Peking duck’s burnished skin, succulent flesh, and distinctive presentation made it an imperial court dish. Back in the day, only the emperors and their courtiers had the chance to savor it. Since then, it’s become available for every foodie, no matter where they stand in the social hierarchy. Moreover, it emerged as one of Beijing’s emblems, with both locals and tourists favoring it. Luckily, it’s not only limited to chefs from the capital who have mastered the art of roasting a superb Peking duck. Read on to learn about the best places for Peking duck in Macau.
Beijing Kitchen
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When it comes to Northern Chinese cuisine, Beijing Kitchen at Grand Hyatt Macau is one of our favorites. And it’s not just us–nothing proves its success in a more compelling way than the fact it’s been operating since 2009. A cozy interior with old Beijing photos, Chinese pottery on the shelves, brick walls, and an open kitchen makes this restaurant so embracing and easy to come back to.
But we mostly love it for the food, of course, starting from the comfort options like pan-fried dumplings and zha jiang noodles to celebratory dishes such as Mandarin fish in sweet and sour sauce and the one and only Peking duck–sourced directly from Beijing. After they arrive at Beijing Kitchen’s cooking station, the chef takes five steps to prepare it before roasting: meticulous cleaning from the inside, inflating with an air system, coating with sugar, and hanging them on hooks. The chef evenly pours boiling water and leaves it for some hours to rest to ensure the duck’s skin is crispy and not too oily when cooked.
When the duck is ready, it goes inside the traditional jujube wood oven preheated to the particular temperature. By carefully controlling the temperature during the roast, the chef guarantees that the cooking goes as it should–duck fat slowly melts and makes the flesh soft and juicy. As soon as the duck is cooked, the chef will bring it to your table and carve it in front of you. Served with traditional pancakes, julienned veggies, sugar, soybean, and garlic sauces, this Peking duck is a dish to remember!
Beijing Kitchen Grand Hyatt Macau, Estrada do Istmo, Cotai, +853 8868 1930, www.cityofdreamsmacau.com
Imperial Court
A culinary treasure of MGM Macau, Imperial Court serves Cantonese traditions and dishes with modern interpretation under the careful management of chef de cuisine Homan Tsui. With 20 years of experience and profound expertise in Chinese cooking methods, chef Homan will be your guide into the diverse world of Cantonese cuisine. Among his most impressive creations are courses like wok-fried French blue lobster with minced pork, black bean, and garlic; crispy skin chicken with flaxseeds; steamed pork dumpling with fish maw.
Apart from the sumptuous fare that will tantalize your taste buds, expect the feast for your eyes too. From the ornamental column with a carved dragon in the middle of the dining room to the exquisite Liuli tableware and vibrant colors, every detail here tells a story of Chinese heritage and folklore.
To cook a flawless Peking duck, chef Homan selects the best Guangdong rice-fed ducks. Then, he marinates them with nutmeg, organic black garlic, and sesame powder for eight hours. To achieve the golden brown crispiness, the duck goes through air-drying and oil-pouring. After that, the duck is ready for the roast. When ready, the chef will bring the magnificent course to the table and serve it in two ways.
Imperial Court MGM Macau, Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen, NAPE, Macau, +853 8802 2361, www.mgm.mo/imperial-court
North Palace
We love decent restaurants. But you know what we love even more? New decent restaurants! The Londoner Macao’s first venues started opening at the beginning of 2021. Gradually more and more places got inaugurated throughout the year. One of them is North Palace, the house of Shandong, Beijing, and Inner Mongolian cuisine. Influenced by the Chinese mansion’s interiors, North Palace features elements inherent to Chinese traditions–classic patterns, wall art, and symbolism. Notably, Northern Chinese dishes here are cooked by chefs from the same region.
Peking duck is one of North Palace’s signature dishes, a recipe that dates back to the Imperial era. It is roasted in a lychee wood-burning oven which gives the poultry a distinctive aroma. Dip perfectly crispy skin in sugar or with a sesame bun, and enjoy the tender meat wrapped in a pancake with special sauces.
North Palace The Londoner Macao, Level 1, Estrada do Istmo. s/n, Cotai, +853 8118 8822, www.londonermacao.com/north-palace
The Eight
The Eight at Grand Lisboa has many attributes to surprise even the most sophisticated diners. We mean their three Michelin star, awe-inspiring interiors with traditional Chinese symbols such as golden fish and number eight to the hospitable staff and the chef’s excellent skills. The Eight’s lunch menu features more than 40 types of dim sum, masterfully executed but also looking cute. Notably, their wine cellar stores over 17,000 labels! Undoubtedly, dinner here will become a highlight of your trip to Macau or a memorable night if you come here to celebrate a special occasion.
The Eight serves Cantonese and Huaiyang cuisine. Opt for the tasting menu with wine pairing if you wish to immerse into a 360-degree gastronomy pleasure. Should you pick your dishes from a la carte, don’t miss out on their pleasantly affordable Peking duck, an epitome of The Eight’s kitchen mastery.
The Eight Grand Lisboa Hotel, Avenida de Lisboa, Macau, +853 2828 3838, www.grandlisboahotel.com
Zi Yat Heen
Four Seasons Macau is one of the icons of luxury and impeccable hospitality in the city. No wonder it hosts one of the best Chinese restaurants in town, Zi Yat Heen. Boasting several prestigious awards, including one Michelin star, Zi Yat Heen is the haven of authentic Cantonese food housed in the elegant setting with a glass wine case in the middle of the dining hall.
The menu is almost exclusively Cantonese with masterpieces like crispy crab claw with shrimp mousse and baked abalone puff with diced chicken. However, the chef found a spot in it for the all-time classic Peking duck is. If you are coming here with friends or family, Zi Yat Heen’s crispy duck is a perfect dish to share.
Zi Yat Heen Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip Estrada da Baía de N. Senhora da Esperança, Taipa, +853 2881 8888, www.fourseasons.com
Laurel
A well-known restaurant in China, Laurel only has one branch beyond the mainland borders at StarWorld Hotel. The secret of its popularity among Cantonese cuisine lovers is simple–time-honored recipes, authentic flavors, and ingredients imported from China. Laurel’s dishes that get the most praise from diners are the pork knuckles slow-cooked in a clay pot, abalone salmon sashimi, flame-grilled prawns, and golden brown Peking duck. The premium quality duck is roasted until the skin is perfectly crispy, while the meat remains juicy. Try it with their rich homemade duck sauce. On a side note, the price for it won’t make a hole in your budget.
Laurel StarWorld Hotel 2nd floor, Avenida Da Amizade, Macau +853 8290 8628, www.starworldmacau.com/laurel
Red 8
What if you crave some Peking duck in the middle of the night? It might be a problem somewhere, but not in Macau, with restaurants like Red 8 at Wynn Macau operating 24/7. Cooking Cantonese and Northern Chinese dishes in an open kitchen round the clock, Red 8 chefs will satisfy your cravings right away. Their signature Bejing duck is roasted in the wood-fired brick oven with Californian applewood, giving the duck its tempting aroma. Enjoy it with the array of classic condiments and a cup of Chinese tea on the side.
Red 8 Wynn Macau
