The Beat Stays: Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16, French Luxury Meets Macau Chic

Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16 is a unique city hotel, positioned in the depths of Macau and overlooking the green perched hills of Zhuhai – it straddles convenience with coveted intimacy. The Macanese outpost in the west of the city peninsula is a true rendition of the Parisian hotel brand.

The Beat Asia ventured down the cobbled streets of Macau for a one-night stay at Sofitel Macau to discover luxury in the historic city. Here are our thoughts.

Venue & Neighbourhood 

Perched on the waterfront of the Macau Peninsula, Sofitel Macau sits inside the western parish of Santo Antonio, the SAR's densest and most ancient neighbourhood. The city’s most distinct landmarks – Ruins of St. Paul’s, Luís de Camões Garden, Macau Public Library – are a stone’s throw away from the hotel.

Sofitel Macau is housed within the Ponte 16 hotel and casino resort, opening in 2008. The luxury hotel group outpost in the former colonial Portuguese town celebrates a meeting of Macau’s Chinese identity with Parisian design motifs and bravado.

The Room

At Sofitel Macau, I enjoyed one night relaxing in the hotel’s Luxury Room, an expansive 37-square-metre space, offering a tasteful view of the Pearl River Delta set beyond the green hills of Zhuhai.

Within the luxurious room, jewel-toned fabrics drape the king-size bed, and beige and brown hues paint the furniture and walls. While diverging away from the brash golds, pinks, and yellows of classic French Gothic design, Sofitel Macau’s French theme is muted within the room. Room design is subtle and simple, yet slightly outdated, in comparison to competing MGM, Wynn, and Sands hotels down the road.

Sofitel’s MyBed mattress, sold and employed worldwide in the chain’s hotel properties, is an apt addition to the hotel room. My body was wrapped in a soft blanket and hugged by the lush memory foam. I slept through my 10 morning alarms—it was that good.

The LCD TV is equipped with dozens of Macanese, Chinese, and international satellite channels, which disappointed me in terms of quality of content and TV standard. I wish the main element of technology in the room had high-def quality, and I could AirPlay stream my own content.

Amenities

Sofitel Macau’s prime focus with a short stay at the hotel is relaxation, embodied in the fine facilities located on the sixth floor of the property. Open 24 hours a day for in-house guests, the Sofitel FITNESS gym is suitable for a detox session to pump muscles on your stay.

The neighbouring swimming pool is sheltered entirely by the mammoth body of the hotel, promising a serene dip in the cool water and a view of the blue skies above opposite Zhuhai. The pool is open till 10 PM, so even on humid, sticky summer evenings, your cooling awaits after dinner or a nighttime walk in Macau.

I did not have a chance to enter the Sofitel SPA, but the French-inspired rejuvenation of facial massages, hammam wellness experiences, youthful eyes treatment, and champagne and jacuzzi for two sounded exquisite.

Seven restaurants are housed within the 18 floors at Sofitel Macau, embracing the fusion of Chinese and French tastes. My morning began at the international buffet of Mistral Restaurant, serving Cantonese porridges, French pastries, and Italian meats. Located upstairs, Le Chinois Cantonese Restaurant served great innovative dim sum plates.

Experiences

In opposition to the grand palaces of Cotai and mega resorts east on the Macau Peninsula, Sofitel Macau is sensible with its approach to a five-star hotel experience. A package of great dining, relaxation in the health facilities, and spacious rooms is served well.

Would it be fair to say that artistic and cultural experience can be offered outside the hotel at the expense of Sofitel Macau’s limited square footage? Maybe, but its location is prime for rich culture and food exploration in the Macau Peninsula.

Check-Out Thoughts

Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16 is a suitable choice for a short-stay in Macau, crowned as one of the most affordable five-star hotels on the southern part of the Peninsula. I would recommend the resort for a weekend trip in terms of ease of access to Macau’s top cultural and culinary hotspots.

Dining at the hotel was satisfactory and the comfort of the Luxury Rooms enabled a comfortable slumber all night long. However, I believe that the hotel requires an interior renovation to embrace a greater French ambiance and bring a modern design style in line with competitors.

Where: Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16, R. do Visc. Paco de Arcos, Macau

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