-
La Gondola
Next to the swimming pool at Cheoc Van Beach, La Gondola is a good spot to soak up some beachside views from the terrace while enjoying your meal. It offers some excellent pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven.
-
Litoral
This authentic Macanese restaurant attracts both locals and tourists alike. Apart from the delightful Macanese fare, including baked duck rice, it's renowned for its homemade crab soup and shrimp soup served in a bread bowl.
-
Long Kei
This landmark place is a straightforward Cantonese restaurant with more than 300 dishes on offer. The food may not be the best but its location makes it a handy choice.
-
Long Wa
Next to the red market, this yellowish two-storey tea house's ambience and age-old tiled floors tell you it's a rare survivor of the traditional Cantonese tea houses in Macau. There is no English menu, but you can just point to the dim sum carts. No smoking, no pets, no alcohol.
-
Lord Stow's Café
Though the celebrated English baker Andrew Stow passed away recently, his café and Lord Stow's Bakery (2888 2534; 1 Rua da Tassara; ; - Thu-Tue, - Wed) keeps his memory well alive by serving his renowned pastéis de nata, a warm egg-custard tart. The Lord Stow's Garden Café (2888 1851; 105 Rua da Cordoaria; ; - ) near the Coloane bus-stop has a very relaxed atmosphere on its patio.
-
Mang Pan Koi
This pocket-sized, homely restaurant is a hidden gem near Lou Lim Iok Garden and gets a thumbs-up among the Chinese in Macau. The food specialties here include abalone and shark fin and are all carefully prepared with fresh ingredients by the wonderful, hospitable chef Mr Dai, cooking with heart and soul. If possible, bring a Chinese friend for communication.
-
Nga Tim Café
This café itself is no work of art, but it has a unique and laidback setting just in front of the Chapel of St Francis Xavier. Enjoy the scene, and the hybrid Sino-Portuguese food.
-
O Capítulo
O Capítulo's homemade Portuguese dishes are as fresh as its recent renovation. Try the superb suckling pig and fatias de Tomar, a rich dessert made with egg yolks and syrup.
-
O Manel
Another family run restaurant, though a bit isolated from Taipa Village, it still attracts both locals and expats alike with its splendid Portuguese dishes such as grilled bacalhau .
-
O Porto
This unmarked place is actually a soccer club, evident from its soccer banners on display. It's out of the way, but good value for a unique Portuguese experience with robustly flavoured cuisine.
-
Advertisement
-
O Porto Interior
If you can't get a table elsewhere, this lovely restaurant is a good alternative for both Portuguese and Macanese fare. The juicy African chicken deserves savouring.
-
O Santos
Head here for the sapateira recheada, a type of crab flown in fresh from Portugal, and maçã assada, a special baked apple. Expect a crowd.
-
Os Gatos
You might go inside this restaurant just for a cup of coffee and no one could blame you, as its romantic ambience is unbeatable. Not to be missed is its afternoon tea set (MOParound MOP$110 ), served from to .
-
Ou Mun Café
This is a rather flashy little café with the imaginative name of 'Macau'. A Macanese hangout spot, it serves pretty decent sandwiches, cakes and coffees.
-
Platão
This restaurant is renowned for its chef, who once worked for the governors of Macau. Dishes worth trying include the baked duck rice and the rack of lamb with mustard. The giant serradura (MOParound MOP$52 )is a must.
-
Portas Do Sol
Portas do So changes its dim sum menu regularly to keep you surprised every time you visit and it has a very spacious dining hall. Make sure you have a reservation if you go on the weekend as it gets pretty full during lunchtime when families get together for dim sum.
-
Pou Tai Temple Restaurant
If you get tired of the meat-laden Portuguese cuisine, this strictly vegetarian restaurant, set in a Buddhist temple in northern Taipa, is a great find for the health-conscious. It's housed at the basement of the building next to the main hall.
-
Praia Grande
Get a table by the window upstairs for a view of the boulevard. This stylish place serves adequate Portuguese dishes on the historic Praia Grande.
-
Restaurante Parque Hác Sá
This is a pleasant place for meals by the beach at Hác Sá, with barbecue dishes figuring prominently on the menu. Dine inside or out on the terrace.
-
Restaurante Tenis Civil Leon
This restaurant may not serve the best Portuguese food but it definitely has a lovely ambience with a wonderful view overlooking Sai Van Lake. Though housed in a tennis club, the restaurant welcomes both members and nonmembers.
-
Advertisement
-
Robuchon A Galera
Joël Robuchon, Michelin-starred French chef and serious bon vivant, opened this restaurant featuring haute cuisine and world-class wines. For possibly the best fine-dining experience in Macau, try the sublime 12-course tasting menu for MOParound MOP$1400 . Even if you don't hit the jackpot at the casinos, the three-course set lunch for MOParound MOP$290 is very affordable.
-
Sai Nam
Handily located in the specialty foods shopping area and housed in a characteristic former two-storey shop house, this is another decent place to sample abalone, though it's a bit overpriced.
-
Seng Cheong
This simple Chinese restaurant is celebrated for its fried fish balls, steamed eel and congee (rice porridge with savoury titbits). It's open till late.
-
Serrdura
This shop sells bite-sized (MOParound MOP$11 ) and large (MOParound MOP$88 ) versions of serradura, a rich local dessert made with crushed biscuits, cream and condensed milk. It also has a branch in Taipa (2833 2880; Rua do Regedor; ;noon- ), next to Cozinha Pinocchio.
-
Solmar
While Macau is changing at a crazy pace, this 40-year-old restaurant in the city centre has a nostalgic atmosphere filling every corner. It is particularly well-known for its galinha à Africana (African Chicken).
