The Best Luxury Hotels and Mansion Suites in Macau

Courtesy of Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16

15 October 2021

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In Macau, living like a rockstar need not be a fantasy. The southern Chinese city is known as the Las Vegas of the East – a playground for China’s rich. From palatial hotel suites with their own swimming pools to Michelin-star restaurants, nowhere else does extravagance quite like Macau. Here’s our pick of the most luxurious places to stay in this former Portuguese colony, bookable via Culture Trip.

Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16 for casino living near Old Macau

Courtesy of Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16 / Expedia

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.

Banyan Tree Macau for five-star service in Cotai

Courtesy of Banyan Tree Macau / Expedia

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.

Hotel Lisboa for international dining near the Ferreira do Amaral Plaza

Courtesy of Hotel Lisboa / Expedia

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.

Hotel Royal Macau for traditional charm near Guia Municipal Park

Courtesy of Hotel Royal Macau / Expedia

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.

Wynn Macau for casino living overlooking Nam Van Lake

Courtesy of Wynn Macau / Expedia

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.

Nüwa Macau for a spa retreat in Cotai

Courtesy of City of Dreams – Nüwa Macau / Expedia

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.

Hotel Okura Macau for Japanese style in Cotai

Courtesy of Hotel Okura Macau / Expedia

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.

Ritz-Carlton Macau for ultimate opulence in Cotai

Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton Macau / Expedia

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.

Conrad Macau for poolside relaxation in Cotai

Luxury

Courtesy of Conrad Macau / Expedia

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.

Altira Macau for private dining in Taipa

Courtesy of Altira Macau / Expedia

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.

Matthew Keegan contributes additional reporting.

These recommendations were updated on October 15, 2021 to keep your travel plans fresh.

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