Pony & Plume offers over 650 rare whiskies while Hotel Okura Macau blends traditional Japanese hospitality with understated modern-day luxury
Galaxy Macau, the resort complex in the Cotai district of the city, recently added another hotel to its portfolio: Capella at Galaxy Macau. The Singapore-based chain is known for its ultra-luxurious properties in cities such as Sydney and Bangkok. One of the highlights of the Macau outpost is Pony & Plume, its whisky bar.
We recently checked out the bar and also got to experience the newly renovated suites at another Galaxy hotel: Hotel Okura Macau. Here’s what you need to know about both before your next trip to the gambling capital of Asia.
Pony & Plume at Capella at Galaxy Macau is the first bar of its kind in the city. Photo: Handout
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Pony & Plume is every whiskey lover’s dream and features over 650 varieties of rare and unique whiskies, making the bar the first of its kind in Macau. The dark and sleek space also features a walk-through library behind the main bar, which is not just Instagrammable but allows visitors to get up and close with its extensive selection of bottles, from hard-to-find brands such as Nc’nean, an organic malt made by a female-run distillery in Scotland. There’s even a dedicated cabinet lined with rare unicorn whiskies.
Pony & Plume at Capella at Galaxy Macau has a well-curated menu of drinks. Photo: Handout
The menu is well curated and categorised into eight distinct flavour profiles, with suggestions for beginners all the way to connoisseurs. Non-whisky fans can also enjoy a selection of innovative cocktails inspired by Macau’s rich heritage with Portuguese and Silk Road influences – try the Umami Martini, featuring vermouth, lychee, olive and sea salt. The food selection features “smoke” infused bites such as lychee wood and hay smoked yellow chicken thigh, and creative desserts such as the whisky baba served with Parmesan cheese and black olive gelato.
The Royal Suite at Hotel Okura Macau. Photo: Handout
As soon as you step inside Hotel Okura Macau, one of the most luxurious hotels in the gambling capital of Asia, you’d be forgiven for thinking you are in one of the hospitality chain’s Japanese properties. Just like its counterpart in Tokyo, still one of the city’s most prestigious and historic hotels, the Macau outpost offers a blend of traditional Japanese hospitality and modern-day luxury.
The property, which opened more than a decade ago, recently upgraded its suites, transforming them into luxurious retreats that combine smart technology with elegance and comfort. A soothing palette of neutral tones and the use of natural materials such as wood and washi paper are clear nods to Japanese culture, also evident in little touches such as earthen tea sets and decorative elements such as bonsai trees.
The living room of the Imperial Suite at Hotel Okura Macau. Photo: Handout
