Restaurant in Macau, China
Strong Cantonese fine dining with serious wine credentials.
Palace Garden at the Grand Lisboa Palace delivers modern Cantonese cooking at the $$$ tier with a 1,780-label wine list, World's Best Wine Lists Asia Regional Winner status, and one of Macau's most ambitious dining room designs. A Michelin Plate and Black Pearl 1 Diamond (2025) confirm its place in the city's fine dining tier. Book for private dinners of 6–12 or a structured tasting menu with wine pairings.
Palace Garden is the strongest case for modern Cantonese fine dining inside a Macau resort hotel. At $$$ per head, it positions itself at the same price tier as Lai Heen while delivering a more theatrical environment and a wine program that punches well above its category. The 2025 Michelin Plate, a Black Pearl 1 Diamond, and 87 points on the 2026 La Liste ranking (down slightly from 89.5 in 2025) place it firmly in Macau's second tier of fine dining — below the Michelin-starred heavyweights like Jade Dragon and Chef Tam's Seasons, but meaningfully above the resort-dining average. Book it for a special occasion dinner, a private dining event, or any meal where the room itself needs to do half the work.
The space at Palace Garden is the first thing you process, and it is designed to make an impression that lasts the length of the meal. The entrance is modelled on the gates of Versailles, which sets the register immediately: this is maximalist by intention, not accident. Inside, the main dining room is anchored by a 35-metre silk mural — embroidered in the Suzhou technique by 60 artisans over more than 100,000 hours , depicting chrysanthemums in meticulous, painterly detail. Six free-standing circular fans, also embroidered in the Suzhou style, divide the room into zones without closing it off, giving larger spaces a degree of intimacy that open-plan dining rooms usually sacrifice. Two crystal chandeliers hang overhead: one in the form of a dragon in flight, the other evoking flowing water. The gold-glass wall overlooking the dining hall carries illustrations from Dream of the Red Chamber, one of China's Four Great Classical Novels. If you have been once and focused on the food, return with more time to read the room , there is detail in every corner that most diners miss on a first visit.
For a second visit, the five private dining rooms are worth considering over the main floor. Each seats between six and twelve guests and carries its own design language: the Fan Room draws on imperial court iconography, while the Butterfly Room is more graphic and contemporary. If your group is four or more, requesting a private room in advance is a practical upgrade with no surcharge attached to the room itself , it simply requires asking at the time of booking.
Chef Ken Chong's approach to Cantonese cooking sits in the modern-reinterpretation category rather than strict classicism. The kitchen has received consistent recognition for technically precise dim sum at lunch, with crystal prawn dumplings and pork dumplings with aged mandarin peel cited repeatedly in inspector notes as signatures. The dinner menu extends into richer territory: a partridge bisque, crystal tiger prawn with 52-month-aged Iberico ham, and a 25-year-aged balsamic dressing represent the kind of East-West integration that characterises the contemporary Macau fine-dining register. None of this is accidental , it reflects a deliberate positioning between classical Cantonese technique and the international palate that resort guests bring to the table. If you prefer your Cantonese cooking without European crossover, Pearl Dragon or Wing Lei will suit you better.
The eight-course Prestige Set Menu with vintage wine pairings is the most structured way to experience both the kitchen and the wine program in a single sitting. Wine Director Winnie Chen oversees a list of 1,780 labels across 35,000 bottles, with particular depth in Champagne, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Portuguese, and Italian wines. The pricing is $$$, and a $50 corkage fee applies if you bring your own bottle. For guests who prefer tea to wine, a premium Chinese tea pairing is available, including rare selections such as Ming Qian Shi Feng Long Jing from outside Hangzhou and An Ji White Tea. This is not standard hotel F&B; filler , the tea program has been assembled with the same seriousness as the wine list, and it is worth requesting details when you book.
Lunch is the more accessible entry point. The dim sum spread represents genuine value at the $$$ tier, and the room is quieter at midday than on weekend evenings. If you are visiting Macau for a short stay and can only do one sit-down Chinese meal, a weekday lunch at Palace Garden gives you the full spatial experience without the full-evening commitment or the weekend crowd. For context on how it compares to other Chinese fine dining destinations across the region, see also Forum in Hong Kong, Le Palais in Taipei, and Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine in Guangzhou.
Palace Garden sits on Level 3 of the Grand Lisboa Palace, Cotai. Reservations are recommended and booking 1–2 weeks ahead is sufficient for most weekday slots; weekend evenings and the private dining rooms warrant earlier planning. Business casual dress fits the room without feeling underdressed. Both self-parking and valet are available at the resort. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are listed as available , worth confirming specifics when you book. For a broader view of where Palace Garden fits in the city's dining scene, see our full Macau restaurants guide, and for accommodation context, our full Macau hotels guide. If you are building a wider itinerary, our Macau bars guide, wineries guide, and experiences guide cover the rest of the city.
For comparable modern Cantonese cooking in other Chinese cities, Xin Rong Ji in Beijing, 102 House in Shanghai, Xin Rong Ji in Chengdu, Ru Yuan in Hangzhou, and Dai Yuet Heen in Nanjing offer useful reference points across the tier.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palace Garden | La Liste Top Restaurants (2026): 87pts; {"wbwl_source": {"slug": "palace-garden", "page_type": "star_accreditation", "category_slug": "star-accreditation", "award_result": "Accredited", "is_global_winner": "False"}, "scraped_details": {"hero_image": "", "page_title": "3-Star Accreditation", "page_url": ""}, "source_row_snapshot": {"raw_name": "Palace Garden"}}; {"wbwl_source": {"slug": "palace-garden-grand-lisboa-palace", "page_type": "category_summary", "category_slug": "award-category-winners", "award_result": "Regional Winner", "is_global_winner": "False", "region": "Asia", "award_line": "Palace Garden Grand Lisboa Palace, Macao—Asia", "location_source": "summary_line"}, "scraped_details": {"page_url": "", "location_text": "Macao"}, "source_row_snapshot": {"raw_name": "Palace Garden Grand Lisboa Palace", "raw_country": "Macao", "raw_address": "Macao"}}; Michelin Plate (2025); Black Pearl 1 Diamond (2025); WINE: Wine Strengths: Champagne, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Portugal, Italy Pricing: $$$ i Wine pricing: Based on the list\'s general markup and high and low price points:$ has many bottles < $50;$$ has a range of pricing;$$$ has many $100+ bottles Corkage Fee: $50 Selections: 1,780 Inventory: 35,000 CUISINE: Cuisine Types: Cantonese Pricing: $$$ i Cuisine pricing: The cost of a typical two-course meal, not including tip or beverages.$ is < $40;$$ is $40–$65;$$$ is $66+. Meals: Lunch and Dinner STAFF: People Wine Director: Winnie Chen Chef: Ken Chong General Manager: Justin Tai; La Liste Top Restaurants (2025): 89.5pts; Resplendent, opulent, breathtaking — Palace Garden is a feast for the senses in more ways than one. As the crown jewel of the lavish Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau, this fine-dining restaurant borrows inspiration from the ... **Our Inspector's Highlights Reinterpreting imperial Cantonese cuisine for contemporary tastes, chef Chong is known for his dynamic, modern style and masterful techniques. Experience a sampling of flavors with a delicious dim sum spread where signatures like crystal blue prawn dumplings and pork dumplings with aged mandarin peel will delight the palate. Or, for dinner, try the partridge bisque, a rich and flavorful soup, alongside a crystal tiger prawn, served with 52-month-aged Iberico ham and a 25-year-aged balsamic vinaigrette dressing.Discover premium Chinese tea selections, such as Ming Qian Shi Feng Long Jing Tea from the mountains outside of Hangzhou or the fruity, floral An Ji White Tea known for its health benefits.Let one of five private dining rooms immerse you in art and decadence. Accommodating between six and 12 guests, each room boasts a different dazzling motif: the Fan Room takes inspiration from the delicate Eastern and Western fans used by royal courtesans, while the Butterfly Room features a kaleidoscope of butterfly artwork. Oenophiles will be impressed with the extensive trove of more than 1,400 wine labels. For a beautifully balanced meal, try the Prestige Set Menu — an eight-course menu paired with specially selected vintage wines. A premium Chinese tea pairing is also available if that’s more your speed.After passing through a grand gate resembling the Chateau de Versailles in France, you will enter a majestic, garden-like setting rooted in art and imagination. No matter where you sit in this maximalist Macau restaurant, you’ll be transported to a world of luxury and opulence and treated like royalty while you’re there.** **Things to Know:** The Design Bespoke objets d’art, handcrafted flower installations, custom silk wall embroideries and digital art enliven virtually every corner of this artful restaurant.At the heart of this spectacular space is a 115-foot-long, 8-foot-high silk mural that showcases an ancient embroidery technique from Suzhou, China. The incredible work took 60 embroidery masters and more than 100,000 hours to create.You will discover six free-standing circular Chinese fans in the main dining room. Embroidered in the Suzhou style, the fans depict traditional scenes of birds and botanicals while doubling as beautiful room dividers for added intimacy.Don’t forget to look up. Two show-stopping crystal chandeliers — one in the shape of a flying dragon and the other inspired by flowing water — adorn the dining hall’s resplendent ceiling, adding even more extravagance to the experience.Subtle nods to traditional Chinese culture are everywhere, including illustrations from Dream of the Red Chamber, one of China’s Four Great Classical Novels, with scenes from the book etched in the gold-colored glass wall that overlooks the main dining room. **Treatments:** Amenities Bar Business casual Dinner Gluten-free options Lunch Private dining Reservations recommended Self-parking Valet parking Vegetarian options **Amenities:** Level 3, Grand Lisboa Palace Macau, Rua do Tiro, Cotai, Macau; Located at Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau (“Grand Lisboa Palace”) of SJM Resorts, S.A., Palace Garden’s design is inspired by imperial gardens with its décor and art celebrating the magnificent Chinoiserie period of China’s trade history. Guests are greeted by entrancing touches such as traditional Suzhou embroidery showcased in a bespoke, 35-metre-long mural of chrysanthemums and an installation of custom-made, double-sided embroidery fans. Storied illustrations from one of China’s Four Great; Michelin Plate (2024); {"wbwl_source": {"slug": "palace-garden", "page_type": "star_accreditation", "category_slug": "star-accreditation", "award_result": "Accredited", "is_global_winner": "False"}, "scraped_details": {"hero_image": "", "page_title": "3-Star Accreditation", "page_url": ""}, "source_row_snapshot": {"raw_name": "Palace Garden"}}; {"wbwl_source": {"slug": "palace-garden", "page_type": "star_accreditation", "category_slug": "star-accreditation", "award_result": "Accredited", "is_global_winner": "False"}, "scraped_details": {"hero_image": "", "page_title": "3-Star Accreditation", "page_url": ""}, "source_row_snapshot": {"raw_name": "Palace Garden"}} | $$$ | — |
| Aji | Michelin 1 Star | $$$$ | — |
| Five Foot Road | Michelin 1 Star | $$ | — |
| Lai Heen | Michelin 1 Star | $$$ | — |
| Robuchon au Dôme | Michelin 3 Star | $$$$ | — |
| Feng Wei Ju | Michelin 2 Star | $$ | — |
Comparing your options in Macau for this tier.
Palace Garden has a bar listed among its amenities, so bar seating exists. However, the venue's format is built around its main dining room and five private dining rooms — the bar is not the primary way to experience the kitchen. If you want a shorter commitment at $$$ pricing, the lunch dim sum menu is a more practical entry point than bar perching.
It works for solo diners but is not optimised for them. The private dining rooms seat six to twelve, so those are off the table solo. The main dining room is your option, and the kitchen's tasting and set menus are designed for individual covers. If solo fine dining in Macau is the goal, Palace Garden is serviceable — just know the room's scale and spectacle are better shared.
Robuchon au Dôme is the direct competitor for occasion dining at the top of the price range, with a stronger European wine programme. Lai Heen at The Ritz-Carlton is the closest like-for-like Cantonese alternative. Feng Wei Ju covers Chinese fine dining with a different regional focus. For something less formal at a lower price point, Five Foot Road is worth considering. Aji offers a break from Chinese cuisine entirely if you want contrast.
Booking 1–2 weeks ahead covers most weekday lunches and dinners. Weekend and holiday slots move faster — aim for 2–3 weeks if your date is fixed. The five private dining rooms (six to twelve guests) are the tightest inventory, so group bookings need the most lead time. Reservations are explicitly recommended by the venue.
Yes, and it is one of the stronger setups in Macau for it. The five private dining rooms — each with a distinct design motif — give groups of six to twelve a dedicated space that most Macau competitors cannot match at this cuisine level. The Prestige Set Menu with vintage wine pairings is the natural choice for a milestone dinner. Black Pearl 1 Diamond (2025) and La Liste recognition (89.5pts in 2025) give it credibility beyond the resort context.
At $$$ pricing, the Prestige Set Menu — eight courses with vintage wine pairings — is the format that justifies the spend here. Chef Ken Chong's modern Cantonese approach and a wine list of 1,780 labels with a $$$ pricing tier make the pairing menu a logical choice over ordering à la carte. If wine is not your focus, the premium Chinese tea pairing is an available alternative. For a shorter commitment, the dim sum lunch delivers the kitchen's technique at lower exposure.
At $$$ per head, Palace Garden earns it if modern Cantonese fine dining is what you are after — La Liste ranked it 89.5pts in 2025 and 87pts in 2026, and it holds a Black Pearl 1 Diamond (2025). The wine programme (1,780 labels, 35,000 bottles, strong across Champagne, Burgundy, and Bordeaux) is genuinely competitive for the region. The comparison to make is against Lai Heen: Palace Garden has more theatrical design and a stronger wine list; Lai Heen has Ritz-Carlton service infrastructure. If the room and the wine matter to you, Palace Garden justifies the price.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
