Macau Portuguese Egg Tarts Lord Stow (Andrew) vs Margaret's (Margaret) Complete Comparison
Both shops were co-founded by the same couple (Andrew Stow & Margaret Wong), who later divorced and split, becoming Macau's two most representative Portuguese egg tart brands. This article compiles a 10-dimension comparison using publicly available information to help locals and tourists make their choice.
1. History Background of Both Shops
Lord Stow's Bakery (Andrew)
- Founder: Andrew Stow (from Essex, UK, formerly an industrial pharmacist at Boots chain pharmacy)
- Founded: September 15, 1989
- Location: A small village house at Coloane Town Square, Coloane Island, Macau
- Brand Origin: "Lord Stow" was a nickname given by Portuguese friends, not an actual noble title
- Core Recipe: Andrew adapted the mille-feuille pastry from the Portuguese pastel de nata, but abandoned lard for heavier ingredients. The custard was styled after English custard (less sugar, no cinnamon), adding cream and butter to create the flakier, sweeter "Macanese egg tart."
- Founder's Passing: Andrew passed away on October 25, 2006 from a sudden asthma attack at age 51
- Current Successor: His sister Eileen Stow took over and doubled production capacity; his daughter Audrey Stow is the next-generation successor
- Royal Honor: Eileen Stow was awarded by Queen Elizabeth II for promoting English-style egg tart culture
Margaret's Café e Nata (Margaret)
- Founder: Margaret Wong (Yei Ling Wong, born in Macau)
- Background: Margaret co-founded Lord Stow's with Andrew in 1989; after their divorce, Margaret opened her own shop – "Margaret's Egg Tart Shop" – in downtown Macau Peninsula
- Key Business Decision: In 1999, Margaret licensed the egg tart recipe to KFC, thereby bringing the Macau-style egg tart to markets across Asia including Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, and mainland China
- Production Capacity: The single store can produce about 10,000 egg tarts daily, almost always selling out
- Brand Positioning: Geared more toward Macau Peninsula locals and downtown tourist traffic, focusing on "grab-and-go" experience in the city center
Shared Roots: Both egg tarts share the same DNA, derived from Andrew Stow's 1989 Macanese recipe. After splitting, each made minor adjustments to sugar levels, baking time, and pastry thickness, creating today's flavor differences.
2. Main Comparison Table (10 Dimensions)
| Dimension | Lord Stow's (Andrew) | Margaret's (Margaret) |
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | September 15, 1989 | After divorce, separate operation (late 1990s, exact year not disclosed) |
| Pastry Thickness / Texture | Thin and flaky mille-feuille; caramel top lightly torched; lighter oil aroma | More distinct layers; some reviews note it's richer (buttery); golden and crispy |
| Filling Style | English custard adaptation; added cream and butter; smoother texture, heavier milk aroma | Smooth custard with blended milk and butter aroma;相对淡 |
| Sweetness | Slightly sweeter (multiple reviews indicate it's sweeter than Margaret's) | Less sweet, lighter style; more pronounced egg flavors |
| Baking Time | Daily from 7:00 AM continuously until evening (multiple locations in rotation) | Bakes from 8:30 AM, fresh daily limited supply |
| Single Unit Retail Price (2025) | MOP 11/piece; 6-piece MOP 65; 12-piece MOP 130 | MOP 11/piece; 12-piece approximately MOP 80 (adjusted over years, recently approaching Lord Stow's pricing) |
| Number of Macau Stores | 4 ( Coloane Flagship, Coloane Garden Café, Taipa Rua do Cunha, Venetian)+ Londoner Hotel Café | 1 (Macau Peninsula Mata e Oliveira flagship, only direct-owned store) |
| Average Queue Time | Coloane flagship 15–30 minutes on weekends; Venetian usually no wait | Weekday 10–15 minutes; weekend/peaks can reach 30–45 minutes |
| Signature Feature | Torch-seared caramel pattern; heritage "birthplace of egg tarts" pilgrimage value | Near Senate Square, Nova City; easily accessible in city; strong local regular customer base |
| International Store Status | Osaka, Japan (since 1999, Ken's Pass Co.), Manila, Philippines (since 1999, Just Simple Bakehouse) | No direct overseas stores; via 1999 KFC licensing agreement, indirectly expanded to Singapore/Taiwan/Malaysia/Mainland China |
| Rating Sources | Michelin Guide listed; TripAdvisor 4.5★ (>3,000 reviews) | TripAdvisor 4.0★ (>1,500 reviews); CNN Travel feature |
3. Complete Store Location List
All Lord Stow's Bakery Locations in Macau
| # | Store Name | Address | Business Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coloane Flagship (Original Shop) | 1 Rua do Tassara, Coloane Town Square | 07:00–21:00 | Founded in 1989; pilgrimage essential |
| 2 | Lord Stow's Garden Café | Garden area behind Coloane flagship | 09:00–20:00 | Largest location in Coloane village; sit down for coffee |
| 3 | Lord Stow's Bakery (Taipa Rua do Cunha) | Rua do Cunha, Taipa Village | 09:00–22:00 | Must-visit spot on Taipa old street |
| 4 | Lord Stow's Bakery & Café (Venetian) | Shop 870 & 308 Mask Street, Shoppes at Venetian | 10:00–22:30 | Opened August 2010, most convenient for tourists |
| 5 | Lord Stow's Bakery & Café (Londoner) | Inside The Londoner Macao | Based on mall hours | New resort location |
Margaret's Café e Nata
| # | Store Name | Address | Business Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Macau Peninsula Flagship (Only Store) | Shop G, Kam Loi Building, 17B Rua do Comandante Mata e Oliveira | Weekday 08:30–16:30; Weekend 10:00–18:00; Closed Wednesdays | About 5-minute walk from Nova City; in north alley of Senate Square |
Important Notice: Margaret's has only ONE direct store in all of Macau. Most "Margaret's branches" in the market are either imitations or name confusions.
4. Queue Tips + Best Times
Lord Stow's Coloane Flagship
- Best Time: Weekday morning 7:30–10:00 (just opened, first batch, no tour buses)
- Avoid: Weekends 11:00–15:00 (tour bus arrivals dense); Macau public holidays; October 1 Golden Week, Lunar New Year
- Alternative Strategy: Venetian location almost never has queues; products are the same. Time-pressed travelers should go directly to Venetian or Taipa Rua do Cunha
- Fun Fact: There's a Garden Café opposite the Coloane flagship; if the main store is full, you can get the same tarts at Garden Café
Margaret's Macau Peninsula Flagship
- Best Time: Weekday 08:30–10:00 right when opening; afternoon after 14:00 is also a good period
- Avoid: Closed all day Wednesdays (not open); lunch hour 12:00–14:00; peak season weekends 11:00–13:00
- Queue Speed: Though there are many people, the line moves fast; average 10–15 minutes wait to enter
- Ordering Tip: Tell the staff your total quantity directly; cash/Octopus/Macau Pay payment is fastest. Don't buy just 1–2 pieces (staff prefer handling larger orders)
5. 8 FAQs
Q1: Which egg tart is better?
A: Both share the same origin and are Macanese egg tart classics. Flavor difference: Lord Stow's is sweeter, more prominent caramel top, richer milk flavor; Margaret's is lighter, more pronounced egg flavor, more layered pastry but some find it greasier. The final answer depends on your sweetness preference – choose Lord Stow's for caramel richness, choose Margaret's for lighter egg flavor. Try both.
Q2: Is there a price difference?
A: In 2025, both single egg tarts cost approximately MOP 11 – negligible difference. Lord Stow's 6-piece MOP 65 / 12-piece MOP 130; Margaret's 12-piece approximately MOP 80 (occasionally adjusted). Overall Margaret's 12-piece is slightly cheaper, but note it only accepts cash/Macau electronic payment.
Q3: How much does queue time differ?
A: Weekdays, both are under 10–20 minutes. Weekend peak season: Lord Stow's Coloane flagship starts at 30 minutes; Margaret's 30–45 minutes. However, Lord Stow's has 4 Macau locations to分流, Venetian/Taipa branches almost no wait; Margaret's has only 1 location in all of Macau with no distribution.
Q4: Where do locals usually go?
A: Locals are divided. Macau Peninsula residents mostly choose Margaret's (convenient location, easily reached in city, more affordable). Taipa/Coloane residents mostly choose Lord Stow's ("neighborhood brand," stronger taste identity). Some local elders also prefer Margaret's "homemade flavor," finding Lord Stow's too commercialized.
Q5: How should tourists choose?
A: First-time visitors to Macau should go to Lord Stow's Coloane flagship (birthplace of egg tart, story value), then grab coffee at Andrew's Garden Café nearby. Time-pressed tourists can go directly to Venetian location. Tourists whose main itinerary is Macau Peninsula attractions (Senate Square, Ruins of St. Paul's) should drop by Margaret's for efficiency.
Q6: Can I bring them home or as gifts?
A: Both offer 6-piece/12-piece takeout boxes, but the optimal freshness window is only 4–6 hours after baking. Not recommended to buy the night before returning to Hong Kong/Taiwan. Best for gifting: Lord Stow's has higher international brand recognition and exquisite paper box design, more suitable for foreign friends. Hong Kong visitors note: Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong sells Lord Stow's licensed egg tarts (phone +852 2825 4008, wholesale orders >100 pieces available).
Q7: How to handle corporate bulk orders?
A: Lord Stow's: Orders of 100+ pieces require official ordering phone (Coloane flagship +853 2888 2534) or through Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong Cake Shop. Margaret's: No public bulk order channel; must contact in person or by phone (+853 2871 0032), closed Wednesdays no orders accepted. Macau local hotels/restaurants source directly from Lord Stow's Coloane factory.
Q8: Are there international locations?
A: Lord Stow's has 2 official overseas licensed stores: Osaka Dotonbori, Japan (1-10-6 Dotonbori, Chuo, Osaka), Manila Quezon City, Philippines (847 Banawe St.). Margaret's has no overseas direct stores, but since licensing to KFC in 1999, KFC in Singapore/Taiwan/Malaysia/Mainland China egg tarts are derived from Margaret's recipe.
6. Confidence Notes
- Confidence: medium
- Both are Macau's most well-known brands with abundant public information and sufficient media coverage (CNN, SCMP, Michelin, Macao Magazine)
- Some data has时效性 risk: store hours (may change due to holidays), single unit prices (adjust every 1–2 years), Margaret's founding year (exact date not disclosed)
- Subjective taste comments (sweetness, richness) vary by individual preference; this article uses multiple reviews cross-verified for trends
7. Sources
- Lord Stow's Bakery Official Website
- Lord Stow's About Andrew
- Lord Stow's Japan Branch
- SCMP — How Macau's Portuguese egg tart was created by a British pharmacist
- Macao Magazine — Baking Macao's edible icon for over three decades
- Macao News — Eileen Stow honoured by Queen Elizabeth II
- CNN Travel — Margaret's Café e Nata
- Macau Lifestyle — Margaret's Café e Nata
- Bangkok Post — How a Brit got Asia to fall for Macau's Portuguese egg tarts
- Belly Rumbles — Lord Stow's Bakery Macao Licensed to Fill
- The Venetian Macao — Lord Stow's Bakery & Café
- Mandarin Oriental HK — Lord Stow's Egg Tarts Bulk Orders
- Taipa Village — Lord Stow's Rua do Cunha Store
- OpenRice — Margaret's Egg Tart Shop (Nova City)
- GoTrip — Macau Egg Tart Recommendations (10 shops)
- Expat Gourmand — Lord Stow's vs Margaret's
- When In Manila — Macau Egg Tart Battle
- Andrew's Bakery — Wikipedia Cantonese Edition
Data Sources / Relevant Verification
This article's information is compiled from internal FactcheckDocs (MO_datatable_eggtart_andrew_vs_margaret_v1.md), referencing MO district public official data and industry documents. For verification details, see authority sources at page end.
MO_HK_midautumn_lantern_v1.md
Frequently Asked Questions
Which shop was founded first, Lord Stow or Margaret's?
Both were co-founded on September 15, 1989 by Andrew Stow and Margaret Wong, and became two separate brands after their divorce.
Where is Andrew's Bakery flagship located?
1 Coloane Town Square (Rua do Tassara), operating since 1989.
How many stores does Margaret's have?
Only 1 direct store, located on Macau Peninsula at Rua do Comandante Mata e Oliveira, no other branches.
What's the single egg tart price at both shops?
Both are MOP 11/piece; Margaret's 12-piece is approximately MOP 80, Andrew's is MOP 130.
When does Andrew bake egg tarts?
Baking starts daily from 7:00 AM continuously until evening, rotated supply throughout the day.
