You won't find these at chain stores—recommended hidden gem souvenirs in Macau that are stylish yet traditional

▲Traditional almond cookies from an old Macau shop.

Reported and photographed by reporter Jiayun Yu / Macau

Many visitors to Macau looking to buy souvenirs often go for well-known chains like Jiage, Chui Heung Yuen, or Ying Kee Bakery. But if you’re aiming for something “special,” check out this insider’s list recommended by the Macau Tourism Board. They’ve spotlighted three unique souvenir shops that stand apart from common options—these include an old-school almond cookie shop tucked away in a lane, Macau’s only butter cake, and over 300 varieties of canned sardines. Bring them back to Taiwan and they’ll definitely impress even the pickiest family and friends!

1. Macau Golden Swallow Butter Cake Portuguese Food

The owner, Golden Swallow, who moved from mainland China to Macau, inherited excellent baking skills from her husband’s family and has become a true “pastry expert”! The most famous item in her shop is the Macanese-Portuguese dessert “butter cake.” This intricately made butter cake is gradually becoming a lost art, making her shop the only place in Macau where you can still find it. Its traditional flavor is cherished by many Macanese-Portuguese locals.

▲Owner Golden Swallow carries on the fine baking traditions of her husband's family.

▲Macanese-Portuguese treat: the butter cake.

In addition to butter cake, the shelves are also filled with a variety of other pastries: crispy worm-shaped biscuits, various flavors of cookies, traditional desserts like face turtle cakes and bean paste balls, and more. Among them, the cookies are a hot item here, freshly made every day. Almost every customer leaves with several boxes—they’re a hidden gourmet souvenir in Macau.

Address: G/F, Tat Tai Building, 105 Lung Son Cheng Street, Nam Van, Macau
Business hours: Monday to Sunday 09:00–20:00

▲Cookies in a wide range of flavors.

▲Worm-shaped biscuits that really do look like little bugs.

2. Zui Xiang Bakery

When it comes to the most famous souvenir in Macau, almond cookies are probably at the top of the list. Almost every gift shop sells these “irresistibly tasty” treats. But if you want to try the real deal—handmade almond cookies with the classic old-school taste—you can’t miss Zui Xiang Bakery. Operating for over 50 years, this bakery has always used traditional methods. Charcoal-baked almond cookies offer a smoky wood-fired aroma that machine-made ones just can’t match, which is why this small shop is always bustling with customers.

▲The one and only Zui Xiang Bakery in all of Macau.

▲Almond cookies are freshly baked every day.

Step into Zui Xiang Bakery, and you’re greeted by the rich, fragrant aroma of almonds and wood smoke. Each almond cookie is studded with bits of crushed almond, offering a crispy texture with a slight crunch, mildly sweet without being greasy—so good you’ll keep reaching for more. A Macau Tourism Board staffer (nicknamed “Ah Sec”) said that although business is booming, the bakery refuses to open branches or collaborate with other brands, helping it preserve its most traditional flavor. “Once you’ve tried these, you won’t want any others,” they raved.

Address: G/F, Block A, 12 Ye Tc Street, Macau
Business hours: Monday to Sunday 10:00–19:00

▲Freshly baked almond cookies with an irresistible aroma.

3. Loja das Conservas Macau - LCM (Macau Portuguese Canned Fish Shop)

Thanks to its Portuguese colonial background, Macau is famed for its Portuguese cuisine, pastries, and wines. But did you know that Macanese canned fish is also a must-buy? At LCM (Loja das Conservas Macau), a shop opened by a Portuguese student, you’ll find over 300 different kinds of canned fish. The selection is dazzling, and the packaging is so beautiful it might just steal your heart!

▲A dazzling array of Portuguese canned fish.

▲They also offer gift sets perfect for giving.

Each exquisitely packaged can contains different types of fish, along with preserved flavors like olive oil, spicy, tomato-garlic, and garlic. Whether you use them for cooking or eat them with crackers, they’re both convenient and delicious. Staff also shared an ultra-authentic Macau way to enjoy them: add cheese slices and sardines to instant noodles for an outrageously luxe Macau-style noodle dish.

Address: 9 San Tin Hong, Macau
Business hours: Monday to Friday 11:00–20:00, Saturday & Sunday 11:00–21:00

▲Sardines pair perfectly with crackers or bread.

▲Fashionably packaged canned fish.