Location

You’ve probably heard: there’s a new glam kid on the Cotai Strip block with the arrival of the Sands Cotai Central. And within this development, which is flanked by the Venetian Macao and the City of Dreams, is the gleaming, brand new 39-floor luxury hotel, the 5-star Conrad Macao. It’s the biggest Conrad hotel in the world – fitting, indeed, for the glittery surrounds of Macau’s fastest growing locale.

First impressions

Elegant. It’s not a word you’d necessarily associate with the general gaudiness of the Cotai Strip, but compared to the over-the-topness of its surrounding neighbours, the Conrad Macao exudes a relative subtlety. There’s a distinctly Himalayan theme that runs throughout the entire development – most notably in the highland pagoda architecture on the hotel exterior and also on the gaming floor – and the Conrad picks up on this. Jazzy fusion beats welcome you through the doors into the Conrad lobby where, guarded on both sides by slick, mosaic wall water features, the lobby is a picture of scarlet-glossed traditional doors and deep wood finishes. From the moment you step out of a taxi or off the shuttle buses, there’s a wealth of friendly staff at every turn as well, to help you on your way.

Accommodation

Modern yet classic, eclectic yet homogeneous, regal yet homey: all of the hotel’s 636 rooms tread this stylish fine line with success, with sweeping views of either the Conrad’s poolside area or the glittering high-rises of Taipa City and the Cotai Strip to boot. Whether you’re checking in at the spacious 560sq ft Deluxe Rooms, a Club Floor Suite (1,119sq ft) or one of the sprawling, ultra-decadent 1,679sq ft Club Premier Suites (which features two sitting areas, a theatre room and a dining area), you’ll be treated to plush king-sized beds, all the modern amenities you could ask for (in-room wi-fi, HDTV, iPod docking stations) and marble-finished bathrooms, all with bathtubs for all your relaxation needs. But it’s the impressive attention to detail in every room that really sets the Conrad apart: the Nespresso machines with complimentary capsules in every room; the systematically aligned drawers for all your grooming amenities (irons, shoe shining, laundry), the Italian bath products from Acca Kappa or the luxurious bathrobes.

Facilities

The Conrad Macao is dangerously well-placed to allow your indulgent side to take charge. And no destination plays more of a role in this than Bodhi Spa. Created just for the Conrad Macao, this spa concept brings together influences from across the Silk Road, offering treatments in the Aboriginal, Ayurvedic and Asian traditions that are personalised to your every need – from deep tissue to pure relaxation and skin pampering.

Of course, eating and drinking are essential to the Conrad experience as well. Grand Orbit is one of the centerpieces of the hotel with its 24-hour international buffet. The Lounge, located in a circular podium lobby-side, is ideal for afternoon tea or an early-evening cocktail. But Dynasty 8 is probably the Conrad’s flagship dining experience, serving high-end Chinese cuisine influenced by all regions and dynasties of the Middle Kingdom. There’s also the poolside Mediterranean Do Mar restaurant, set to open in September, which already serves the kind of cocktails perfect for seeing in the evening by the water – in your very own cabana, no less.

And, yes, there’s plenty of shopping. The Conrad Macao is all-too simply adjoined to the fountain-filled Shoppes Cotai Central, housing luxury fashion and lifestyle houses. Only the first of three levels is open at the moment, but plenty of glamour names will open in the next six months.

Time Out’s verdict

Accommodation options on the Cotai Strip are plentiful and ever-increasing, but if you’re looking for the perfect marriage of classic style, service and every modern amenity under the sun, you can’t go far wrong with the new, chic Conrad Macao. Mark Tjhung

More at  www.conradmacao.com