I’ve been to places where cultures meet politely, shake hands and go their separate ways. Macau is not one of them. It’s rare to see identities not only coexist but completely collide and somehow thrive in the resulting chaos. Within the borders of a city smaller than Singapore, ingredients that shouldn’t be found somehow find themselves, creating an alchemy that I can only describe as a fever dream.
you try it in minchia dish that is as Portuguese as it is Chinese, but unmistakably Macanese. You feel it as you pass baroque churches in the shadow of neon-lit baccarat palaces, the air thick with incense and roasted pork belly, as the cobblestone streets whisper in Portuguese. Somewhere between the colonial arches and the LED billboards, this city found its rhythm, united between the past and the future, and no other city on Earth exudes it. If that sounds like your kind of escape, here’s Men’s Folio’s guide to Macau with all its glitz, glamor and hidden gems.
What to see: Start with culture right at the center of it all. He Lisbon Grand Palace Art Gallery is a dedicated cultural space, and its main exhibition, “The Lisbon, Stories of Macau”, is a masterclass in modern curation. Forget chronological timelines. This is a sensory atlas that tells the story of 500 years of collision between East and West through films, artifacts from the Qing Dynasty, and artificial intelligence installations that allow you to converse with historical figures. It’s the ultimate high-tech deep dive into the rich culture you came to witness, and lucky for you, it’s being digitized on the second floor of a luxury resort.
The gardens are large and spacious.
Jardim Secreto is a replica of the gardens found in European castles.
After all that history, you need air. Go to Secret Garden [Secret Garden] on the third floor of the hotel. It is a European-style garden, filled with well-tended, romantic greenery and a one-of-a-kind lawn maze. It feels completely out of place, a piece of Versailles inexplicably dropped into the Cotai Strip, but that’s the point. You can stroll, you can breathe, you can contemplate the absolute absurdity of Macau’s wealth while you find yourself in a perfectly crafted moment of serenity. It is a beautiful lie that allows you to recharge your batteries before going out.
But what is a short trip abroad if not an afternoon of shopping? Fortunately, just a few minutes from the gardens is CDF Store Macau Grand Lisboa Palacea sprawling flagship store operated by China Duty Free Group. Spanning 7,500 square meters, this luxurious destination is home to more than 170 world-renowned high-end brands, offering everything from high-end watches, jewelry and cosmetics to fashion accessories and fine wines, all with the benefit of duty-free status. It serves as a one-stop shop that significantly enhances the retail experience in Macau.
The ruins of Saint Paul
The ruins of Saint Paul
Once you’re ready to dust off your boots, leave the confines of the palace and head to the ancient peninsula. I recommend starting from Saint Paul Ruins. It’s the postcard photo, sure, but it’s essential for a reason. This 17th-century Catholic church façade, backed only by the sky, is the original monument to Macau’s fever dream, a scorched-earth reminder of Portuguese influence, surrounded by street vendors selling pork jerky and almond cookies just down the street.
Macau Tower seen from the Chapel of Our Lady of Penha
The Chapel of Our Lady of Penha
The Chapel of Our Lady of Penha
Then you have your contrasts. He Macau Tower It is a modern, glass and steel statement of contemporary ambition, useful primarily as a giant, visible landmark in the sky. It’s the new Macau crying out for attention. To find the old Macao whispering, go up the hill to the Chapel of Our Lady of La Peña. It’s not just a beautiful place; It’s the calm view you need. From here, you can look out over the entire city and finally understand how this beautiful, sprawling mess is held together. It is the calm, meditative view that makes sense of all the noise. Trust me, it’s the only place that will make you never want to leave Macau.
THE KARL LAGERFELD lobby centerpiece
The lobby of the KARL LAGERFELD
Where to stay: I have never believed in traveling wrapped in comfort. You don’t really feel a place when you’re protected from it. But Macau has a way of bending the rules. Ask any local – every recommendation – restaurant, gallery or landmark – takes you straight to a hotel lobby.
Case in point: THE KARL LAGERFELD. When you arrive in its black and white marble lobby, you know you have made a very interesting life decision. This hotel, located inside the Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau, was not designed just for sleeping; It was conceived by Lagerfeld himself as a habitable thought experiment. It remains the only hotel in the world to bear his name.
From the moment you walk in, the space feels like a traveling exhibition. Every corner is deliberate. Black, white, and gold and red tones dominate, but it never feels sterile. Lagerfeld’s fingerprints are everywhere, from the embossed leather to the striking chandelier wrapped in sheer fabric.
The Createur suite at THE KARL LAGERFELD
The Createur suite at THE KARL LAGERFELD
The rooms continue the narrative: elegance tempered by boldness. Even the entry-level suites feel incredibly luxurious, each over six hundred square feet with separate living areas. It’s here where the Macau collision really happens: chandeliers illuminate the space, while specially commissioned furniture and handmade porcelain vases from Jingdezhen add history. The entire space is a passport photograph of East and West, taken by a fashion genius. Even He book roomwhere breakfast is served, looks like your private library in Paris.
The KARL LAGERFELD book room
Breakfast in THE KARL LAGERFELD book room
THE KARL LAGERFELD indoor pool
The attention to detail extends to the gold freestanding tubs and indoor pool, which feels less like swimming and more like stepping into a private couture salon. Turquoise tiles and scalloped stone columns create a scene that is both inviting and performative. You can float, sunbathe, pretend you belong, and knowing it’s just as theatrical as the rest of Macau makes it more fun.
José Avillez table features an LED ceiling in the main dining room
José Avillez’s Mesa bar
What to eat: Before you venture out, there is one hotel dining room that I highly recommend: José Avillez’s table. Located on the third floor, it feels less like a meal and more like stumbling upon a conversation between Portugal and Karl Lagerfeld. The design is pure theatre, a signature Lagerfeld touch that you’ll see throughout the hotel: gilded with a dramatic touch, all topped by an LED ceiling that changes the mood from sensual to surreal.
But then there’s the food, and that’s where Avillez steals the show. It takes classic Portuguese flavors and twists them just enough to make you reconsider everything you thought about bacalhau. The menu is smart without being precious. Order the classic Bacalhau to Brás with Explosive Olives for a taste of modern cuisine, and follow it up with seafood rice and caviar. You will feel the intention of the kitchen in every bite.
José Avillez’s table offers Portuguese classics with a different touch
The interiors of Mesa by José Avillez are inspired by bird cages
However, Mesa is not just about spectacle. There is a clear conscience here that can be savored and admired. A world-renowned mixologist crafts impressive cocktails that beautifully chronicle the city’s unique Portuguese and Chinese history. They use ecoSPIRITS for their bar program, reducing waste, carbon, and all the nonsense that normally hides behind a cocktail menu. The wines are carefully selected, the drinks are measured, shaken and stirred with the kind of care that makes you respect the person behind the glass. You’ll notice, because when you start worrying about what’s in your glass, you start worrying about everything else on your plate.
When the check arrives, this meal feels like a welcome reminder that luxury doesn’t have to be suffocating. We rarely recommend dining at a hotel in a city guide, but you’ll leave Mesa feeling a little smarter, a little more cultured, and wanting more. Hungry for the next dish, for the next flavor, for the next city. Isn’t that, ultimately, what travel is really about?
Wulao’s classic Chinese interiors in the shopping atrium of the Grand Lisboa Resort Macau
The hotpots are served in a traditional Chinese atmosphere.
But you’re in the Cantonese region, and to completely reset your palate, you need a hotpot. I know most of you reading this have tried sharing soups, but there’s nothing like the way Wulao in the hotel’s commercial atrium it does. Maybe it’s the signature “Creamy Tofu” that has earned its cult status from Taipei to Macau, or maybe it’s the balanced spicy broth infused with medicinal herbs that manages to provide fire without that usual tongue-numbing excess. It’s an immersion. The charming Chinese interiors are just the setting for a perfect and deeply satisfying burn.
Then comes the time for the traditional blow. What is a trip without that crucial, messy encounter on the street? He Portuguese egg tart is the obvious one, a thing of beauty distinguished by its burnished, deeply caramelized custard and a flaky, buttery puff pastry crust. Compare it to its Chinese cousin and you will understand the fusion.
But the authentic and essential street snack of Macau is the Pork Chop Bun. It is a fried or braised pork chop, marinated and tucked into a slightly sweet Portuguese-style “pork bun” with a crispy exterior and a soft, pliable interior. No side dish or fuss, just the simple, juicy pork and the buttery bun. It’s an honest piece of edible history and costs less than the taxi fare to the fancy hotel. That’s the Macau you came for.
Click the links below to learn more about THE KARL LAGERFELD and the Grand Palace of Lisbon Macau.
Photograph Jaya Khidir
Art direction and story Manfred Lu
Photography assistant Amirul Fazaile
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