Magical Macau

Dining

Macau's unique mix of Portuguese and Cantonese cultures is a winning combination for diners. Fresh seafood, Portuguese-style dried cod, cured meats and sweet snacks are favourites, and the egg tarts alone are worth the trip.

Tucked away on a quiet street in Coloane centre,Restaurante Espaço Lisboa serves excellent Portuguese food in a quaint home-style space. Don't miss the ameijoas à Bulhão Pato (MOP 80), a Macau classic – steamed clams in a white wine sauce with garlic and coriander – or the arroz de tamboril com gambas servido em tache de barro (MOP 290), a rice dish a bit like risotto with big bites of monkfish and whole sweet prawns, served in a clay pot. Crêpes Suzette (MOP 108) are a sweet finish.

G/F, 8 Rua das Gaivotas, Coloane. Tel: (853) 2888 2226

Margaret's Café e Nata is a café, bakery and sandwich shop named after the ultimate food and beverage pairing: coffee and an egg tart. If that's not enough to lure you in, the reasonably priced and totally addictive baked goods will be. A vast array of baguettes, whole wheat loaves and croissants can be turned into sandwiches (MOP 8 to 26) – the chicken curry, chicken avocado and bacon sandwiches come highly recommended. Carrot and nut breads rest on shelves beside refrigerators full of fresh juices, local beer and iced coffee (all MOP 10 to 15). The décor is simple and all the seating is outdoors – wooden booths and a cluster of small tables occupy a covered patio bedecked with gleaming strings of lights.

Rua Almirante Costa Cabral. Tel: (853) 2852 7791

Lord Stow's Bakery, the tiny Coloane shop that claims to have baked Macau's first egg tart, still serves them up daily alongside other baked goods and fresh juices and teas. Just around the corner, Lord Stow's Garden Café offers café standards like homemade quiche and salad plus spicy dishes masterminded by the Thai kitchen staff.

105 Rua da Cordoaria, Coloane Village.

Tel: (853) 2888 1851

Restaurante Fernando has been an anchor of Hac Sa beach 364 days a year (don't swing by on 1 May) for over 20 years, with Fernando at the helm the whole time. All the beer and wine is from Portugal, as is most of the menu – though there are a few concessions to Macanese taste buds. Lots of fresh seafood and roasted meat mains (MOP 75 to 150), available for dining indoors or out, make Fernando's appealing after a day of hiking, swimming or shopping. If you're looking for something a little lighter, grab a seat on the patio where you can relax and people-watch with a couple of beers and a tasty starter for about MOP 150.

9 Praia de Hac Sa, Coloane. Tel: (853) 882264 / 882531 / 882693. Web: www.fernando-restaurant.com