Tatler’s picks of Macau’s best boutique hotels

Things took a positive turn when Lek Hang Group took ownership over the building in 2016. Renovation work, which commenced in 2019, was meticulously carried out by Cheng Chung Design under the supervision of the Macau Cultural Affairs Bureau, in order to preserve the building’s historic structure. What eventually emerged is an antique jewel box of a hotel unlike any other in the SAR: mosaics and murals by local artists—depicting both Macau’s Portuguese and Chinese cultural landmarks—greet visitors on ground level. A working gramophone and other vintage knick knacks adorn every corner of the lobby. The Palace Restaurant, a dim sum joint beloved by locals, has been reimagined as a fusion restaurant, serving dim sum-inspired English afternoon tea sets. Rooms categories are divided by the different decades they were inspired by, from the 1920s through to the 40s. Delightful details can be found in every space, from old newspaper clippings to vintage phones with rotary dials. The 1930s rooms are undoubtedly the ones to book, each fitted with wood-panelled walls, wicker furniture and stylish bathrooms decked in green subway tiles. Four of these rooms include remarkably spacious balconies overlooking the Historic Centre of Macau, including the Ruins of St Paul. That same view can be enjoyed from the rooftop, which is open to the public; here, you can also gaze upon the iconic Hotel Central sign, polished and ready to dazzle once again.

There is no shortage of luxury hotels in Macau, but none can rival the unique setting of Pousada de São Tiago. The pousada, or inn, was originally The Fortress of São Tiago da Barra, built by the Portuguese in the 17th century to fend off Dutch forces and local pirates. One of the cannons is still intact and stands guard by the hotel’s main’s entrance. Ascending the cavernous staircase leading up to the lobby feels like going through a time travel tunnel: flickering yellow light bulbs, meant to resemble candlelight, illuminate the thick stone walls and two azulejo (Portuguese blue tile) murals cradling the ceiling. A cascading waterfall at the top of the stairs fills the space with the calming sound of streaming water.

The property was converted into a boutique hotel in the 1980s and is considered one of the most underrated romantic stays in Macau, thanks to its castle setting, magnificent view of Sai Van Lake and a quaint 18th-century chapel on the grounds, available for small wedding ceremonies. The local community was saddened to hear of its indefinite closure back in 2017, caused by the construction of the Macau Light Rapid Transit right across the road. Seven years and a pandemic later, the hotel reopened this January to the surprise and delight of its many regulars. Rather than a complete makeover, the ethos seems to have been to maintain it as a frozen time capsule: the hotel looks exactly the same as before it had temporarily shut its doors, from the terracotta tiled roof down to the furniture in La Paloma, the Spanish restaurant on-site. The hotel is currently only open for dining services, so it remains to be seen whether its 12 spacious suites—which had chinoiserie bedding and mahogany Portuguese bed frames—have been given an update. La Paloma is still one of the best places in Macau to take afternoon tea. The view from its courtyard has completely shape-shifted due to reclamation and urban development in the past few years. So, perhaps it's a small comfort that the hotel’s historic charm and tranquillising atmosphere have remained untouched by time.

Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau is one of the few urban resorts not located on the Cotai Strip, complete with a spa, a tropical swimming pool and kids’ club. Situated in Zona Nova de Aterros do Porto Exterior, a neighbourhood built on reclaimed land on the Eastern fringes of Macau Peninsula, it is a short walk away from the city’s more low-key cultural sights, such as the Macau Museum of Art and Kun Iam Statue. The building has lived several past lives: it was home to The Mandarin Oriental, Macau, the first internationally branded hotel in the city, and has since been reflagged to The Grand Lapa. It went through a redesign in 2021 to assume a more art-focused identity, as the current name suggests.

As part of the refresh, Amagao Gallery—an exhibition space celebrating art from Macau and Portugal—was unveiled on the ground floor. The same dedication to the city’s Sino-Portuguese heritage can be felt throughout the rest of the hotel. Rooms are decorated with azulejo artwork by Carlos Marreiros, an acclaimed Macanese artist. The focal point of the lobby is a replica of “The Window of Tomar” atop the grand staircase; this wooden structure is a recreation of the Unesco-listed Convent of Christ in Tomar, Portugal, an important religious site. Café Bela Vista, where breakfast and buffet dinners can be enjoyed, is a tribute to Bela Vista Hotel, a colonial era hotel on Penha Hill which currently serves as the official residence of the Consul-General of Portugal to Hong Kong and Macau. Interiors of the café, all pastel yellow arches and white shutter windows, pay homage to The Bela Vista’s colonial architecture. Nightcaps are served at Vasco Bar, named after the famed Portuguese navigator Vasco de Gama. The cocktail menu is inspired by his voyages to various corners of the Earth, ranging from a Mozambican mint julep made with cashew milk to Calcutta gin cocktails mixed with Indian spices. The Artyzen makes for a compelling case study for how cross-cultural appreciation can extend to every facet of hospitality—to create a truly Macanese experience that cannot be replicated anywhere else.

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