Photo credit: Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16
There is no secret that Macau is a popular tourist destination. In fact, in 2019, the city welcomed over 27 million visitors! It’s only logical that there is an impressive number of hospitality harbors, from small and casual lodges to luxury five-star properties. Among them is Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16 that we chose for our weekend “getaway” without actually going away. Read on to learn what we loved about Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16 and why you should consider booking a night or two for your upcoming vacation or staycation!
French Art De Vivre
In the city since 2008, Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16 is a part of a large hospitality brand with more than 50 years of history. That means years of expertise on how to make your stay one to remember. To achieve that, they showcase exquisite gastronomy, honor local culture and heritage, understand the importance of wellness, and celebrate classic and contemporary architecture design. As we noticed, this is not just a beautiful philosophy, but the essence of Sofitel.
Steps away from UNESCO sites
Offering a diverse range of facilities, Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16 has enough to entertain yourself with for a weekend. However, if you wish to explore the city, this hotel is a particularly suitable place to stay. Ponte 16, where it is situated, is a historic landmark itself, as it was the first fisherman’s port in Macau. Today it is a resort and the place where some unique Michael Jackson memorabilia is exhibited. Come check out the glove that he wore during his legendary moonwalk performance.
Most importantly, the Historic Centre of Macao, a UNESCO World Historic Centre is mere minutes away. So if you have been delaying that cultural walk down the city’s ancient streets, marvelous churches, temples, and squares, turning this plan into action while staying at Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16 will make you get up and get exploring!
Another pleasant result of this unique location is that all the rooms here all come with stunning views; either city or river. Remarkably, both of them are equally mesmerizing. You can book a room with a panoramic view of Macau, including the iconic Ruins of St. Paul’s, Mount Fortress, and Grand Lisboa Hotel rising above the cityscape. Alternatively, there is a river view of Zhuhai and Pearl River delta, with ships slowly floating through its calm waters.
Photo credit: Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16
Rooms
There is a total of 408 rooms at Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16, including superior rooms, more spacious suites, and luxurious mansions. Book a superior room and enjoy the comfort of the plush king-size bed, L’Occitane bathroom amenities, and a great view. If you want the ultimate luxurious package, check out the mansions. Spacious and full of light, each of them has a unique design and comes with an array of extra services, such as the access to Club Millésime with a private pool.
Our favorite mansion’s feature is the large bathroom with a round jacuzzi bathtub in front of the panoramic window. Take advantage of the Hermes bath gel and some aromatic salts to elevate the bath experience even more. Ultimately, choose one of the options from the sleep menu, and the staff will prepare a bathtub for you. Order a romantic bubble bath with rose petals, Veuve Cliquot champagne, and macarons; a French lavender bath with a side of Medoc and cheese; or a kids bath with toys and hot chocolate. Great ideas for special occasions!
Photo credit: Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16
Sleep like kings
All of us regular travelers know how comfortable hotel beds can be as many renowned chains invest heavily in their mattresses. At times, stepping out of those beds in the morning can be a challenging task. On the other hand, squeaky mattresses and uncomfortable pillows can ruin not only your night’s sleep but also the whole vacation. Let’s face it, all the brilliant facilities and gourmet variations won’t be that significant if you toss and turn the entire night and wake up with neck pain. Well, Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16 went to the next level and got their sleeping line MyBed with bed bases, mattresses, and pillows exclusively designed for them in France. Notably, you can even buy all the items online and bring the five-star sleeping experience back home! Because if Louis XIV had over 413 exceptional chambers, you deserve at least one.
MyBed is not the only feature that makes you sleep like a baby. Next, check out their sleep menu! Besides a wide selection of pillows, described in meticulous detail, there is a bath menu, room scent, spa products, bedtime hot milk for kids, and wines for adults. If you don’t wish to wake up with the sun, press the button, and the curtains will close automatically.
With all the attributes of proper beauty sleep, we woke up rested and a bit lazy. So we decided to call for room service to bring us breakfast. Whether you like eggs Benedict, pancakes, or wonton noodles, there are food options to start your day suitable for all tastebuds. While we waited for ours, we got an energy boost with the in-room espresso machine.
Classy dining
Another reason to consider Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16 for your staycation is their dining choices. With four restaurants and one bar, there is no need to come out of the hotel (if that’s what you are aiming for). For special occasions, romantic dates, or simply, exquisite gastronomic cravings, head to Privé and dive headfirst into contemporary French cuisine. But when in Rome, do as the Romans do, right? So try not to miss out on Cantonese cuisine at Le Chinois Restaurant. Both restaurants offer an unforgettable culinary journey complimented with flawless service and great views.
To savor the best of international cuisines, we chose Mistral for dinner. Additionally, this is also where breakfast is served.
With artistic photos of Macau, large arched windows, and colorful design, Mistral is perfect for casual dining. When the weather is pleasant, book a table in the alfresco area by the pool. It’s so easy to forget you are in the middle of bustling Macau while sipping chilled white wine at this poolside terrace of Mistral!
Of course, we didn’t only come to Mistral for the view, as there is more than the cool breeze we wanted to enjoy. Their culinary team does wonders here, offering Asian classics such as seafood ramen and Hainanese chicken, as well as Australian lamb chops and Italian Caprese salad. For seafood lovers, there is a tower with fresh seafood on ice. Lobsters, oysters, clams, shrimps, other shellfish and crustaceans are perfect for a hot day, especially when paired with some French wine.
It seems like there is nothing that executive chef Daniel Brooker and his teammates cannot cook. So whether it’s a lunch buffet or a la carte dinner, the meal will be more than satisfying.
Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16 pool area
Staying fit
As we mentioned before, being a lucky guest of one of Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16’s mansions, you can take advantage of the Club Millésime pool. Looking like a gorgeous villa straight from Sorrentino movies, this pool area not only has a large pool with fountains to practice your morning laps in but a jacuzzi and a mindblowing river view. The second pool located on the sixth floor is no less impressive and gives you direct access to Mistral’s terrace if you feel hungry.
With the comfort of a hotel bed and all the delicious dishes at Mistral, even two days might endanger your summer body. Luckily, there is a way to keep up with your fitness routine during your stay. Their gym is relatively small but has enough equipment for any form of training. It’s especially nice to run on a treadmill while looking through the floor-to-ceiling windows in the garden by the pool.
Photo credit: Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16
Relaxing indulgence Provence-style
Whether after a full day of doing nothing by the pool, exploring the restaurants, or running 10 km on a treadmill, there is no better place to treat yourself than the spa. We strongly recommend booking a body massage or a facial at the Sofitel Spa, awarded by World Luxury Spa Awards.
When you enter Sofitel Spa, you will find yourself in a peaceful haven filled with the pleasurable aroma of essential oils and calming music. While creating this space, the designers got their inspiration from Provence, a southeastern region of France. Hence, you will see bouquets of dry lavender, lavender oils, and L’Occitane beauty products.
However, Sofitel Spa offers not only French traditions but also spa techniques and global relaxation rituals, including Asia. What we loved about it the most is their individual approach to a customer. Before choosing a treatment, you can tell the spa specialists what your concerns and wishes are, and they will guide you to the best massage or facial that fits your needs. We tried their signature So exhilarating massage and So rejuvenating facial. For the massage, we chose the lavender oil with a relaxing effect, and after an hour-long ritual felt so relaxed and rested! The multi-step rejuvenating facial is perfect if you are looking for instantly radiant skin and long-term effects of deeply nourished and moisturized skin.
From spa treatments to dining, Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16 caters to every individual need and preference of every guest. This is probably why even two days here felt like a whole week’s vacation!
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Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16 Rua do Visconde Paço de Arcos, Macau, +853 8861 7801, www.sofitelmacau.com
