacious. Outside the bathroom was the wardrobe, which provided ample space to hang my clothes.

FOOD AND DRINK

In the evening before dinner, I went for a Bloody Mary at the St Regis Bar, though it won’t be around much longer. The bar will move to a new location on Level 2 in “early 2020”, the hotel spokesperson told me. The exact time frame will be “dependent on required licensing,” he said.

For dinner on the first night of my stay, I dined at the in-house restaurant The Manor, located on the first floor. I tried the special six-course “Stories of the Sea – The Third Chapter” menu, which was mostly seafood based. This menu is priced at MOP788 (US$98) per person without alcohol, and MOP1,188 (US$147) with a cocktail and wine pairing – which I had. It was delicious.

The breakfast buffet, also served in The Manor, had a great selection of hot and cold foods, including an impressive cheese table, as well as cold cuts. On my second morning I decided to try the in-room dining for breakfast. My food arrived around 15 minutes after I ordered (exactly how long the butler told me it would be) and a chirpy staff member wheeled it in on a room service table, placing it facing the window so I could enjoy the morning sunlight and the view. I’d chosen the Continental breakfast, which was perfectly fine, and dining in-room is certainly a luxury, but you’ll definitely have a wider selection if you go down to the buffet.

LEISURE

On the eighth floor, the hotel has two seasonal outdoor pools and two oversized whirlpools, as well as a lounging deck and pool bar. The gym, called the St Regis Athletic Club, is also on the eighth floor and is spacious and well lit with natural light from large windows. I also tried the hotel’s Iridium Spa, located on the 38th floor. I had a 30-minute massage treatment, focusing on my head, neck and back.

VERDICT

Macau is known more for flamboyant casino hotels aimed primarily at the mainland Chinese gaming and family tourism markets than suave and sophisticated business hotels. For those seeking a quiet retreat right in the heart of the Cotai Strip, I don’t think you can go wrong with this hotel. The service is highly personalised, the room has all the amenities and comfort you could wish for, and the in-house dining and leisure facilities are also top-notch. Michael Allen

This hotel contrasts quite starkly with some of the Cotai Strip’s more flamboyant hotels