When it comes to Macau cuisine, most people first think of the World Heritage area on the Macau Peninsula. However, Cotai, this modern reclaimed area, also hides some stunning Portuguese restaurants. Cotai brings together several star-rated resorts, where Portuguese restaurants perfectly blend tradition with innovation, offering travelers a different culinary experience.
Featured Highlights
Portuguese cuisine in Cotai has a subtle difference from that on the Macau Peninsula. Many restaurants here are hidden within large integrated resorts, with more refined settings and relatively higher prices. It's worth noting that "Macanese Cuisine" is Macau's unique culinary heritage—this culinary style that blends cooking techniques from Portugal, Goa (India), Malacca, and Nagasaki (Japan) emerged over 400 years of Sino-Portuguese cultural exchange and is an important element for Macau's UNESCO "Creative City of Gastronomy" certification. In Cotai, you can savor classic Macanese dishes with African curry and coconut milk at high-end restaurants, such as African Chicken and Curry Crab.
Recommended Places
1. Zi Yi Xuan (Four Seasons Hotel)
Located inside the Four Seasons Hotel in Cotai, Zi Yi Xuan is a Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant, but its executive chef has extensive research on Macanese cuisine and launches limited-time Portuguese dish sets based on the season. The restaurant blends classical Chinese style with modern minimalism, offering an extremely comfortable dining environment. Signature dishes include slow-cooked Portuguese Chicken with Saffron Risotto, where traditional Portuguese chicken is prepared using low-temperature slow cooking, keeping the chicken juicy and flavorful. Lunch set prices are around MOP$600-800, while dinner is between MOP$1,200-1,800. It's recommended to book one week in advance.
2. Portuguese Club (Galaxy Macau)
If you want to savor authentic Portuguese cuisine, "Portuguese Club" at Galaxy Macau is an excellent choice. The restaurant is led by a Portuguese chef, with ingredients imported from Lisbon, including Portuguese chorizo, bacalhau (salted cod) and port wine. The must-try recommendation is "Authentic Portuguese Chicken"—using the traditional recipe with coconut milk, curry powder and Portuguese chorizo, the chicken is tender and flavorful, paired with savory potato chunks for rich layers. Another signature dish is "Roasted Suckling Pig," with crispy skin and tender meat, served with roasted apples and honey sauce, perfectly showcasing Portuguese grilling techniques. Average spending is around MOP$400-700 per person. The restaurant is open from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
3.喜公館 (The Venetian)
Located at The Venetian Resort,喜公館 is a restaurant combining Macanese cuisine with modern creativity. The environment is filled with old Macau town atmosphere, with black and white old photographs hanging on the walls. Their "Macanese Buffet Lunch" is very popular, covering classic dishes such as African Chicken, Spicy Prawns, Bacalhau Balls and Portuguese Egg Tarts. The buffet lunch is priced at MOP$298 per person, and weekends and holidays tend to be crowded, so arriving early is recommended. Notably, the restaurant offers vegetarian options, including "Vegetarian Portuguese Chicken" made with plant-based meat, catering to travelers with different dietary needs.
4. Monte Carlo Café (The Londoner)
If you want to experience Portuguese flavors in a more relaxed way, visit Monte Carlo Café at The Londoner hotel. They offer authentic Portuguese coffee and simple meals, including the highly popular "Portuguese Minced Beef"—minced beef stir-fried with french fries, topped with a fried egg, making it aromatic. A minced beef set with coffee costs around MOP$120-150, making it affordable. The café is open 24 hours, suitable for travelers looking for late-night snacks.
5. Port Restaurant (Cotai Strip)
Located on Cotai Strip, Port Restaurant specializes in seafood-based Portuguese cuisine. Since it's near the dock, the seafood here is particularly fresh. The signature "White Wine Mussels" uses New Zealand mussels, paired with white wine, garlic and herbs, sweet and plump; "Portuguese Seafood Rice" combines shrimp, mussels and other seafood with rich broth, making it a heavyweight delight. Seafood rice for two costs around MOP$500-700. The restaurant is closed on Wednesdays.
Practical Information
Transportation: From the Macau Peninsula, you can take a bus to Cotai, commonly used routes include No. 15, 21A, 25, 26A buses, with a fare of MOP$6 (approximately HK$5.8, and the currencies of both places are interchangeable). If departing from the Border Gate, the journey takes about 20 minutes. You can also take a taxi, with a fare of about MOP$60-80.
Costs: Prices at Portuguese restaurants in Cotai vary widely, with affordable cafés costing about MOP$100-200 per person, mid-range restaurants around MOP$400-700, and high-end star-rated restaurants above MOP$1,000.
Opening Hours: Most restaurants serve lunch from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM and dinner from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Please refer to each restaurant's official announcement for specific times.
Travel Tips
Macau was selected by UNESCO as a "Creative City of Gastronomy" in 2017, with approximately 20 Michelin-starred restaurants across the city. It's recommended that travelers combine Portuguese cuisine with the integrated resort experience in Cotai and plan a half-day tour. In the post-pandemic era, more and more restaurants offer online reservation services. You can book in advance through their official websites or social media platforms to save waiting time. If you want to avoid crowds, weekday lunchtimes offer a better dining experience. Remember to bring your Macau Pass (澳门通), which can be used for buses and also for settling bills at some restaurants, making it convenient and quick.
