We review W Macau – Studio City and discover a distinct glow-up in aesthetics for this Marriott brand
Metamorphosis of a brand.
Bold hotel concepts are a dime a dozen in Macau. Pre-pandemic, each new opening tried so hard to impress with grandiosity that glam very quickly slid into garish. With travel to the “Vegas of the East” back in full force, a slew of new properties are reviving the city’s hospitality scene with plenty of personality and luxury bolstered by a new sense of refinement. We checked into the recently opened W Macau – Studio City to see how this new approach is playing out.
While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Review of W Macau – Studio City
Located within the behemoth Studio City complex on Macau’s Cotai Strip, the new W Macau is the brand’s first foray into the city. Best known for the bright personality characterised by vivid colours, extensive music programs and features, and an insistence on fun, the W brand is slowly rolling out a new concept that promises to offer the same sense of boldness but in a more grown-up format. W Macau – Studio City is the first property in Greater China to debut this polished new aesthetic.
Cultural chic
Macau itself seems quieter than before, but that’s not the case at W Macau – Studio City. Mere weeks after its official opening, the futuristic lobby—all black marble flooring, mirrored ceilings, and textured walls, is swarming with guests waiting to check-in (or check-out). Already, it feels a little more mature than your average W hotel—perhaps partly because of an architectural design conceived by world-renowned Zaha Hadid Architects.
Interiors here subtly refer to Macau’s blend of Chinese and Portuguese heritage. But if you pay attention, you’ll realise that the hotel’s design also incorporates nods to Hollywood and a golden age of cinema. The reason? The property pays homage to “Macau”, a 1952 movie starring Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell that is credited with bringing the territory to the world’s stage.
The room
With 557 stylish guest rooms and suites, W Macau – Studio City is smaller and more intimate than many of the older hotels in the city. This is decidedly to its advantage. All rooms here are stylish and calm, with a judicious dash of old Hollywood glamour, and winks to Macau’s history.
The intricate white-and-bronze wallpaper looks simple and soothing from afar, but eagle-eyed guests will spot nautical details that reference Macau’s past as a fisherman’s village, as well as the outline of old cinema film reels. The copper standing lamp in the reading nook mimics studio lights, while the full-length mirror by the extensive wardrobe is a modern take on the romanticised Hollywood make-up mirrors.
Textures and colours bring the guest room to life, though in a far more elevated fashion than in other W hotels. The plush carpet is patterned, yes, but in subdued hues of black and deep blues, while the Bauhaus-inspired furniture is rendered in muted shades of bronze, terracotta, creams, and blacks. In the entryway, the three-door wardrobe features corrugated glass doors with bronze metal detailing, while sliding doors open into a spacious black-hued bathroom that features a dramatic, standalone tub rendered black.
Wellness wonders
Like almost all the brand’s hotels, the property has an AWAY Spa. This one features a futuristic reception room anchored by a spaceship-like desk, echoing the property’s social-first philosophy. The spa offers a full complement of treatments—the De-Stress massage did exactly what it promised and then some—and even a Valentino-branded make-up service counter.
The AWAY Spa is complemented by WET, the hotel’s stylish indoor pool deck featuring a geometric mirrored ceiling, plenty of daybeds, and views over the Cotai Strip. Perhaps more exciting for this dedicated gym-rat is FIT, the 24/7 fitness centre that’s equipped with brand-new, top-of-the-line Technogym equipment that delivers a serious morning workout.
Eats & drinks
W Macau – Studio City also offers a plethora of dining and drinking experiences, all of which are designed to offer guests quality experiences inspired by Macau’s gastronomic culture. The scene is set in the Living Room—the hotel’s lively lobby-level bar—which specialises in inventive low-ABV tipples – think neon-coloured drinks mimicking the flavours of Kit Kats and Brownies. Bonus points if you find your way to A.P.D (A Perfect Dose), the bar’s speakeasy-like extension.
On the hotel’s 40th floor, Blind Tiger is an intimate, apothecary-inspired bar that offers barrel-aged spirits and exclusive whiskies from behind its showpiece bar, alongside sweeping views and rich appointments. But it’s a little room off to one side that’s the real surprise. With music being so integral to the W brand, W Macau – Studio City incorporates a W Sound Suite—the first in Greater China. The soundproof space pays homage to the Portuguese musical tradition of Fado in its décor and features state-of-the-art equipment that allows visitors to enjoy music (or create their own) in privacy.
Make time for a meal at Diva, W Macau – Studio City’s signature restaurant. Decked out in a style that marries Art Deco forms with old Hollywood glamour, this stylish eatery puts a modern spin on Cantonese dining with dishes like Suckling Pig with Black Caviar, and an exquisite Stir-Fried Boston Lobster in Spicy Chili, served with a cigar-shaped scallion pancake.
Completing the experience is Hawker Hawker, the hotel’s all-day-dining destination inspired by the food markets of Asia. At dinner, guests wander around the myriad stations that include a carvery, a truly international array of hot dishes (Chinese and Portuguese are at the forefront, naturally), and a walk-in chiller that boasts an array of fresh seafood, salads, and sushi. Each selection on the buffet seems surprisingly small—until you’re told that this is done on purpose so that they can be refilled more frequently, thus ensuring fresh food at all times.
Final thoughts
Despite an abundance of properties in the city, Macau sorely needed a hotel that functions as such rather than as a place to catch a few hours of sleep in between forays onto the casino floor. W Macau – Studio City has stepped in to fill that void with a polished concept that retains a sense of fun and frivolity while offering guests a stay that puts amenities and service first.
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