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Luxury travel inspiration from the Asia-Pacific region

DestinAsian

<h2><strong>Why stay?</strong></h2>
<p>The Mandarin Oriental is an antidote to the organized chaos of the Cotai Strip, with a refreshing waterfront location on the Macau Peninsula, resort-like facilities, understated interiors, and staff that could charm the birds from the trees.</p>
<h3><strong>The neighborhood</strong></h3>
<p>Mandarin Oriental, Macau has a prime waterfront position on the Macau Peninsula overlooking the Pearl River Estuary, the Praia Grand promenade, and the <a href="https://www.macautower.com.mo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Macau Tower</a>. You’re within walking distance of the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Historic Center of Macau, which includes the 17th century facade of the Ruins of St. Paul’s; Senado Square’s monochromatic streets, pastel-colored mansions, and bubbling fountains; the cannon-guarded Fortaleza do Monte citadel. But it’s best to throw away the map and simply wander the neighborhood’s cobbled alleyways uncovering flower-shaded stairways, laundry-strewn 1950s tenements, and a surprising array of art deco, brutalist and Bauhaus buildings in between historic attractions.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-140498 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Mandarin-Oriental-Macau-Lobby.jpg" alt="Mandarin Oriental, Macau - Lobby" width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Mandarin-Oriental-Macau-Lobby.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Mandarin-Oriental-Macau-Lobby-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Mandarin-Oriental-Macau-Lobby-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Mandarin-Oriental-Macau-Lobby-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
<h4><strong>The feel</strong></h4>
<p>The prestigious non-gaming hotel is housed in a shiny sail-shaped building that connects to a luxury mall, which in turn leads to the MGM Macau (should you wish to gamble). Free from day-trippers, social media fanatics, and hardcore gamblers, the sunny and relaxed lobby, dotted with beautiful works of Chinese and Macanese art, is a masterclass in restraint in a city so often associated with excess. The hotel general manager is a rarely seen species in Macau but, here, GM Franck Droin can regularly be found chatting to guests, an amiable approach which extends to every member of the charming staff.</p>
<h5><strong>Guest quarters</strong></h5>
<p>With 213 rooms and suites, the Mandarin Oriental, Macau feels positively boutique by local standards. Starting at a spacious 40-square meters, every guestroom has a view of Nam Van Lake, plush oversize beds wrapped in soft toppers and 530-thread-count sheets, and marble bathrooms stocked with big tubs and refillable bottles of Natura Bissé toiletries. The decor is warm and comfortable rather than cutting-edge—walnut wood paneling, thick silver-blue rugs, Chinese art, and <em>objets</em>. Fresh fruit and pots of warm jasmine tea await new arrivals; turndown brings lacquer boxes of chocolates and macarons. All very spoiling.</p>
<h6><strong>Food and drink</strong></h6>
<p>Aside from the lobby lounge, which serves afternoon tea with the M.O.’s famed rose-petal jam, the hotel has just one bar and restaurant, <a href="https://www.mandarinoriental.com/en/macau/one-central/dine/vida-rica-restaurant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vida Rica</a>. The double-height space is an ultramodern mosaic of gleaming black marble, geometric chandeliers, glowing floor panels, and flashes of chrome. Serving a winning medley of Asian, Macanese, and European dishes, breakfast brings mountains of fresh fruit and juices, a live dim sum station, warm egg tarts, and à la carte eggs and pancakes. Lunch might include Macau’s version of <em>bacalhau</em> (baked salted cod) or sweet and sour pork with Hawthorne apple, while for dinner you might dive into a five-course degustation menu featuring dishes such as steamed blue lobster with truffle-y tofu and suckling pig with crisp crackling and a side of red prawns.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-140500 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Mandarin-Oriental-Macau-Tom-Yum-Seafood-and-Thai-Massage.jpg" alt="Mandarin Oriental, Macau - Seafood Tom Yum and Thai Massage" width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Mandarin-Oriental-Macau-Tom-Yum-Seafood-and-Thai-Massage.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Mandarin-Oriental-Macau-Tom-Yum-Seafood-and-Thai-Massage-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Mandarin-Oriental-Macau-Tom-Yum-Seafood-and-Thai-Massage-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Mandarin-Oriental-Macau-Tom-Yum-Seafood-and-Thai-Massage-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
<h6><strong>Wellness factor</strong></h6>
<p>The hotel’s wellness offering is enough to keep you in situ for days. Start with some functional training, a PT session or a private yoga class at the fitness center, before decamping to the 25-meter temperature-controlled infinity pool, which has soothing views over the harbor. The spa is a destination in its own right, with eight treatment rooms, including three couple’s suites and the decadent Oriental Spa suite. Staffed by some of the world’s best therapists, the M.O.’s spa offers signature treatments such as the two-hour Vino of Portugal ritual, which merges a sandalwood, grapeseed, and gold leaf scrub with a muscle-melting hot stone massage.</p>
<h6><strong>Family matters</strong></h6>
<p>The Mandarin Oriental understands the importance of winning over heirs to the throne and “little fans” are treated to a range of special amenities such as mini-bathrobes, slippers, plushy pandas, and cookies and milk at bedtime. Families booking a second room receive a 50 percent discount. Kids under 12 can tuck into complimentary meals from the children’s menu (chicken, vegetable and ABC pasta soup, homemade fish fingers with vegetables and French fries, and ham and cheese sandwiches with green salad).</p>
<h6><strong>Sustainability cred</strong></h6>
<p>Mandarin Oriental as a group banished 99 percent of all single-use plastic—front and back of house—in 2022. The group have also pledged to halve their carbon emissions by 2030. The Macau outpost has its own Nordaq water bottling system, buys food from sustainable sources, and grants staff one day off a year for volunteer work.</p>
<h6><strong>What else?</strong></h6>
<p>Fashion designer Alexander McQueen was inspired by the artistic works of Li Xiaofeng, who takes fragments of broken Qing and Ming dynasty-era pottery and weaves them into wearable items of clothing. Look out for his striking piece <em>Beijing Memory 2010</em> on display next to the elevators.</p>
<p>Reviewed by <strong>Lee Cobaj</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.mandarinoriental.com/en/macau/one-central" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mandarinoriental.com</a><br />
+853 8805 8888<br />
<a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/HtAxaCSq97qmtfSE9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">No. 945, Av. Dr. Sun Yat Sen, Macau</a></p>


Mandarin Oriental, Macau - Hotel Exterior

Mandarin Oriental, Macau

Macau Hotels