Often referred to as the "Las Vegas of Asia," Macau is not just a hotspot for entertainment and gambling; it's also a paradise for food enthusiasts. The amalgamation of Portuguese and Cantonese influences creates a culinary scene that fuses two distinct gastronomic traditions into one signature Macanese cuisine.

READ MORE: My Top 10 Can’t Miss Bites in Macau

In addition to this rich culinary experience, visitors can explore heritage architecture, vibrant nightlife, and abundant luxury shopping. It's important to note that Macau consists of two main areas connected by bridges: the Macau Peninsula, which is an extension of mainland China, and Taipa Island, along with the adjoining Coloane Island at the southern end.

This 48-hour guide to Hong Kong’s neighbor will navigate you through what to do, see, and eat in this UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy island-nation.

 Day 1

Begin your day as the locals do, at the old school-style cha chaan teng (Hong Kong diner) Nam Peng Café. Along with that dose of nostalgia comes some righteous teahouse fare, namely the velvety milk tea and the ever-popular char siu and egg sandwich. Stacked taller than your average sando, the height is owed to fluffy eggs and a generous serving of meat all piled atop simple white bread. Prices are notably cheap and cheerful.

With a full belly, wander over to Macau’s top tourist attraction, the Ruins of St. Paul. This iconic 17th-century granite façade of the former Church of Mater Dei and St. Paul's College was designed by Jesuits in the early 1600s. Destroyed by fire during a typhoon in 1835, this UNESCO World Heritage site represents an intermingling of Western Baroque and Eastern architecture, now serving as the most recognizable symbol of Macau.

The main square in front of the ruins sees throngs of tourists at all hours, but enter instead via Travessa da Paixao, a photogenic old-district street lined with vibrantly colored townhouses, for the perfect backdrop to this legendary view.

Continue walking five minutes further east and you’ll find yourself at 10 Fantasia. This prominent cultural center in Macau's St. Lazarus District is located in a marigold-hued historic Portuguese-style building with two exhibition halls and ten showrooms, plus monthly rotating shows. Here visitors can swing through the latest exhibition, catch regular art-themed workshops, and rub elbows with the city’s hip and creative crowd.

Next, pass by the canary yellow St. Dominic’s Church to Senado Square. This pedestrianized UNESCO World Heritage site boasts black and white wave-patterned Portuguese mosaic paving and pastel-colored neoclassical buildings, like the Holy House of Mercy. The square serves as a bustling hub that connects both historic sites and modern shops, cafés, and restaurants.

Make sure to stop into Choi Heong Yuen Bakery, Macau’s premier 90-year-old bakery brand, for a mid-morning treat. Beloved for its buttery Cantonese cakes, charcoal-baked almond cookies, Phoenix Rolls, and pork jerky, this is an ideal spot to pick up souvenirs and treats to bring back home.

From Senado Square, it’s a quick two-minute jaunt to Rua da Felicidade (Street of Happiness) – a historic, formerly 19th-century red-light district lane that has since been converted into a pedestrian-friendly zone lined with preserved Chinese-style buildings where patrons can peruse the numerous snack and souvenir shops.

Pick up a treat at Yee Shun Milk Company, a traditional Chinese breakfast joint known for milk pudding. Served hot or cold, the pudding comes with various toppings like sweet red bean, chopped mango, and lotus seeds.

Not for the squeamish, the Mercado De S. Lourenço is a local seafood market favored particularly amongst Macau’s finest chefs. At this wet market, fresh, live seafood sits on display, with vendors butchering upon purchase. On the upper floors are a few local eateries and a small outdoor terrace.

With lunchtime nearing, Loja Sopa da Fita Cheong Kei fits the bill, a Macanese noodle shop specializing in shrimp roe noodles. Thin, springy egg noodles are dusted in an umami-rich dried shrimp roe powder, presented alongside the restaurant’s signature shrimp clear broth – a tidal wave of oceanic salinity. The noodles are made in the traditional way, with the dough folded over onto itself several times before being pressed down on hundreds of times with a heavy bamboo tube, ensuring the optimal elastic mouthfeel. Diners here also enjoy the shatteringly crisp wontons, with light and airy fried edges coming together in the center with a dollop of minced shrimp.

Another nearby Macanese shrimp roe outpost, Lok Kei Noodle serves a myriad of local dishes to savor alongside a piping bowl of noodles.

Onwards with the adventure, head to Macau Tower at the southern tip of Macau Peninsula. The 338-meter edifice opened in 2001 as a premier landmark offering panoramic 360-degree views, upscale dining, and high-adrenaline adventure activities. Here, you can partake in the world’s highest commercial bungee jump (a whopping 233 meters), the Skywalk X (a guided and strapped in walking tour around the outer rim without handrails), and the revolving 360° Café. The main observation deck on Level 58 offers stunning, floor-to-ceiling glass windows with expansive views of the Pearl River Delta, Macau Peninsula, and Taipa.

For dinner, keep it local at Lun Kee Cheung Fun Rice Roll, Macau’s most viral chang fen (肠粉), or Cantonese rice rolls, spot. An everyday street snack across Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangdong province, chang fen are rolled up like a bouncy white crepe, stuffed with diner’s choice of filling – from BBQ pork and shrimp to beef, sautéed vegetables, and more.

Its squiggly appearance is referenced in the dish’s name, which literally translates to “intestine noodle” as it somewhat resembles certain innards.

At this legendary shop, the real kicker is in the sauce: a trio of peanut sauce, soy sauce, and a sticky hoisin-like sauce, plus an optional kick of heat from homemade chili crisp.

As evening marches on into night, it’s time to lean in to what Macau is most known for most: casinos. Casino hop between the flashy MGM Macau to the lavish Grand Lisboa, from the magnificent Wynn Macau to the elegant Sands Macau.

Finish with a nightcap at Two Moons, a popular industry hangout with a wide selection of rare whiskey and craft cocktails.

Rest up before a full day tomorrow at the Mandarin Oriental Macau, a luxury, non-gaming hotel with panoramic views over Nam Van Lake.

Day 2

The next morning, work your way south to Taipa island, and check in to Wynn Palace Macau, an opulent, floral-themed premier resort with 1,700 rooms, high-end dining, luxury retail shopping, extensive amenities, and a 3.2-hectare lake with daily music and light shows, best viewed from the hotel’s SkyCab cable car.

From here, continue to Coloane Village at Taipa island’s southern tip. This quaint fishing village is brimming with pastel-colored Portuguese colonial architecture and narrow winding lanes flanked by hidden coffee shops, boutiques, seafood markets, and picture-perfect nooks.

Prime your stomach with the country’s most famous Portuguese egg tart from the original Lord Stowe’s bakery in Coloane. Now a Macau icon, Lord Stowe’s egg tarts are famous for their buttery, flaky pastry crust and creamy custard filling. Less sweet than the traditional Portuguese pastéis de nata, the Macanese version strikes a better balance to fit local tastes.

Pass by the historic Chapel of St. Francis Xavier before strolling over to Coloane Pier to check out the fisherman displaying their daily catch and to purchase dried seafood from local vendors.

From there, make a beeline to trendiest café, 3345 Coffee & Vinyl. The coffee shop sits on the street level, while music lovers find themselves seeping up the stairs to finger through the 1,000+ records on sale. Coffee drinks range from the customary – espresso, latte, cappuccino, and the like – to creative – dried mango cold brew, red date and coconut latte, and roselle infused wine cold brew – with boutique beans from around the world and teas also on sale.

After seeking caffeinated inspiration, work your way north to Old Taipa Village, a charming, well-preserved enclave built around a former fishing hamlet that showcases a blend of Portuguese and Chinese culture. Meander the cobblestone streets past colonial-era buildings, traditional temples, and diverse eateries. Don’t skip sampling the local street fare, like almond cookies, egg tarts, preserved sweet meats, and braised tofu and fish balls.

Popular shops span Gelatina Mok Yi Kei (an 80-year-old dessert shop), Koe Kei Bakery (a buzzing snack and souvenir shop), Rest Yangon (a Burmese café with standout coconut chicken noodles), Old Taipa Tavern (a rustic Aussie-style gastropub and sports bar), and much more.

Gather a group for a Fernando’s lunch, an institution celebrated for its mighty spread of Portuguese cuisine, best served family style as portions are large. Somewhere between the checkered tabletops, gruff service, rustic charm, and never-ending stream of hot and salty serving trays flowing from the kitchen, diners are transported to a Macau of yore. Do not miss the succulent Portuguese chicken nor the crispy codfish croquettes.

Following the feast, make your way down to A-Ma Cultural Village, a 7,000-square-meter complex dedicated to Mazu, the Goddess of Seafarers. Featuring an impressive 20-meter white jade statue of A-Ma and an ornate Tin Hau Temple, the space combines Qing dynasty-style architecture, a peaceful hillside environment, and panoramic views of Coloane and the South China Sea.

If you’ve got extra time (or if you need a rainy-day backup), TeamLab SuperNature Macao is an immersive digital art museum located at The Venetian Macao. Through interactive, ever-changing installations, visitors can explore the relationship between humans and nature.

End your Macau adventure with a dinner splurge at either one-Michelin-starred 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Galaxy Macau – a prestigious Italian restaurant by renowned Chef Umberto Bombana – or at two-Michelin-starred Chef Tam’s Seasons in Wynn Palace Macau for a deep dive into the eponymous Chef Tam’s culinary ethos that follow the 24 Solar Terms. The menu highlights glistening char siu pork belly and other Cantonese roasted meats, steamed dumplings of all manner, fresh seafood sourced daily from nearby waters, crispy spring rolls, and an array of meticulously crafted and plated dim sum, among other higher end Cantonese food.

Finish the night with a bespoke cocktail at Wing Lei Bar, a 22-seater cocktail lounge designed to resemble a jewelry box, St. Regis Macao Bar, a high-end cocktail destination recognized among Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024, or Bar Patua, a dram den in the MGM Cotai spotlighting Chinese, Portuguese and Macanese flavors in sippable form.

Boa noite to a fun-filled weekend Macau getaway!

Got a recommendation for me to try out next time! Please share in the comments below, or DM on Instagram @steinersophshanghai

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