MGM MACAU

Character and identity

Set along the South China Sea on the Macau peninsula, this 35-storey tower announces itself with a gold lion and a glass façade that ripples in alternating waves of gold, platinum and rose gold. Inside, the showpiece is the Grande Praça, an 82-foot atrium of European-style facades and terraces under a soaring skylight dome, evoking a Portuguese town square. Across 580 rooms, suites and villas, the register is opulent and design-led. Nine restaurants and bars span multiple cuisines, Tria Spa runs a full hammam-and-laconicum circuit, and an infinity pool faces the sea.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The defining draw here is the architectural theatre of the Grande Praça paired with genuinely strong food, spa and pool facilities under one roof, a complete urban-resort package rather than a quiet hideaway. Spend up for a villa or sea-facing suite if the design and views are the point, and time a stay around the rotating art installations and festival programming.