Summary
It’s fair to say that the battle for Macau’s best casino currently boils down to The Venetian Macau vs City of Dreams Macau.
The City of Dreams Macau is a new breed of mega casino resort in the city. With its round-the-clock entertainment, high-end hotels, and gourmet restaurants, it aims to be a premier destination for tourists looking to relax as well as gamblers.
If you’re looking for a Vegas-style resort in Macau, the City of Dreams Macau offers a more stylish environment compared to the faux cobblestones and gondoliers of The Venetian across the road. In addition to unrivaled dining and accommodation options, a gaming floor of 42,000 sq. feet ensures there is more than enough action to keep you entertained.
Pros
- Best hotels in the city
- Gourmet restaurants
- Stylish design
- Bright and friendly gaming floors
Cons
- Prices can be high
- Lack of star shows
- Poor overall entertainment
Description
- Address: Estrada do Istmo, Cotai, Macau
- Transport: Free bus from Macau Ferry Terminal
- Check Rates at the Hard Rock Hotel
- Opening Hours: Twenty-four hours
City of Dreams Macau Review
Stuck in a staring contest across the Cotai Strip, The Venetian is the world’s largest casino and resembles its sister Venetian in Vegas closely. Its gondolas, canals, and maze of shops delivered Macau’s first true Las Vegas-style resort casino, moving away from the backroom gambling that once dominated the Macau casino scene.
The City of Dreams Macau aims to cater to a smarter, younger, and hipper crowd. If Ocean’s 14 were set in Macau, this is where you would find George Clooney sipping cocktails.
The resort itself features an MTV-inspired design, combining sweeping, artistic interiors, bold lighting, and contemporary furnishings while the accommodation and dining options are of high quality. While entertainment, accommodation, and dining are abundant, they mainly target a slightly older, more discerning audience. It is squarely aimed at couples and groups, with relatively limited offerings for families.
At the core of the City of Dreams Macau is the casino and gaming floor, and gamblers will not be disappointed. Offering over 420,000 square feet of gaming space, you can find 520 tables and 1,350 machines. Well-lit and relaxing, it’s a comfortable setting to enjoy your gambling experience.
Entertainment Found at the Casino
The blockbuster entertainment at the City of Dreams Macau is the House of Dancing Water—an action-packed and unique water-based show. It features part synchronized swimming and part daring stunts, making it a breathtaking spectacle that has garnered rave audience reviews.
Additionally, you will find the Dragon’s Treasure, a popular 10-minute light and sound show that appeals to children, along with Kid City inside the Hard Rock Cafe Hotel. There are also some adult-themed lounge shows available, although they tend to be average.
If you can detach yourself from the gaming tables, your free time is best spent at the restaurants. Unlike the all-you-can-eat buffets commonly seen in Vegas or at The Venetian, the focus here is on fine dining. Five ‘signature restaurants’ are elegantly designed with sophisticated interiors, where dressing up is encouraged. The culinary experience ranges from local Cantonese favorites at Treasure Palace to exquisite steaks at Horizons.
Accommodation
Accommodation options at City of Dreams Macau are unmatched. The Hard Rock Hotel and Crown Towers likely house Macau’s two best hotels, excluding the Mandarin Oriental. Rooms at the Crown Towers are fitted with luxurious ottomans and marble bathrooms, and they are refreshed daily with fresh flowers. Positioned in the high-end price bracket, it offers a fantastic stay if your budget allows.
