GRAND LISBOA PALACE MACAU
Looking for a new place to stay in Macau? SJM — a homegrown hospitality and tourism operator that put the city on the map as a leisure destination — has expanded beyond its landmark downtown hotels to the glittering Cotai Strip. Known as Grand Lisboa Palace, the recently opened flagship property encompasses a trio of hotel towers, each with a distinct personality. All three embrace a European-style podium garden named Jardim Secreto, whose manicured lawns and mini-hedge mazes radiate out from a Belle Époque–inspired central dome. The hotel towers are suitably palatial, reaching for the sky in a confection of mansard roofs, cupolas, and semicircular pediments like a high-rise French château. Within its walls, a self-contained universe for the jet-setting luxury traveler is ripe for discovery.
THE CENTERPIECE OF SJM’S latest integrated resort impresses from the moment of arrival. With their soaring ceilings and luminous chandeliers, Grand Lisboa Palace’s expansive marbleclad twin lobbies exude a sense of grandeur. Commissioned works by locally based artists add to the visual interest: behind a series of check-in desks, Ung Vai Meng’s Auspicious Stars Shining Over Macao depicts the facade of St. Paul’s in metal linework against a cobblestone backdrop. A longtime local resident, Taiwanese painter Cai Guo Jie’s abstract watercolor landscapes from Macau and Lisbon have been recast as woven tapestries, while Macau Glory is a two-panel installation courtesy of architect Carlos Marreiros, who used azulejo porcelain tiles in deep blue and vibrant red to summarize the city’s 500-year history with a dash of humor. Just like these unique artworks, the tasteful interiors celebrate the East-meets-west character of Macau. In the 1,350 guest rooms and suites, which start at a generous 60 square meters, blue-andwhite patterned cushions on the plush beds and Portuguese tiles are juxtaposed with Chinese elements: intricate gourd-shaped handles on the cabinets, wall lamps in interlocking geometric frames. Not only do the guest quarters look beautiful; they are functional, too. The dressing area with ample storage space leads into a spacious bathroom featuring double vanities and a tub, as well as a large walk-in shower with bath products by Appelles. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the bedrooms look out to the Jardim Secreto or the ever-evolving cityscape beyond. Downstairs, guests can sate their hunger at The Grand Buffet, a bustling venue that dishes up an irresistible smorgasbord of global flavors. The space has no less than a dozen live cooking stations, three of which are dedicated to seafood and roast meats. Alternatively, one might settle into the Lobby Lounge’s cozy armchairs for freshly baked pastries, salads and sandwiches, or heartier options such as Hainanese chicken rice. Single-origin coffees and floral tea cocktails headline the drinks list. Also noteworthy is Chalou, one of the resort’s signature restaurants, where interior designer Alan Chan has put a playful spin on nostalgic teahouse-inspired decor: think ceiling domes lined with stacks of clay tea cups, crystal chopstick chandeliers, and lanterns emitting soft light through the pages of old Hong Kong cartoons. Chalou specializes in traditional Guangzhou-style dim sum—must-try dishes include abalone-and-spinach siu mai, parcels of glutinous rice with minced chicken steamed in lotus leaf, and deliciously flaky char siu puffs. Be sure to order black sesame rolls, an increasingly rare dessert that’s best washed down with fragrant rose-and-lychee milk tea. Leisure seekers will not be disappointed by the range of recreational facilities at the third-floor Health Club, where guests can hop between the indoor and outdoor pools and make use of the high-tech fitness training equipment at GLP Gym. The Spa at Grand Lisboa Palace has gender-segregated relaxation lounges, wood-clad saunas, steam rooms, and hydrotherapy pools with massage jets. Here, expert therapists deliver musclemelting massages in 12 tranquil treatment rooms; the 90-minute Biologique Recherche facials are a real treat for frequent travelers looking to freshen up their skin while on the road. And the pampering doesn’t stop there. Within the wellness center lies a branch of PEDI:MANI:CURE Studio by Bastien Gonzalez for foot rituals and massages. Meanwhile, luxe hair treatments are available at Gentlemen’s Tonic—the Macau outpost of the Londonbased salon also welcomes women. When it comes to retail experiences, inveterate shoppers need not leave the premises to satisfy their cravings. The shopping mall at Grand Lisboa Palace, which spans more than 75,000 square meters on the lower levels of the resort, stocks all kinds of luxury goods from fine apparel and watches to skincare creams and fragrances. Travelers seeking out special gifts to bring home should look to Made in Macau, a dedicated space that showcases wares by local creatives. In a similar vein, Macau Memories offers a rotating selection of products from longstanding family-owned businesses, including noodle-making shop Wong Chi Kei; cannedsardine manufacturer Porthos Macau; and Pastelaria Chui Heong, a purveyor of traditional almond biscuits.