How to see Macau’s best bits

Often referred to as the Vegas of Asia, Macau is so much more than a gamblers paradise. Rather, hidden between the casinos is an assortment of gourmet gems, markets, adventure activities and some rather plush stays… By Chanel Gallen

Eat

Budget:

The Red Markets
Avenida do Almirante Lacerda

This is where to come to extend your palate with local delicacies for sale such as live crabs wrapped in grass and 1000-year-old duck eggs.

There’s also your more conventional market finds including dried meat, fresh vegetables, fruit and seafood. It’s easy on the pocket too – you can fill a shopping basket for pocket change.

Mid range:

O’Manuel
90 Rua de Fernão Mendes Pinto

Authentic Portuguese cuisine doesn’t come much more tasty than at O’Manuel restaurant in Taipa.

Manuel himself will welcome you through the door, pour you a glass of Vinho Verde and slice ribbons of black leg ham that has been winded (hung in the wind) for three years.

Top end:

Antonio Restaurant
7 Rua dos Clerigos

You can expect to pay $21 for a starter and up to $50 for a main here, but this Michelin-recommended restaurant is definitely worth the price tag.

Signature dishes include gratinate goat cheese with acacia honey and Portuguese duck rice.

Be sure to ask for a taste of their homemade cherry wine.

Drink

Lions Bar
Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen

For a spot of dancefloor action, Lions Bar is a favourite haunt for all age groups, renowned for its live soul, jazz and pop music performances.

Old Taipa Tavern
21 Rua dos Negociantes, Taipa Old Village Taipa, Ilhas

An endearing English-style pub, this is a great place to chat to local expats over a pint and simple pub grub.

Sky 21
Aia Tower, Avenida Comercial

A somewhat more chic bar option, Sky 21 is ideal territory to glam up and sip cocktails beneath the stars.

The open-air roof bar has live music nights and performances by guest DJs.

Things to do

Adventure:

Bungy Jump Macau Tower

A truly bucket-list challenge, this is the highest bungy jump in the world.

With a jump height of 233 meters and free fall of six seconds, you can watch on as even the brave squirm, or take the plunge yourself.

Sky Walk

If strapping a rope around your legs and launching into space isn’t for you, then experience Macau Tower by strolling around, leaning off or sitting on the edge of it.

At 233 meters high it’s easier said than done.

Culture:

Ruins of St Paul

Built by the Geswicks in the early 1600s, the Ruins of St Paul is the earliest evidence of European construction in all of China.

As Macau’s most famous landmark it can be a bit of a jostle for prime selfie-snapping position here, especially since it’s a popular wedding photo backdrop for Chinese lovers.

That said, standing beneath this towering façade is well worth the crowds.

A-Ma Temple

Breathe in wafts of incense as you wander the leafy layers of the temple.

There is no cost to enter and you are allowed to take pictures within the temple, as long as you don’t interrupt people praying to the Goddess of Fishermen.

Entertainment:

House of Dancing Water Show

This is a MUST. High diving acrobatics, a kidnapped princess and a dashing prince – it’s a love story of epic proportion.

Avoid sitting in the first three rows though unless you’re prepared to get a little wet.

Shrekfast

Fun for kids and big kids at heart, here you can meet your favourite DreamWorks characters like Shrek, Puss in Boots and the Madagascar crew.

Just be prepared to sing Circus, Afro, Circus, Afro for the rest of the day.

Take time out in a park

Twenty percent of Macau is gardens and park; little oases scattered throughout the city.

It’s a Chinese tradition for men to walk their birds here and you will spot them sitting in parks under the shade of a tree.

Shopping:

Senado Square Open Air Markets

Bustling market lanes jut from the main Portuguese piazza selling a variety of clothes, shoes and vintage trinkets.

Prices are very honest but you can barter for a small discount.

Souvenir Street

Located at the base of the Ruins of St Paul, this is a great place to pick up cheap t-shirts, caps, trinkets and yummy treats to take back to family and friends.

Avenue Almeida Ribeiro

Shop high fashion brands such as Escada and Cartier, quality children’s wear, duty-free cosmetics, jewellery and inexpensive electronic goods.

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Stay

Conrad Macau

If you can find time to climb out of your marble bath and float down to breakfast, the Conrad puts on a killer spread of Chinese, Japanese and American cuisine.

The in-room Nespresso machine is also worth a workout.

King deluxe suites start from approximately $400 per night.

Holiday Inn

The Holiday Inn shares The Conrad complex, so Mum and Dad can soak up a five-star stay while the kids can shack up nearby for a more affordable price tag.

Shrekfast is included in most packages.

The DreamWorks package starts at approximately $300.

Banyan Tree

If you want to splash out, Banyan Tree suites have an in-room pool, as well as a full menu of delicious creature comforts.

The Grand Cotai Suite is yours (pool and all) for approximately $550 per night.

You should know

Take the morning flight to China with Cathay Pacific or Qantas and there is an easy connection to Macau with Turbo Jet.
You can buy a ferry ticket for around $30 one way before you leave through immigration, and Turbo Jet staff will collect your bags from the arrival hall.
If you are visiting Hong Kong as well as Macau on your travels, be aware you can use Hong Kong dollars in Macau however the Macanese pataca is not accepted in Hong Kong.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

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