The Beat Stays: Mandarin Oriental Macau, Urban Retreat with Golden Service

Mandarin Oriental, Macau is unique in the gaming-strong city of Macau, serving the classic Mandarin Oriental style of accommodation and service as the SAR's only five-star hotel not affiliated with a casino. Comparable to any other MO location, the Macau hotel strives for perfection.

Opening in June 2010, the Mandarin Oriental property trades a familiar aura and steadfast commitment to intimate comfort in line with the original mission of the Hong Kong brand. We ventured to stay at the Mandarin Oriental, Macau on a weeknight and indulge in all three F&B venues in 24 hours. Here are our thoughts.

Venue & Neighbourhood

Sharing the limelight with the towering Grand Lisboa resort-casino north of Macau’s Nam Van Lake, Mandarin Oriental, Macau is a chic and contemporary urban retreat in the city. In lieu of hosting a casino at its property, Mandarin Oriental commits to supreme service, powerful food and beverage programmes, and homely rooms.

Mandarin Oriental’s Macau outpost shares an exclusive geographical setting on Avenida Dr. Sun Yat-sen, neighbouring the MGM Macau, Sands Macao, the Macau Cultural Centre, and Macau Science Center. A sunny day can produce magical views of Taipa and Zhuhai, while the night lights up with the mystical glow imposing on Cotai’s casino strip.

The Room

At 43 square metres in size and boasting colourful views of Macau’s western neighbourhoods and towering Zhuhai business district, our Deluxe Lake View Room was fit for kings. Paired with a plump king bed and goose down bedding, the spacious room pits you against the Macau tower, high and almighty in your serene and decadent castle.

With deluxe rooms located between the 4th and 23rd floors, floor-to-ceiling windows allow exposure to the elements. Circle around to the walk-in shower and wardrobe, and you’re treated with a shut-off from the world with neat brown shades and oak walls maintaining your privacy from the world.

I was a fan of the vanity and bathroom, as the latter stands central in the room, allowing guests to circle in either direction to relax in the bath or prepare for a day in the wardrobe. I did not even have time to explore the TV channels. The bed and sheets hugged me so tight I was lights off in seconds!

Amenities

In a gaming-heavy Macau, the casino-less Mandarin Oriental, Macau nurtures a compelling five-star identity with its handful of three powerful restaurants and bars and wellbeing facilities. Classic Mandarin Oriental treatments are available at the Spa. The Macanese Dragon is recommended, a two-hour and 15-minute treatment involving a deep body scrub with Mandarin Oriental’s signature body oil, followed by a steam shower and bath.

Dining at the Macau property is exquisite. Our three-course business lunch at the Vida Rica Restaurant was appetising and fused unique elements of the Mandarin story, tracing flavour elements from the West of Turkey to the far east of Japan.

The Vida Rica Bar offers Macau’s only cocktail-food pairing menu, an experimental discovery of the Silk Road through floral and herby cocktails, and paired nicely with Chinese and Western dishes.

Breakfast served at the Lobby Lounge was intimate and fared well for my British-style Mandarin Breakfast. However, the price of MOP238 was slightly higher than my expectations for the spread.

Experiences

The Mandarin Oriental, Macau, is a hotel to host parties for dining, relaxation and stays, but is not central to retain your attention on the property 24/7. At its doorstep, a wealth of Macau’s colonial history is begging for discovery.

The hotel can organise private bookings for a two-hour pit stop UNESCO tour around the cities. Many UNESCO heritage sites, including the Dom Pedro V Theatre and Ruins of St. Paul’s, are priced at MOP600 per person. For MO Fans, enjoy the lights of Macau in a guided helicopter tour at night.

I don’t game on my journeys to Macau, but the hotel is linked with a passageway to neighbouring MGM Macau that hosts gaming tables in their casino hall, if your objective to the city is adventure.

Check-Out Thoughts

Mandarin Oriental, Macau serves proof that an alternative experience to the gaming-heavy industry can be had and enjoyed supremely. Importing the classic hotelier experience from homebase Hong Kong, the Mandarin Oriental serves Macau with quintessential service, meals and cocktail experiences, and rooms that blend modern and the old.

The hotel should be your number one choice for experiences in Macau, away from gaming and towards experiencing the high standard of dining and architectural marvels in the city.

Where: Mandarin Oriental, Macau, N.◦945, Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen, Macau

Travelling across Asia soon? Check out more reviews of great hotels in the region in our The Beat Stays series.