We review Chiado at Sands Cotai Central, where Portuguese favourites get a modern slant

Henrique Sà Pessoa has six restaurants in his native Portugal, and now brings modern yet authentic Portuguese cuisine – including some of his most emblematic dishes – to Macau with the opening of new Portuguese restaurant Chiado at Sands Cotai Central. Named after the area where his two-Michelin-star restaurant Alma is located, Chiado serves classic Portuguese delicacies in a casual yet elegant setting. The restaurant also houses a fine selection of Portuguese wine.

After a glass of the refreshing signature cocktail Chiado, a gin-based cocktail mixed with orange, olive oil and egg white, we started our meal with two hearty soups, roasted pumpkin soup with coconut cream, prawns and almonds, and creamy zucchini soup with basil and Azores island cheese. With a hint of coconut, the pumpkin soup carried the savoury taste from the prawns and a pleasant nuttiness from the crunchy almonds. We also liked the mild spiciness from the tiny amount of red chilli paste and ginger. The delicious zucchini soup was also a good starter.