Macau

The former Portuguese colony of Macau might be best known as the Las Vegas of the East, but the pocket-sized territory still offers plenty of cultural punch.

CLASSIC CANTONESE

Kapok is a beloved Cantonese restaurant that has been a part of the Taipa landscape for more than 60 years. Behind its marble and gold frontage, the decor remains almost unchanged, featuring brass ceiling fans, Lingnan stained-glass screens, rosewood booths, and waitstaff in white tunics. The menu veers toward the classics, too. Go for dim sum and order plump prawn siu mai dumplings, skewers of fish balls, and roast pork and apple puffs.

PORTUGUESE COMFORT FOOD

A 10-minute walk from the Ruins of Saint Paul’s, 3 Sardines is the passion project of three young Portuguese chefs. On the mezzanine deck there are reclaimed TAP airline seats and vintage bicycles strapped to the wall. Below, wooden tables are crammed between vintage TVs, radios, and travel posters. But the authentic Portuguese petiscos – small plates of crusty white bread, cured hams, cod croquettes, and buttery beef pastries – are the main attraction.

EGG TART TREATS

Whiffs of buttery puff pastry and sweet custard drift through Macau’s streets and alleyways. A sweeter crème brûlée-like variation of the Portuguese pastéis de nata, egg tarts are sold across the city, but the best can be found at Lord Stow’s Bakery. The decades-old confectioner makes the tarts from scratch throughout the day, so you can buy them still warm straight from the oven. For added local flavor, try to visit the original shop in Coloane. lordstow.com

ART AND ANTIQUES

Offshooting the Ruins of Saint Paul’s, Rua de São Paulo is the place to find authentic Chinese antiques. Bronze horses, red velvet beds of ancient coins, framed calligraphy, Buddhist iconography, jade “money gardens,” and elegant ceramics tempt visitors in from the street. Inside, you’ll find original and reproduction rosewood tables, chairs, cabinets, and altar tables. Genuine antiques come with strict provenance certification and shipping can be easily arranged for a very reasonable fee.

HIT THE SHOPS

Originally built as a thoroughfare between the old Christian Quarter and Chinatown, the pastel-colored mansions, percolating fountains, and black-and-white paved streets of Senado Square are among Macau’s most popular attractions. Away from the big-name stores, browse market stalls selling oil paintings, watercolors, costume jewelry, and silk scarves. Fuel up on street food as you go. Favorite local snacks include Hot-Star fried chicken and egg waffles smeared with condensed milk and peanut butter.

THE HIP ’HOOD

One of Macau’s most beautiful neighborhoods, the Saint Lazarus district – also known as the Leprosy Quarter – dates back to the 16th century. Like its namesake, the area is currently undergoing something of a revival thanks to an influx of small indy boutiques, such as Collectore, a kitschy-cool curiosity shop selling everything from old Happy Meal toys to neon signs. Keep wandering and you’ll also find fashion, craft shops, art galleries, and cafés.

HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS

Built in 1640 by Jesuit priests, only the wedding cake façade of the Ruins of Saint Paul’s survived the devastating fire of 1835. Set atop 68 wide, stone steps, the frontispiece is Macau’s most recognizable attraction – and also its most popular. Get there early in the morning to avoid the crowds and then Segway uphill toward Guia Hill, home to 17th-century battlements, an ancient cannon, and the oldest European lighthouse in Asia. Later, wander back down through the Jardim do São Francisco with its the collection of peaceful floral gardens, beautiful stone balustrades, octagonal pavilions, and a Castilian convent.

COLOANE CALLING

A former pirate haven, the southern island of Coloane is the green and peaceful flipside to the action-packed city and casino zone. Start your day exploring the old fishing village, where a maze of streets lead to Crayola-colored tong lau (tenements), Portuguese mansions, and incensed-smoked temples. Later, dive in with the locals at Hac Sa Beach, a mile-long stretch of gently sloping sands leading to the warm waters of the South China Sea.

ADRENALINE RUSH

Thrill-seekers should aim for Macau Tower, a 1,109-foot-high entertainment center at the edge of the Pearl River Estuary. Zoom to the top in a new glass-fronted elevator, where you’ll find an array of restaurants and an observation deck with a hair-raising skywalk around the building’s outer rim. If that’s not terrifying enough, try a bungee jump from 764 feet, the highest commercial bungee leap in the world. macautower.com.mo

Visit macaotourism.gov.mo for more.

From Chinese New Year celebrations to musical extravaganzas and huge sporting contests, Macau has a festival or event for every month of the year. Catch lion dances and Cantonese opera performances during A-Ma Festival in April; make a splash at the Dragon Boat Races in June; or rev up at the Macau F3 Grand Prix in November.