13 Best Restaurants in Macau, China

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.

Time stands still inside A Lorcha (“wooden ship”), a cozy Portuguese restaurant that has delighted local diners and travelers since 1989. The menu has barely changed since it opened; nor have the portions. Order dishes to share like dobradinha (spicy beef tripe and chickpea stew), pataniscas de bachalau (salt cod fritters with vegetables), and Macanese coconut and turmeric chicken. But save room for the serradura (“sawdust”), a Macau specialty made with layers of biscuits and pudding.

Originally a modest, traditional bakery opened by an Englishman named Andrew Stow in 1989, Lord Stow’s Bakery is now a culinary landmark in Coloane, just off the town square. Locals sit on nearby benches munching the signature hot and flaky p‘ou tát (custard tarts) straight from the oven. Inside the little shop, breads, muffins, cookies, and other homemade goods are on offer, but be sure to walk out with at least one egg tart. There are also branches in The Venetian, The Londoner, and Taipa village.

Mesa by José Avillez is not your typical Portuguese restaurant. Its bold interior blends Chinese symbolism with Karl Lagerfeld’s signature black, white, and gold aesthetic while the food also bucks norms, its plates—like succulent piri piri chicken and beef croquettes with truffle and mustard emulsion—are made to share. If ordering à la carte, be sure to pick widely, and pair your food with one of the exclusive Douro Valley wines.

Occupying a converted two-story house with a small but pleasant balcony overlooking Coloane Village, this restaurant is Portuguese-owned and has a Portuguese chef—so it’s no surprise that it is a favorite of Portuguese residents. The food sticks to home-style classics, including one of the better versions of baked duck rice in town.

Everyone in Hong Kong and Macau knows about Fernando’s. The open-air dining pavilion and bar have attracted beachgoers for years, and the enterprising Fernando has built a legendary reputation for his Portuguese fare. Look for the vine-covered entrance close to Hác Sá Beach. Outside of summer, try to get a table in the outdoor garden. 

Located next to the Four Seasons’ Bali-inspired poolside, Belcanção offers an impressive buffet spread featuring Portuguese, Indian, Chinese, Italian, and a smaller selection of Japanese dishes. The dessert and salad bars are amply stocked, and the service is impeccable. Try the honey-glazed pork, have a slice of thin-crust pizza or a sashimi platter, and wash it all down with fresh fruit juice or a glass of wine. Follow up with an egg tart for good measure.

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.

A busy little eatery in the heart of Taipa Village, O Santos serves up classic Portuguese fare without frills or fluff—but with a lot of warm and lively hospitality. Decorated with Portuguese soccer paraphernalia, the gregarious owner’s navy keepsakes, and global currencies tacked to the walls, it’s not a place for a romantic night out, but the food is great. Try the suckling pig, baked duck rice, and, to finish, the serradura (a Portuguese dessert containing cookies and cream).

The house-made sangria is terrific.

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).

Vic’s Restaurante stays true to Portuguese traditions but lifts them up using top-tier ingredients and tools. Succulent 40-month-aged black Ibérico pork is put to use in a few different ways, while whole lobster rice, made for two to share, is cooked in a traditional Algarve copper pot. The food and service are excellent, but the breezy terrace facing the waterfront elevates it to a higher level. It’s one reason the restaurant has become a favorite among Macau’s Portuguese expat crowd.