Stay here: Capella at Galaxy Macau review
The Capella at Galaxy Macau is making a gold-lined play for the top spot in a town not exactly starved for luxury hotels or superlatives. The newest opening in the Galaxy Macau complex brings a new kind of boutique luxury to the city, merging the brand’s sophisticated, residential approach with Macao’s golden glam.
What’s the deal?
The approach sums it up well. When you arrive, you’re greeted at the driveway by a vast red-gold “tree of life” that’s part column, part sculpture, springing from the lobby and merging into the ceiling and the building’s structure overhead. It’s framed by a 30-metre LED wall conjured up by Laura Cheung of Hong Kong design studio LaLa Curio , in which tropical jungle flora and fauna shift and slink across the building as day turns into night and back again.
This is a boutique hotel, with just 95 suites and penthouses. But even the smallest room, the one-bedroom suite, occupies a more-than-generous 1,380sq ft, complete with a large private plunge pool. Interiors are by Paris design studio Moinard Bétaille , blending gold and marble with soft shapes and curves; lush foliage and gentle light. That’s all underpinned by bespoke hand-gilded wallpapers from Cheung’s LaLa Curio. Monkeys, crocodiles, squirrels and cranes peek out from behind foliage and gold on silk.
If you’ve won bigger than big on the tables, the almost 7,500sq ft four-bedroom penthouses feature an expansive infinity lap pool, outdoor lounge and wellness room – and a private, soundproofed karaoke room, for parties that go into the early hours.
Why stay?
As you’d expect, the offerings are top of the line. In the Living Room common area, Capella’s Culturists offer tea and baijiu tastings, while in the room, a 24-hour butler service is at your beck and call. Rooms also come with a comprehensively stocked complimentary minibar. Pre-chilled face masks from celebrity-favourite brand Knesko are a standout, as are the Santa Maria Novella bath products.
At the foot of the bed, the pillow menu isn’t just a printed sheet of paper: it’s a selection of little stuffed squares of fabric and filling, allowing you to really squeeze your way to the perfect pillow. That, of course, is if you can bring yourself to step out of the private pool.
The Capella Macau sits within the Galaxy complex, which means you get the best of both worlds. The quiet, serene luxury of the Capella – alongside full access to the entire constellation of Galaxy amenities, from its many Michelin-recognised restaurants to the huge Grand Resort Deck pool area. That said, the trade-off is that you’ll need to walk a bit if you want to hit the gym, as there are no dedicated facilities in the hotel itself.
What you will find on site, however, are Pony & Plume – a whisky bar boasting live music and an impressive (and stunningly presented) collection of 650 rare drams – as well as Botanica, which serves international fare in a space that lives up to its name, suffused with vegetation and water features. The newest addition to the F&B line-up is Estuary by Vicky Cheng. Cheng is one of Hong Kong’s brightest culinary talents, and Estuary is his first French restaurant and first opening outside Hong Kong.
Cathay editors say…
“The impressive thing about the Capella at Galaxy Macau is how it manages to balance the gold and glitz of Macao with a quieter kind of elegance. There’s every trapping of luxury – but also a real sense of warmth and home. If, of course, your home came with a private plunge pool.”