Hotel Review: MGM Cotai in Macau is a Spectacle of its Own

MACAU

CSP Times checks into MGM Cotai, one of Macau’s most popular hotels. Situated in the heart of Cotai, it offers a plethora of experiences from luxurious rooms to shopping outlets and dining options.

All images are courtesy of MGM Cotai

Macau, specifically Cotai’s skyline is dominated by spectacle — from glittering hotels to replicas of iconic landmarks such as The Eiffel Tower — it almost feels impossible to stand out. But beyond imitations, MGM Cotai sounds out with its unique exterior: mimicking stacked jewellery boxes. The shimmering design is made of interlocking, rectangular structures and truly stands out from its neighbours in Cotai. 

Despite this commanding exterior, the hotel still offers a serene atmosphere. Inside, it’s as if you’ve stepped inside a museum. With massive art pieces and chic marble floors, it’s almost a crime not to stop and look. Yet none of this feels theatrical because they blend in perfectly, especially for the luxury that MGM is known for.

The Location and Design

MGM Cotai as its name suggests is located within the Cotai Strip. The hotel stands on its own, uniquely positioned between other retail offerings that are within walking distance. Because of its central location, it’s in the middle of all the happenings but still maintains a quiet elegance.

Inside the hotel are a range of shopping outlets and dining options, away from all the casino mania. In fact, it’s the largest integrated resort in the MGM portfolio in China. In the heart of MGM is the Spectacle, which spans the length of a football field. This engineering marvel is the Guinness World Record holder for the largest free-span grid-shell glazed roof (self-supporting). Because of that, natural sunlight passes through, which is rarely seen in other hotels in the city.

Moreover, the Spectacle is home to more than 100,000 plants, making the hotel one of the largest indoor art gardens in the world. Another impressive feat is that the hotel uses in-house composted food waste as fertiliser for landscaping the gardens and indoor plants. As a result, the space itself feels alive and continuously evolving and changing depending on the season and the weather.

As if that’s not enough, the Spectacle also houses the world’s largest area of indoor LED screens and showcases different digital art from around the globe, ranging from nature, art, music, and culture. The “stacked” design also finds its way inside, with interlocking marbled rectangles, LED screens, and indoor plants blending perfectly in the walls. MGM’s lion symbol is, of course, prevalent throughout, sprinkled with other animal motifs. It may seem like there’s too much going on, but the way they’ve been curated and put together is seamless.

READ: Yorkshire Pudding, But Make It Australian: Inside Bourke’s Sunday Roast

Another aspect that sets MGM Cotai apart from other hotels is its impressive art collection which features over 300 captivating artworks. It ranges from modern and contemporary Asian paintings and sculptures to commissioned works by local and regional rising talents. I joined an art tour to see some of the highlights, among them are Chinese imperial carpets dating back to the Qing Dynasty. These carpets once adorned the Forbidden City in Beijing.

The Accommodation

MGM Cotai has over 1,400 rooms and suites. The check-in process at the Emerald Tower is smooth and quiet. What immediately hits me is the flowery scent, the large marbled check-in counter, and the massive decorations all around. But in our room, the design is more subtle: wooden floor on the bedroom area, touches of gold, yellow, and brown, and round glass table. It’s a contrast of the Spectacle outside. There’s a restrained chicness to the design with added sophisticated elegance.

The star of the room is undeniably the large windows, which give a stunning view of the Cotai skyline. During the day, the shades of gold and yellow shine through. By day, the colour illuminates further against the black. In addition to its modern luxury, the functional design is a welcome addition. The jewellery box design extends to the room — the control panels located on both sides of the bedside are in jewellery boxes.

Meanwhile, the marbled bathroom directly contrasts the sleek colours. Instead, the design makes them seem brighter and crisper. The bathtub is positioned in a way that gives a glimpse of the scenic view outside. The differing designs allow you to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Our room is at the M Tower, where rooms have natural wood flooring, state-of-the-art technology, and panoramic views of Cotai. Rooms in the Emerald Tower blend modern luxury with Eastern and Western cultural elements, leaning more into minimalist designs drawn from traditional aesthetics. Furthermore, the signature MGM Skylofts take inspiration from New York City’s lofts.

The Dining

Anytime

I start the day with a meal at Anytime, also known as MGM Cotai’s “sweet spot” because of its array of offerings in the middle of the Spectacle. Anytime serves Asian favourites, classic cakes and pastries, as well as haute cuisine sourced from the globe. Thanks to its open seating arrangement, guests can soak in pockets of natural sunlight that seep through the glass roof. The menu leaves one spoiled for choice and the pastries are the perfect sweet end to any meal.

Grill 58

Grill 58 is the go-to restaurant for meat lovers as well as those seeking a traditional teppanyaki omakase experience. It houses Macau’s first custom-built Himalayan Pink salt Dry Aging Room, so rest assured that the meat is carefully cured and prepared by the culinary team. The menu celebrates premium cuts of meat and fresh seafood, charred over lychee wood and Japanese binchotan charcoal or Josper charcoal ovens. The table-side service is impeccable, with careful details given to each dish. The Burnt Onion Soup is a delight, with its caramelised onion and tender beef cheek ragout. Once again, the open-air seating is a nice touch—say goodbye to dim lighting even during dinnertime.

Coast

Coast presents all-day dining fare and Western favourites. As its name suggests, it takes inspiration from the relaxed and sunny coastal setting. It’s the place to dine at for a hearty breakfast. What I love about Coast is its selection of Macanese and Portuguese dishes that pay homage to Macau’s earliest form of Western cuisine.

READ: Everyone Gets a Butler at The St. Regis Macao

Five Foot Road

For a meal like no other, the Michelin-starred and Black Pearl One-Diamond Five Foot Road is truly the place to be. My palate is not built for spicy food but Five Foot Road turns out to be a surprise. It offers Sichuan fine dining instead of the more well-known Sichuan hot pot. Its name refers to the width of the carts that piled the trade along the Silk Road. The experience here is multi-sensory, from the tea tasting in the beginning at the tea lounge to the numerous levels of Sichuan spice during the meal. Five Foot Road truly captures the over 80-years of culinary dexterity of Chengdu cuisine. Attention is also given to the stunning interior with mesmerising sceneries of the mountains and nature and lack of corners feel refreshing. In addition to the food, the cutlery and tableware are also worth admiring.

The Verdict: MGM Cotai in Macau

MGM Cotai lives up to its name, not by its grandeur architecture or splashed out luxury offerings, but by its refined spaces, diverse dining offerings, and attention to detail that make a stay memorable. Nestled in its unique design are quiet spaces to unwind, relax, and a moment to breathe.

Address: Avenida da Nave Desportiva, Cotai, Macau | Website: mgm.mo/en/stay/mgm-cotai | Phone: +853 8806 8888  | Instagram: @mgm.mol | Facebook: MGMMACAU

Disclaimer: The writer was invited by MGM Cotai to experience the property. All observations, assessments, and opinions expressed are based on the writer’s independent experience and professional judgement.