José Avillez is a culinary pioneer. The first chef in Portugal to win two Michelin stars and the only one with a restaurant, Belcanto, in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, he’s known for deliciously contemporary takes on Portuguese cuisine. At his first Asian venture, Mesa, he brings some of that dazzle to Macau, though in a more accessible yet still refined format. Interiors by fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld (Mesa sits within his namesake hotel) are head-turning. A centerpiece bar is bathed in gold, as are the coveted dining alcoves lit by birdcage-shaped lamps, while floors gleam in black and white marble. A vaulted LED ceiling changes scenes depending on the hour—trees and blue sky by day, shooting stars and the galaxy at night.

Mesa’s menu showcases refined versions of classic dishes such as bacalhau à Brás—made with salted cod (a household staple in Portugal), potatoes, and eggs—and suckling pig with French fries and orange. True to the cuisine, seafood is plentiful, as is pork, and a vegetarian section means herbivores are not left out. Sunday lunch is a blowout affair that lets diners sample some 20 dishes including the much-loved pastéis de nata, or egg tarts. Portugal produces terrific yet often underrated wines; be sure to ask the sommelier for suggestions. —Kee Foong

grandlisboapalace.com
+853 8881 1800
Level 3, The Karl Lagerfeld Macau, Rua do Tiro, Cotai, Macau

Mesa by José Avillez: Portuguese Perfection

Macau Dining

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