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Macau has grown at a mind-boggling rate over the last 20 years, so it’s reassuring to know that there are still corners of the city that feel like a long-lost Portugal. Case in point? The butter-yellow heritage buildings of the Albergue da Santa Casa da Misericórdia complex set amid the perfectly preserved streetscapes of the St. Lazarus quarter. What was once a home for elderly widows and World War II refugees is now one of <a href="https://destinasian.com/luxury-travel/spotlight/discover-macau" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Macau</a>’s most charming spots, featuring a cobbled courtyard shaded by ancient camphor trees and two 100-year-old Portuguese mansions. In recent years a number of businesses have taken up happier residence. Most notable is <a href="https://www.albergue1601.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Albergue 1601</a>, whose classic Portuguese dishes—bacalhau à brás (salted cod with scrambled eggs), braised Ibérico pork cheek, pig’s ear salad—earned head chef Pedro Almeida a place on the Discovery list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Elsewhere, there’s a little Edwardian-style café, Ajar, which serves roast beef “yorkies,” Basque cheesecake, and affogato alongside floral teas and cinnamon apple negronis—best enjoyed in the courtyard on a sunny day. Opposite is a gift shop selling vintage-style soaps and fruity ceramics and the pocket-size Albergue SCM gallery, which showcases the work of local contemporary artists. —Lee Cobaj
<a href="https://www.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/shows-and-entertainment/cultural-and-creative-industries-zones/albergue-scm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">macaotourism.gov.mo</a> 
+853 2852 2550 
<a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/YtP9zicXBnGG1wek6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">8 Calçada da Igreja de S. Lázaro, Macau</a>

Albergue SCM: Portuguese Dining

Macau Attractions