Grand Lisboa Hotel, Macao

Macao’s Portuguese heritage and urban glitz are encompassed in the Grand Lisboa Hotel, a bold interruption of the metropolitan skyline with its blooming-lotus style architecture and undoubtedly the city’s most recognisable structure. A grand, sweeping lobby with gold-gilded chandeliers is the gateway to opulent guest rooms that are unabashedly extravagant, from steam baths and chandeliers in lake view offerings to lavish suites that feature a Jacuzzi bathtub, private sauna and sky garden looking over Macau’s city glamour.

There’s a distinct Portuguese flair to much of Macao’s gastronomy and the Grand Lisboa offers an impressive showcase of eight restaurants, from the fine French cuisine of 3-Michelin starred Robuchon au Dôme, sushi and wagyu beef of The Kitchen to casual bistros offering round-the-clock noodles.

Come evening there is, of course, an enormous gaming floor, but there’s a more refined indulgence in the gold and jade mosaic tiles of the spa, heated outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre and professional salon. Macao is known for its plethora of casinos, but a little deeper there's more than glamour and gambling, with a myriad of cultures around every corner, from Chinese temples to European-style décor. Take advantage of the hotel’s free shuttle to get you to the delights of the city, from the iconic Ruins of St Paul’s to the charming Senado Square.