The Attractions

In Macau, attractions are aplenty and there is always something to do. Dr Wong shares that the government is determined to widen various offerings in Macau to allow visitors to have an unforgettable experience.

Various new events are activities are in the works, such as the Grand Prix and the international boat rowing festival. He also explains that there is currently a lot of planning for mega events in the works—including both commercial pop concerts and cultural performances.

He adds: “If you look at building areas, only four to five per cent are gaming. The rest are non-gaming: hotels, restaurants and retail shops. We have over 700 retail shops under one roof and I guarantee you that you will get lost because I get lost sometimes!”

With that, Dr Wong advises one to plan a trip to Macau well.

“If you [do], you probably have a full diary going on. And of course, by the time you’re tired, you can go to the casino,” he says.

The Food

The attractions are just one part of the fun. The other, of course, is the city’s vibrant food scene—whether you enjoy street fare or prefer indulging in a Michelin-starred meal, there is something for everyone.

Macanese cuisine comprises a fusion of Portuguese and Chinese food—think pork chop buns, Portuguese egg tarts and Minchi. The latter is a dish influenced by Chinese and Portuguese cuisine, featuring a mix of beef or pork, diced fried potatoes and onions. It’s topped with a fried egg and rice.

The city is also filled with Michelin restaurants. Dr Wong shares that one of his favourites is Sichuan Moon. He continues: “It’s a fusion restaurant with 11 or 12 courses. You won’t be hungry after that.”

Reminiscing about how the gastronomic scene has changed in Macau over the years, he shares: “Macau has become much more sophisticated. But the old restaurants do exist and there are still people looking for that original taste.” He continues to explain that as there is still demand for traditional fare, various restaurants still offer classics like Portuguese tarts and Serradura (Portuguese dessert layered with whipped cream and crumbled biscuits).

In case you missed it: 5 Macau cafes and bakeries to visit for traditional snacks

The Hotels

While the city is small, it boasts a wide range of hotels too. Dr Wong shared that it was recently announced that Macau has the highest number of five-star hotels as a city in the world. On top of hospitality services, these hotels offer an experience.

For example, Sands China’s The Parisian Macao is inspired by the famed City of Light. The hotel boasts 2,500 guestrooms and suites, pool deck with themed water park, over 130 shops and more. If that isn’t enough, you’ll also find a half-scale authentic recreation of the Eiffel Tower here.

While at The Londoner Macao, you will find Big Ben and the House of Parliament. Every day, guests are also able to see the changing of guards show at the Grand Hotel Lobby. “We are also planning, in The Londoner Macau, the Harry Potter exhibition,” he says.

“You can visit Venice, Paris and London in one day, under the same roof and all air-conditioned,” Dr Wong shares.

Read more: Inside the Karl Lagerfeld hotel in Macau, set to open in June

While Macau already has so much to see, the city isn’t stopping there. Dr Wong explains that the government is “very determined to widen the offerings” in the city within the next few years, allowing tourists to have an unforgettable experience.

2023 will also see the official opening of TeamLab, a three-dimensional interactive space spanning 5,000 sqm. Various digital offerings can also be anticipated, including the St Paul’s virtual reality space and the Grand Prix Macau Museum. The latter has been expanded to include various virtual reality spaces.

With so many attractions and offerings available, a trip to Macau will never be a boring one—whether it be your first or 10th trip there.

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