19 Best Restaurants in Downtown Macau, Macau

Full-flavored petiscos—Portugal’s answer to tapas—take center stage at this stylish bar-restaurant in São Lázaro, alongside Portuguese craft beer, wine, and cocktails. Sip a bottle of vinho verde or a port-and-lychee cocktail while splitting plates of pica-pau (beef cubes with pickles), tender fried octopus, baby snails, and bacalhau com broa (baked cod with a cornbread crumble and black olives). The decor is a treasure trove of antiques, from hanging fish traps and copper stills to old pedal bikes and plush, red executive seats salvaged from decommissioned TAP planes—all sourced from Lisbon’s vintage markets. This beautiful tavern wouldn’t feel out of place in Bairro Alto.

Tucked into a charming cobblestone courtyard in Macau’s historic St. Lazarus district, Albergue 1601 serves up classic Portuguese flavors in a setting steeped in Luso culture. Chaves-born chef Pedro Almeida’s specialties—seafood rice stew, braised Ibérico pork cheek, piri piri chicken, grilled octopus bathed in garlic and olive oil—pair beautifully with a deep Portuguese wine list. When the weather’s right, dine alfresco beneath century-old camphor trees.

This grab-and-go spot hidden in an alley in the historic center isn’t much to look at it, but it really nails its specialty: Macau’s signature pork chop bun. Since 1965, the shop has served juicy, bone-in pork chops wedged between crusty bread and fluffy scrambled eggs. To wash it down, opt for either the cold milk tea or coffee, both brewed in a clay pot over charcoal. It may be simple, but Sei Kee has received Michelin Bib Gourmand status year after year for a reason. If you miss out here, join the queues at its other branch in Taipa. 

Part of the Macao University of Tourism (UTM), this restaurant is a training ground for students pursuing future careers in hospitality. They work in the kitchen, the bakery, and the front of the house on a variety of Macanese, Portuguese, and Western dishes, and they do it all at a high level. At lunch, order à la carte to try Macanese dishes like shrimp toast and chicken sautéed with turmeric and ginger, or come for dinner for the five-course set menu, including Macanese laksa, tamarind pork, and more made to pair with Portuguese wines.

This Parisian-style brasserie in the MGM Macau delivers refined renditions of classic dishes, from beef bourguignon to lobster bisque, in a setting that recalls old-world France. Imagine mahogany walls, rattan chairs, and cast-iron coat racks. The wine list runs a whole 85 pages and consistently ranks among Macau’s best.

Founded in 1870 as a private military club, the stately pink-and-white structure was restored in 1995 and reopened as a restaurant. Although the club itself is members-only, the dining room is open to the public for lunch and dinner. Its languid old-world atmosphere perfectly complements the extensive list of Portuguese dishes, including an excellent arroz de marisco (seafood rice) and African chicken, a Macanese classic.

Quirky and one-of-a-kind, long-standing Dom Galo is as famous for flamboyant decor—rooster paraphernalia, bright yellow chairs, spray-painted disco balls strung from the ceiling—as for its generously portioned Portuguese dishes. The clientele ranges from couples on dates to gambling-compliance lawyers and Cantonese families celebrating birthdays and special occasions.

Designed by Hong Kong’s Alan Chan, The Eight dazzles with its food as well as its decor, both of which have kept it in the Michelin guide for more than a decade. The red and gold interiors feature swimming goldfish motifs and the number eight—considered lucky in Chinese culture. The chefs here prepare fine Cantonese cuisine and dim sum, including signatures like tea-smoked pigeon and Cantonese-style sautéed lobster. The wine cellar contains a staggering 17,800-plus labels, and the tea selection is just as exceptional.

Lunchtime diners can choose from 40 different types of dim sum.

A Macau institution since 1903, Fat Siu Lau keeps locals and visitors coming back for its legendary roasted pigeon, shek ki—a family recipe perfected over generations. Still run by its founding family, the restaurant blends classic Macanese flavors with modern creations, making it a popular stop for those craving a taste of history.

With its dedicated view of the Wynn Macau's Performance Lake show and the flashing glows of the Lisboa casinos providing ambience, one of the most romantic restaurants in Macau plays host to Asian celebrities and well–heeled travelers alike. Popular among the impeccable southern Italian delights are tenderloin carpaccio and cioppino starters and sweet potato and pancetta gnocchi, accompanied by chilled wine from an exhaustive list. Desserts range from crispy cannoli to homemade sorbets and ice cream imported straight from Italy. Window seats in particular are at a premium and are best reserved three weeks in advance. The dress code is "casual elegance," which means long pants, closed-toe shoes, and no open shirts for men; this is not the place for children under five.

Lakeside Trattoria delivers classic Italian flavors in a scenic setting overlooking Nam Van Lake. Roman-style pizzas, handmade pastas, and seafood dishes shine, but don’t miss the chef’s lasagna with hearty meat ragù. End on a sweet note with Nutella pillows or scoop of rich gelato. When the weather is warm and breezy—basically anytime but summer—grab a veranda seat by the lake for the best experience.

Look for the cow logo marking Leitaria I Son, the original shop of Yee Shun Milk Company on Avenida Almeida Ribeiro. This nostalgic milk bar is known for its silky steamed milk and ginger pudding desserts, served hot or cold, plain or with toppings like red beans. Other specialties include frothy fruit milk shakes in flavors like papaya and banana, all enjoyed in its signature green-and-white cafeteria-style setting.

This timeless dim sum restaurant near the Red Market is a living museum: hard-backed booths, slow-whirring fans, pastel green frames, and wooden bird cages by windows that are almost always open—there’s no air-conditioning—keep the look and feel of Macau’s traditional teahouses alive. Order yum cha (dim sum) classics like siu mai (dumplings), steamed meatballs, barbecued pork buns, and pork ribs; pair it with a pot of pu’er tea; and recall the fading glory of mid-20th-century Macau.

Founded by the ex-wife of the late Andrew Stow (of Lord Stow’s fame), Margaret’s Café e Nata has been dishing out piping-hot egg tarts since 1992. Nestled in an alleyway between the Grand Lisboa and Senado Square, the café provides a cool, shaded environment to enjoy its buttery, caramelized tarts and a signature milk tea or iced coffee.

A staple of Macau’s souvenir scene, Pastelaria Koi Kei is best known for its almond biscuits, peanut brittle, and beef jerky. It also sells egg tarts, if you find yourself craving one but far from superior options like Lord Stow’s, Margaret’s, or Portuguese import Manteigaria. With shops all over the historic center, it’s hard to miss—and salespeople handing out samples make sure you don’t. It’s a convenient stop for those looking to bring home Macanese snacks.

Despite its Portuguese name, Portas do Sol is one of Macau’s top destinations for exquisite dim sum. Traditional favorites—barbecue pork buns, pan-fried turnip cakes, and delicate soup dumplings—share the menu with Chinese seasonal delicacies and haute cuisine creations. Desserts are just as refined, from fish-shape mango and coconut pudding to peanut-covered sticky rice dumplings filled with black sesame paste. With Hong Kong and mainland visitors packing the tables on weekends, reservations are a must.

Mediterranean beauty is in evidence inside and outside, with a gleaming white facade opening into a dining room with graceful arches, terra-cotta floors, and wrought-iron furniture. The menu is creative, with dishes ranging from African chicken to pork and clams cataplana (in a stew of onions, tomatoes, and wine).

As you walk into Wing Lei, you’re greeted by a dragon sculpted from a single piece of glass and 90,000 Swarovski crystals, dangling delicately above a yellow-and-coral room inspired by Van Gogh. The Michelin-starred restaurant lives up to this lavish look with signature dishes like steamed grouper with aged tangerine peel and succulent barbecued Ibérico pork. While the dinner degustation is not cheap, the lunch specials and dim sum sets, often priced at less than MOP$300, offer great value.