WORLD-CLASS DINING
For a city of its size, Macau punches well above its weight when it comes to Michelin stars. In 2019, the culinary guide awarded accolades to 19 restaurants, including three stars for Cantonese eatery Jade Dragon, putting it in good company alongside Robuchon au Dôme and The Eight. This year also saw Alain Ducasse at Morpheus elevated to two Michelin stars, a category it now shares with four other Macau restaurants. Three of our favorites are highlighted below.
THE EIGHT
Macau’s first Chinese restaurant to be awarded three Michelin stars, The Eight is the sparkling culinary jewel in the Grand Lisboa’s crown. While many come here for the impeccable dim sum—there are 40 dishes to choose from—many more linger over banquets, highlighting chef Joseph Tse’s kitchen prowess through delicacies like roasted goose with wild mushrooms, and sautéed garoupa in XO sauce. The dining room is a lesson in luxury, with silk wallpaper, a crystal ball as the centerpiece, and the recurring motif of the figure 8, symbolic of wealth and luck ( grandlisboahotels.com).
ALAIN DUCASSE AT MORPHEUS
French chef Alain Ducasse has dozens of restaurants around the world, each more applauded than the next. But his newest outlet, within the Morpheus hotel at the City of Dreams, may be his most memorable yet. The two-starred dining room is a shimmering dreamscape in design, lit by dramatic crystal chandeliers reflected in pools of water. The menu is French with Asian overtones: think, gamberi prawns with caviar and rockfish gelee, and steamed foie gras with figs and brioche. It’s complemented by one of the most extensive wine cellars you’ll find in Macau ( cityofdreamsmacau.com).
THE GOLDEN PEACOCK
Named for India’s national bird, this lavish one-star venue at The Venetian Macao is sumptuously accented with copper leaf and sadeli mosaics. But the main draw will always be the food, which encompasses regional delicacies from across India: chicken tikka; Hyderabadi biryani, Punjabstyle chole (chickpea curry); Kashmiri
rogan josh made with Australian lamb shank. Whatever you choose, it’s all delicious ( venetianmacao.com).