Macao is the only place in the world that simultaneously has MICHELIN-starred restaurants and street-side Portuguese egg tarts. The city's culinary landscape is like an open history book - Portuguese cuisine has undergone over 400 years of evolution here, transforming from colonial court dishes into today's unique flavors that blend the wisdom of the Macanese. In 2026, Macao's restaurant industry is ushering in a new wave of high-end development, with several upscale restaurants setting up in the Nam Van Lake area. However, for travelers who truly want to understand Macao's cuisine, the family-run small shops in the old town are the core. This article doesn't introduce the MICHELIN restaurants inside the integrated resorts - instead, it takes you into the alleyways of the Macao Peninsula to taste those Portuguese restaurants that still adhere to traditional flavors.
Portuguese restaurants in Macao can generally be divided into three types: The first type specializes in Portuguese cuisine, with dishes leaning toward traditional Lisbon flavors; the second type is Macanese home cooking, heavily influenced by Southeast Asian ingredients; the third type is time-honored establishments that fuse Chinese and Portuguese cooking techniques. This guide's five recommendations cover all three types, giving you a complete experience of Macao's Portuguese culinary spectrum.
Casa do Bacalhau is located at No. 34 Rua da Mercado, with a Google rating of 4.9 stars. It is one of the few specialty stores in Macao with "Portuguese Cod" as its core theme. The store name directly points out its signature dish - the Bacalhau (salted cod) here is the signature of signatures, prepared using traditional Portuguese methods. The meat is moist rather than dry, paired with olive oil and mashed potatoes, instantly transporting you to a roadside eatery in Lisbon. The owner is particular about ingredients, insisting on using imported Portuguese cod, never Southeast Asian farmed varieties. The atmosphere is relaxed and family-style, perfect for travelers who want to focus on savoring cod dishes. Phone +853 6868 9062.
Restaurante Português is located at 7-9 Rua do Campo, G/F, directly facing the most bustling Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau Square in Macao. Its biggest advantage is location - after exploring the World Heritage-listed Senado Square, you can turn into the underground shops to taste traditional Portuguese cuisine. The restaurant is not large, but the walls are filled with old photos of Macao, creating a nostalgic atmosphere. Recommended dishes are grilled Bacalhau and Portuguese seafood rice, with portions suitable for two people to share. Prices are in the mid-range, suitable for travelers with tight itineraries to quickly grab a meal here. Phone +853 2833 9999.
Restaurante Santos is located at 7-9 Avenida de Horta e Costa, G/F, making it one of the most established Portuguese restaurants on the Macao Peninsula. The Santos family has been operating since the 1950s, now in its third generation. The cuisine here leans toward traditional Portuguese home-style flavors, with signature dishes including Portuguese roast chicken, baked Portuguese chicken, and Bacalhau croquettes. The biggest特点是份量慷慨，價格實惠——在香港同等品質的餐廳可能要貴上三成。餐廳堅持使用本地新鮮食材，而非進口冷凍貨，這也是老顧客迴流的主因。電話 +853 2833 7788。
Restaurante Galo is located at 10 Rua do Eastern Slope, Bao Bao Building, one of the few old establishments in Macao that has preserved the atmosphere of 1970s Portuguese restaurants. The interior decor still maintains old-style tile walls and solid wood booths, with photos of the owner and Portuguese sailors hanging on the walls. The signature dishes are Portuguese seafood stew and roast suckling pig, with heavier seasoning, suitable for diners who enjoy rich flavors. Most of the service staff here are locals who grew up watching this restaurant, with a friendly attitude that makes you feel like coming home. Phone +853 2882 7423.
NAPE Portuguese Food is located in Edifício Chung Yue (Alameda Dr. Carlos d'Assumpcao), specializing in Macanese cuisine. Macanese cuisine is a unique food category in Macao - combining Portuguese cooking techniques with Southeast Asian ingredients (such as coconut milk, lemongrass, turmeric), forming a one-of-a-kind flavor. The curry crab and African chicken here are must-orders, with rich sauce and slight spiciness, completely different from traditional Portuguese cuisine. The restaurant is located in the NAPE area, not far from the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, making it suitable for the first meal after arriving in Macao or the last stop before leaving. Phone +853 2870 3898.
Portuguese restaurants on the Macao Peninsula are most densely distributed in two areas: Senado Square and Avenida de Horta e Costa. If arriving from the ferry terminal or airport, you can take a taxi to Senado Square, with a journey of about 15 minutes and a fare of approximately MOP$50-70. Most restaurants accept Alipay, WeChat Pay, and credit cards, while younger establishments also accept Macau Pass. It is recommended to avoid the lunch peak hours of 12:00-13:30, otherwise you may need to wait in line.
There are a few things worth noting when eating Portuguese food in Macao: First, Portuguese restaurants usually close earlier for lunch, with some establishments not accepting new customers after 2:30 PM; second, "Bacalhau" in Macao refers to salted cod, not fresh cod, so first-timers may need to adapt to its savory salty flavor; third, some old establishments only accept cash, so it is recommended to carry around MOP$500 for backup. If you want to taste more authentic Macanese cuisine, it is recommended to choose old establishments in the Inner Harbour area, where restaurants have preserved more cooking methods from the 1950s.
Macao's restaurant industry is undergoing a transformation period. In early 2026, several upscale Portuguese restaurants opened in the Nam Van Lake area, with traditional old establishments facing rising rental pressures. This makes the existing time-honored brands even more precious - they not only provide food but are also living fossils of Macao's culinary history. When leaving Macao, instead of bringing back Portuguese egg tarts, bring back this complete understanding of Macao's Portuguese cuisine - this is the most worth preserving flavor of this city.
