Design Your Own Menu: A Feature of Macau’s Michelin Two-Star Restaurant “Zi Yat Heen”

▲ One of Zi Yat Heen’s signature dishes, “Zi Yat Heen Deluxe Platter.”

Text & Photos / Kiya

Adjacent to the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, Four Seasons Hotel Macao is one of the few casinos in Macau that does not operate a gambling floor. This hotel, hailed by numerous travel magazines as one of the best in the world, also houses the Michelin two-star restaurant“Zi Yat Heen”which naturally piques curiosity.

▲ The entrance of “Zi Yat Heen,” dominated by gold tones, is simple yet exudes luxury and grandeur.

Zi Yat Heen opened in 2008 alongside the completion of the Four Seasons Hotel. Since 2009, it has been awarded the Michelin two-star status for six consecutive years. The entrance is minimally decorated, featuring only a simple signboard and a large reception area to welcome diners. The gold-toned exterior extends from the outside into the dining area, creating a luxurious visual effect.

The interior dining space adopts a Chinese style with subtle Portuguese influences, resonating with Macau’s inherent blend of Chinese and Portuguese cultural heritage. Notably, the architectural façade of the Four Seasons Hotel itself is also of Portuguese design.

▲ The design features traditional Chinese elements. The private dining rooms are located at the back, where staff uniforms in warm hues complement the refined ambiance. Although used decoratively, the restaurant also offers over a thousand wine options for customers to pair with their meals.

As our group was relatively large, we opted to dine in one of Zi Yat Heen’s private rooms. Travelers should note that private dining at Zi Yat Heen has minimum spend requirements, which vary according to room size and meal time: the small private room accommodating six people has a minimum spend of HK$3,000 (approximately NT$12,000) at lunch and HK$6,000 at dinner; the larger room for ten people costs HK$6,000 and HK$11,000 at lunch and dinner respectively. The regular seating area operates on an à la carte basis without a minimum spend, but the average cost per person is around HK$500 to HK$1,000.

Kwok Chi-yan, PR Manager of Four Seasons Hotel, stated that Zi Yat Heen primarily serves refined traditional Cantonese cuisine, and their ability to offer “customized” menus is their standout service feature. Kwok pointed out that if guests have budget constraints, they can communicate this when making a reservation. Some customers also specify certain signature dishes they wish to include, and Zi Yat Heen will assist in curating the menu before providing a quote.

Depending on the season, Zi Yat Heen introduces limited-time seasonal menus each quarter, allowing diners to enjoy a wide variety of Cantonese flavors within a reasonable budget.

▲ In addition to seating for ten people, the private rooms are equipped with two TVs, which can be revealed by sliding open the two black panels on the sides (as shown in the image); the left image shows the setup of a smaller private room.

▲ The restaurant's tables can be flexibly arranged—standard tables (left) and larger tables (right) can be combined or separated. The right-side tables feature high chairs, adding a unique touch to the space.