VOYAGES BY ALAIN DUCASSE

3/F, Morpheus at City of Dreams, Estrada do Istmo, Cotai, Macau TEL: +853 8868 3436

www.cityofdreamsmacau.com The more casual of the two

Alain Ducasse restaurants at Morpheus is a visual delight, with intelligent interior design that evokes wonder, matching the theme of exploration and discovery. Do arrive earlier so you can take a seat at the handsome bar, and gaze out over the room that’s filled with clever installations by French artist Léa Maupetit, who uses herbs and spices as inspiration for her whimsical ingredients illustrations, and a striking octopus mural by Frenchman Romain Bernini. The effect puts diners at ease, saying ‘this is a restaurant to relax in’, rather than one to be worshipped. The menu has influences primarily from South East Asia, with dishes that make use of bold flavours, from spiny lobster red curry to peppered king crab; main courses are divided into land and sea, while a raw section features punchy small bites such as tai fish topped with briny sea urchin or sea scallop with citrus. Everything is a punch to the palate, so it’s worth opting to pair your meal with a cocktail from the Negroni trolley, where the namesake tipple gets zing from the addition of either calamansi or yuzu.