Macao Trading Co.

Macao is more restaurant than bar and a beautifully appointed one at that. Antique bric-a-brac is everywhere. A steel gallery runs high around the room with more antiques stashed as part of the stocks of the Macao Trading Company.

Before Hong Kong, there was Macao, a European trading outpost in East Asia under Portuguese sovereignty. The name 'Macao' comes from Chinese and roughly translates as 'bay of the goddess of seafarers and fisherman' and a temple stood in her honor on the peninsula. This east meets west district became a 'red lantern district' and today its main trade is gambling. Why the story? To explain the background behind this restaurant's Portuguese meets Chinese theme and menu.

There is a small bar by the entrance but head downstairs to the moody basement below - both serve truly exotic cocktails.