Fisherman's Wharf Macau Review

There’s little to recommend here. If you’re just in Macau for a day, and most people are, there are many, many better things to see and do than Fisherman’s Wharf. Even if you have kids, Fisherman’s Wharf shouldn’t be top of your list. Perhaps, if you’re in town for a week, staying at one of the casino resorts, and you want to give the kids a break from the hustle and bustle of Macau, you might consider a few hours here. Alternatively, the outstanding Ocean Park is just 90mins away in Hong Kong.

Billed as a theme park and one of Macau’s landmark attractions, Fisherman’s Wharf Macau is in fact neither. What it is a “themed attraction”, which in real terms means a collection of shops, restaurants and bars set within themed areas, such as Renaissance era Europe or Arabian Nights, with a few rides thrown in as well.

Set on the waterfront, next to the Hong Kong-Macau ferry, there is no doubting the ambition of the project. Split into a number of themed areas, recreating architecture from Old England, Rome, 18th century Portugal and others, the buildings may be a little unconvincing but along with the cobblestone streets and South China Sea they certainly make for an atmospheric setting.

Unfortunately, there is little to do. Imagine a theme park without the rides. Much of the wharf is dominated by a string of high end shops, with price tags to make the shiniest of Gold Cards wince, and just a handful of actual rides and attractions to distract you from collecting a fatal overdraft. After you’ve taken a few snaps on the 30 metre high volcano and shook hands with the perpetually bored looking Roman soldiers guarding a petite coliseum, it’s either back to shopping or on your bike. There are a handful of uninspiring rides, such as the Magic Carpet and Bumper Cars, that wouldn’t impress at a school funfair, an arcade and, for adults, a pair of mediocre casinos. Disney it’s not.

Fisherman’s Wharf Macau was also originally intended to give Macau a dedicated nightlife and dining district and here the attraction is moderately more successful. If you don’t like Cantonese or Portuguese food, finding grub in Macau can be a challenge, so the selection of American, BBQ and International restaurants on the Wharf is a welcome addition. Most boast terraces and some have sea views, both of which can be hard to find in a city that shuns dining al-fresco. Unfortunately, the restaurants have as much life as a North Atlantic Iceberg; empty seats and empty streets means that dining here is lifeless, which can be shock, especially if you’ve just decamped from the buzz of Hong Kong.