An in-depth guide with practical information and expert recommendations for Macao.
For more recommendations, see the full guide.
Taipa is one of Macau's two major outer islands. With the development of the Cotai Strip in recent years, the area features a unique shopping ecosystem where high-end restaurants coexist with traditional markets. For travelers looking to purchase fresh seafood to cook at their homestays or taste freshly caught seafood locally, Taipa's Old Town has several seafood shopping destinations worth visiting.
Compared to the traditional markets on the Macau Peninsula, Taipa's seafood options are primarily medium-sized supermarkets and specialty stores, offering locally farmed shrimp and crab, imported frozen seafood, and dried seafood products. Due to the impact of geopolitical tensions on global shipping, imported seafood costs have risen significantly over the past two years—the US-Iran conflict caused marine fuel prices to nearly double, and increased container shipping costs have directly impacted retail prices. US tariff policies have also intensified price fluctuations for some imported seafood. Many stores have therefore started introducing locally farmed aquatic products as alternatives, such as locally farmed hard clams and green-lipped mussels, which not only have stable prices but also better suit Macau tastes.
Recommended Spots
1. Taipa Market (Next to Temporary Food Center)
Taipa Market is the island's most traditional seafood shopping spot, with multiple fish stalls on the ground floor fresh food section. Peak hours are from early morning to noon, and stalls gradually close after 3 PM. The advantage here is “fresh and lively”—the live swimming seafood in the tanks are exactly what you get, never kept overnight. Prices are slightly higher than on the Macau Peninsula, but the freshness is unbeatable. Ideal for travelers who want to personally select live shrimp and crab, recommended to go in the morning.
2. Lai Lai Supermarket (Taipa Branch)
Lai Lai Supermarket in Taipa town center has a dedicated aquatic products section with a wide selection of imported frozen seafood in freezer cabinets, including Norwegian salmon, Japanese scallops, and Vietnamese white shrimp meat. Although not live seafood, the packaging labels are clear and expiration dates are obvious. The supermarket occasionally runs promotions, such as weekend special hours when salmon fillets can drop to as low as MOP$28 per 100g, quite a bargain. High convenience, suitable for travelers with limited time or those without kitchen facilities at their accommodation.
3. Ming Ji Seafood
A long-established seafood shop near Rua da Cucu, specializing in dried goods and salted fish products. The shop is hung full of rows of dried shrimp, snail meat, dried scallops, and hair moss, exuding a traditional market atmosphere. The owner speaks both Cantonese and Mandarin, enthusiastically recommending suitable seafood gift boxes for presents. A box of premium dried scallops starts from around MOP$180, mid-range pricing. Although not fresh seafood, the long shelf life makes it ideal as a Macau souvenir to bring home.
4. Taipa Fish Stall (Inside Temporary Building)
The temporary fish stall on the edge of the old town area is smaller in scale but offers relatively more affordable prices. Its specialty is seasonal catches directly delivered from local fishing boats, with varieties changing according to the season. In summer, you'll commonly find mackerel and yellow croaker; in winter, it’s mainly goatfish. Occasionally you might encounter wild flower crabs, with prices potentially ranging from MOP$80 to MOP$150 per jin depending on the day’s catch fluctuations. Recommended to ask the boss about that day’s catch on site.
5. San Miu Supermarket (Flower City Branch)
The aquatic products section at San Miu Supermarket in the Flower City commercial district is modest in scale but has a balanced ratio of imported and local products. The local farmed hard clams here are especially recommended, priced at over MOP$25 per bag, perfect for making soup or stir-frying with ginger and scallions. Affected by the US-China trade war, imported American lobster prices are on the high side, so the store vigorously promotes locally farmed seafood instead—a quite flexible marketing strategy.
Practical Information
Transportation: To travel between the Macau Peninsula and Taipa, take the bus. Routes 11, 22, 28A, 30, and 33 all stop at Taipa Old Town area. From the Cotai Strip resort complex, it’s about a 15-20 minute walk to the Rua da Cucu area. Using a Macau Pass card for convenient payment is recommended, with a single journey fare of approximately MOP$6.
Operating Hours: Traditional markets usually open from 7 AM to 3 PM; supermarkets are mostly from 10 AM to 10 PM; seafood shops are concentrated from 9 AM to 7 PM, with more closures on Sundays.
Budget Reference: Live seafood MOP$60-150 per jin; frozen seafood MOP$25-80 per 100g; dried goods MOP$30-200 per pack. Restaurant cooking and processing fees are approximately MOP$20-50.
Travel Tips
Bring your own ice packs when purchasing live seafood, otherwise summer heat can easily cause spoilage. If your accommodation allows cooking, it’s recommended to go early to the market to select; if you’re late, only chilled seafood will remain. Remember that both taxis and buses in Macau accept Hong Kong dollars, but change is usually given in Macau pataca. For souvenirs, dried goods are the most convenient since you don’t have to worry about freshness preservation.
Macau City Data
- Tourism Scale: According to Macau Government Tourism Office statistics, total visitor arrivals exceeded 34 million in 2024, with tourism being the most important pillar of Macau’s GDP.
- World Heritage: The Historic Centre of Macau was inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2005, comprising 22 buildings and 8 squares, making it China’s 31st World Heritage site.
- Portuguese-Macau Heritage: Macau became a permanent Portuguese settlement in 1557, with over 460 years of Sino-Western cultural integration, making it a uniquely global crossroads of Chinese and Western cultures.
