After countless visits to Macao, I've finally discovered the old town's heavenly photo spot.

If Macao is a museum, the Grand Emperor Hotel is its most dazzling display case, a century of time condensed into amber, quietly waiting for travelers to interpret it. Standing on the cobblestone streets of Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro in Macao, looking up at the eye-catching "Grand Emperor Hotel," it feels as if you're touching the pulse of Macao's history. This is not only the core area of the World Cultural Heritage, but it is also surrounded by century-old landmarks such as the Ruins of St. Paul's, Senado Square, and the Inner Harbour Ferry Terminal, with every step being a symphony of Chinese and Portuguese culture.
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Born in 1928, it was originally named "President Hotel" and was "Macao's first skyscraper." It also set off a queuing craze in those days with "Macao's first elevator." The yellowed photos in the "Century-Old Corridor" silently tell the legendary story of the past. The "11th Floor Observation Deck" offers a 360-degree view of Macao: the neon lights of Hotel Lisboa to the east, the fishing lights of the Inner Harbour to the west, and the silhouette of the Ruins of St. Paul's to the north. The collision of old and new times creates a stunning picture, making it a must-visit photo spot for guests.
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The hotel has engraved retro into its DNA, with each two floors representing a different era. The mint green walls of the 1940s are set off by black and white old photos, capturing 007's oriental adventures. The terrace rooms offer the most beautiful views of the old town. The minibar offers free drinks, and Portuguese red wine and freshly ground coffee are the local flavors. Antique telephones coexist with full-house APP smart controls, where history and technology quietly converse.
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The Bela Vista Palace on the fourth floor was once a popular spot for Macao's celebrities to enjoy morning tea, but has now been transformed into a nostalgic Western restaurant. The salty ocean flavor of the jazz soup and the mixed Chinese-Portuguese taste of Macanese cuisine.
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If history is the soul of Macao, the Grand Emperor Hotel is its most elegant narrator. Here, even breathing carries the rich fragrance of old times, and every inch of space whispers: true luxury is the weight of time.
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📸 Must-Visit Tips
1️⃣ 11th Floor Observation Deck: Open from 10:00–22:00
2️⃣ Simon Yam's style: Replicate Hua Ge's style in the public space for a cinematic feel
3️⃣ Cheongsam: Bring your own or rent one of the hotel's thousands of cheongsams to easily take stunning photos
4️⃣ Bela Vista Palace: In addition to the daily changing Chinese and Western breakfast, the ingenious dishes and cocktails are not to be missed
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Grand Emperor Hotel Must-Knows
🏷️ Century-Old Legend: Opened in 1928, Macao's first casino hotel
🏷️ Skyline Overlord: The 11th floor was the tallest landmark at the time
🏷️ Technology Pioneer: Macao's first elevator caused a queuing frenzy
🏷️ 007 Style: Ian Fleming wrote "The Diamond Smugglers" here
🏷️ Living Fossil of Cultural Relics: Listed in the Macao Cultural Relics List in 1992
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Grand Emperor Hotel
📍 No. 270, Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, Macao