Spot Stays: This Hotel in Macau Boasts a David Beckham-Designed Suite
The Londoner Hotel
The Londoner Macao, Cotai Strip, Macau
Rates start at M.O.P. $5,598 (roughly P39,000)
At a Glance
Rooms: Luxurious, cozy, will truly make you feel like royalty
Food and drink: Breakfast buffet and afternoon tea at the Residence or Churchill’s Table are top-notch
Staff: Warm, accommodating, helpful
Why you should stay: A five-star luxury experience through and through, staying at The Londoner Hotel will make you feel that you were born into the British aristocracy.
(SPOT.ph) Macau's Cotai Strip is high roller heaven, Asia's no-nonsense answer to Las Vegas, replete with glitz, glamor, and gambling. But the area is not only a gambler's paradise, as there are other things to do there, with its rows of hotels and resorts becoming tourist destinations themselves.
The newest establishment on the block that has a rightful claim to being a tourist spot is The Londoner Macao, Cotai Strip’s newest luxury integrated resort. A property of Sands China—a leading developer, owner, and operator of such resorts in Macau—the hotel is part of the larger Sands Cotai Central complex and was rebranded from the erstwhile Sands Cotai Central.
The name itself is a giveaway. Inspired by the city of London, the resort aims to bring the United Kingdom to Macau through its British-themed design and architecture, with various iconic landmarks of London recreated throughout the resort, giving guests a taste of British culture and heritage just about anywhere in the complex.
The resort’s façade resembles the Palace of Westminster and the Houses of Parliament, with a replica of the iconic clock tower, Big Ben, as the cherry on top. It couldn’t be any more British than that.
Also read:
10 Cool Things You Can Do for Free in Macau
The SPOT.ph Guide to Chinese Food
The Londoner Hotel at The Londoner Macao
SPOT.ph had the privilege of being invited to stay a few nights at The Londoner Hotel, one of five hotels in The Londoner Macao complex, the other four being the Londoner Court, Conrad Macao, The St. Regis Macao, and Sheraton Grand Macao.
We stayed at the Louis Suite, one of the hotel’s four room types. The 75 square-meter-room room has one king-sized bed, a separate living room, and a deluxe marble bathroom complete with a powder room. The room's amenities also include a foot massager if you need some pampering after a day of walking around the Cotai Strip.
The Victoria Suite has all the amenities of the Louis Suite, except that it comes with two double beds, making it ideal for a family of three.
The much bigger Windsor Suite, which is almost double the size of the Louis and Victoria suites at 113 square meters comes with either one king-sized bed or two double beds plus a spacious dining area. It also features a separate living room and a deluxe marble bathroom.
The crème de la crème of the luxurious rooms at The Londoner Hotel are the Suites by David Beckham, named after the British football icon and The Londoner Macao’s global brand ambassador. Beckham was part of the team who designed the said suites, in collaboration with leading London interior design firm David Collins Studio.
The 14 bespoke suites, ranging from one to three bedrooms, are Macau’s first celebrity-designed suites. So posh are the suites that they have been recently awarded the “Best Hotel Suite in the Asia Pacific” at The International Hotel & Property Awards 2021. Booking is strictly by invitation only.
Where to Eat
Foodies will not be left wanting at The Londoner Hotel, with dining options aplenty, both in and outside of the hotel.
For starters, it has the fabulous The Residence, an exclusive club featuring a series of rooms that celebrate British royalty, theater, and arts. Guests can have buffet breakfast there from as early as 7 a.m. to as late as 1 p.m. The buffet spread is impressive, but it’s the à la carte menu that you shouldn’t miss. Must-tries are all the dim sum on the menu, as well as the Macanese Traditional Crab Congee and The Residence Lobster Egg Benedict—both decadence defined.
What’s even more remarkable is that the use of The Residence does not end at breakfast, as those checked in at the hotel can also have afternoon tea and evening cocktails.
Tea lovers will have difficulty choosing from its wide selection of the finest teas. We suggest the chamomile blossoms and lychee rose-flavored ones, fragrant and calming, perfect after a long day of sightseeing.
The accompanying treats are also a wonder—from buttery scones to mini cakes, pastries to sweet and savory bread—you can only wish you could try everything during your stay because every single item we tried was just so good. The croissants are especially flaky, and the scones are so delightfully soft and rich, perfect for their rich clotted cream and fruity jams.
We were also able to have dinner at Churchill’s Table, located at the hotel’s Crystal Palace by the lobby. Breakfast is similar to the one at The Residence, with slightly more options. Dinner was memorable as we were treated to some of the best dishes on their menu.
Our favorites were the Lobster Seafood Risotto, a joyful medley of lobster, scallop, squid, clams, white wine, tomato, chorizo, and coriander; and its grilled-to-perfection American Wagyu Denver Steak that comes with Jerusalem artichoke, hen of the wood mushroom, and smoked eel jus. Also worth trying for dessert is Tennis at Wimbledon, a treat that can’t be more British, that’s made of lemon chiboust, vanilla chantilly, candied lemon, almond crunch, and mandarin—a tapestry of citrusy and sweet flavors, silky and crunchy textures.
Another restaurant that’s already open at The Londoner Hotel is North Palace, which serves Northern Chinese and Mongolian cuisine. We had our lunch there on our second day at the hotel and it was such an experience. Aside from the atmospheric interiors decked in red and gold, and with auspicious symbols of good fortune, diners are treated to a lively traditional dance every 30 minutes or so.
The North Palace’s Roasted Beijing Duck is phenomenal—the duck is so impeccably roasted, its skin so sweet and crunchy that it tastes almost like caramel. It quite possibly is the best duck we’ve had. Its signature Organic Mongolian Roasted Lamb was also a gift from the heavens. Served on a portable grill that keeps the meat deliciously warm all throughout the meal, the lamb was fall-off-the-bone tender, the Mongolian spices lending it a pleasant woody taste that also takes the gaminess away. These classic dishes are prepared in a traditional duck oven, an open fire pit, and rotisserie grills that are on display in the heart of the restaurant.
The dessert was a showstopper, too. The Candied Strawberries might have been as sinful as the ambrosia enjoyed by the gods of Olympus. It has the right amount of sweetness that keeps you coming back for more, with the decadent treats served hanging on tree branches draped in candied floss—making them quite literally, eye candy.
Soon to open at The Londoner Hotel is Gordon Ramsay Pub and Grill, described as an upscale bar featuring the well-loved chef’s legendary beef wellington, shepherd's pie, ale-battered fish and chips, and immensely popular steaks of rare-breed British, Australian, U.S., and Japanese beef.
Another restaurant opening soon is The Mews, with a distinct Thai menu and Thai-inspired interiors.
What to Do
There is always something exciting to do at The Londoner Hotel. Aside from the casino, you can take a dip into any of its six pools, which are heated at the right temperature during colder months. There's also the option of lounging around in the comfortable shade of a poolside cabana.
Got some calories that need burning? The Londoner has its own Health Club, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, hot tubs, and sauna and steam rooms.
If your whole body is sore after a day of shopping, sightseeing, or rolling the dice, have some spa time at The Londoner Hotel’s Bodhi Spa. It offers both Ayurvedic and Asian spa treatments that will surely ease your mind, body, and spirit. You can enjoy one of Bodhi Spa’s 10 spa suites with full changing facilities.
Shopaholics have a reason to rejoice as the resort has its own shopping mall called Shoppes at Londoner, offering a diverse array of retail brands from luxury to more affordable brands.
Entertainment is also a major highlight of The Londoner Macao. The resort has an events place called the Londoner Arena, where guests can enjoy live performances, concerts, and shows. The massive venue can hold up to 16,000 guests! In addition, it has a virtual reality experience called the Virtual Reality Cube, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in virtual worlds.
Beyond The Londoner Macao is a whole world of entertainment, shopping, and dining options, you are in Macau’s famed Cotai Strip after all. The choices are mind-boggling to say the very least. The Londoner is connected to the two other famous European-themed hotels/casinos in the area—The Parisian and The Venetian. The vast network of bridgeways connecting the three hotels (and a few others) allows one to hop from one establishment to the next in only a few minutes.
There’s just so much to do at The Londoner and nearby areas that before you know it, it’s already time for evening cocktails.
The Londoner Hotel is at The Londoner Macao, Cotai Strip, Macau. Rates start at M.O.P. $5,598 (roughly P39,000). For more information, visit The Londoner Macao's website.
