The Best Luxury Hotels and Mansion Suites in Macau

Despite its faint resemblance to an (admittedly modern, high-rise) Italian palazzo, the luxury vibe at this Sofitel is consciously steered by the French art de vivre. Located beside the inner harbour, its distinct buzz is heightened by the ground-floor casino. Fine dining options include Mistral, with its low-key Provençal atmosphere, and high-end Privé. The apogee of its swanky rooms are 19 themed mansion suites with lofty skyline views and a separate pool.

On the western edge of Cotai, amidst the vast pools, “beach” and river-ride of the multi-hotel Galaxy Macau resort, the all-suite Banyan Tree is a beacon of calm sophistication. It’s famed above all for its spa and wellbeing facilities – there are dozens of Asian-inspired treatments, massages, scrubs and revitalising baths, plus every suite has a relaxation bath. The “villas” (in reality giant suites) have their own pools, gardens and gazebo lounge, plus butlers catering to your every whim and need.

Set beside the enduring Casino Lisboa and sharing its 1970s wedding-cake flamboyance, the Lisboa has a distinct retro feel. Accommodation embraces plenty of frills and drapery, quasi-vintage furniture, patterned carpets and part-canopied beds. Some rooms are within eyeshot of Nam Van Lake. The pick of its dining options is Guincho a Galera – the first Michelin-star restaurant from Portugal to open abroad – and its extensive wine cellar. If sake is more your thing, partner it with New Furusato’s Japanese haute cuisine kaiseki menu with refined sashimi and sushi.

Barely 200m (650ft) from the Guia lighthouse, the Royal occupies a prime position within easy striking distance of the top historic city sights. It’s a fairly polished yet relatively sedate affair with a very cool indoor pool lit by huge slanting windows. Premier rooms and suites enjoy complimentary buffet breakfast, free beverages and snacks during set hours in the Lobby Lounge and suit pressing on arrival. Restaurants include high-end Shanghai cuisine at Catalpa Garden and FADO’s contemporary twist on traditional Portuguese dishes.

The bold Wynn is an American-style casino-hotel boasting two distinct wings: the all-suite Encore and the room-and-suite Wynn. Fronting the property is a “performance lake”, a son et lumière show with LED-lit precision-timed fountains. Elsewhere, there’s a hypnotic moon jellyfish aquarium and showy yet fun sculptures embracing cod symbolism. The huge suites in the Encore tower offer prime and somewhat calmer accommodation, mainly creamy mottled marble and swanky furniture, coupled to a gold-themed decor with subtle Chinese accents. Every guest’s a wynner here.

One of several properties in the upmarket City of Dreams complex, the Nüwa is among its most luxurious with a self-proclaimed fusion of traditional aesthetics and traditional art. If this is where bespoke East meets West, it’s achieved with a supremely tasteful, pared-down style, bolstered by 65-inch 4K televisions. Rooms and suites are not quite minimalist, and floor-to-ceiling windows – many overlooking a glorious oval swimming pool – sharpen the generous space. The myriad treatments in the award-winning spa embrace the ancient Taoism concept of the five elements.

Part of the huge Galaxy Macau resort complex, the Okura is a distinctively Japanese-inspired property, despite its classical European facade. Spacious rooms and suites boast clean uncluttered design and delicate Japanese touches like shoji-paper lighting, Zen garden motifs and even in-room jacuzzis. The best Japanese cuisine in the region, including kaiseki, can be had at Yamazato; its location on the 28th floor means fabulous views across the Galaxy pools and gardens.

From the palm-lined outdoor pool to the over-tub chandeliers in the bathrooms, almost every square inch of the Ritz-Carlton sings opulent yet tasteful design. Although part of the Galaxy Macau complex, the vibe of the property is super-upscale French château. Michelin-star Lai Heen serves Cantonese cuisine with several dégustation menus in a notably atmospheric dining room, while the gorgeous French-style brasserie features frosted mirrors and tear-drop pendant lamps. The all-suite accommodation is particularly spacious with separate lounges and bedrooms, plus floor-to-ceiling windows.

Right in the midst of Cotai, the thrusting high-rise of the Conrad seems much like numerous others that bristle over Macau’s flashy entertainment centre. Inside lies a haven of relative restraint with the lotus-patterned floors and ceilings of the lobby, alongside Tibetan monastery-style doors lending a unique and striking touch. There’s quite an array of rooms and even more suites, all boasting sleek contemporary cool rather than Himalayan ethno-chic. When you’re not visiting the casinos, kick back by one of four outdoor pools.

Sleek modern luxury defines the Altira, a property built alongside a high-rollers’ casino and one certainly aimed at attracting their custom, too. Most accommodation faces the glittering Macau peninsula and Chinese mainland beyond. While the premier suites boast 180-degree views, the four “villas” – actually enormous top-floor apartments with kitchenettes – are where you might celebrate your jackpot. Likewise, if Ying, a Michelin-star Cantonese speciality restaurant, doesn’t quite make the grade, you can adjourn to the exclusive Yi Pavilion for wraparound views and a private chef.