Maven Meter: Legend Palace Casino & Hotel
(Last updated: May 20, 2020)
INTRODUCTION
Fisherman’s Wharf is marketed as “the largest leisure and themed entertainment complex in Macau”, but is a ghost town most of the time, and one of Macau’s most overrated attractions. Undoubtedly tired of losing money and/or squandering prime real estate, the developers started converting parts of it into new hotels, with the Harbourview opening in March 2015 and Legend Palace in February 2017.
Carrying a shiny five star distinction, Legend Palace Hotel is a top living option around the Macau Ferry Terminal, which is both good and bad at the same time. While it’s always great to have a new and affordable hotel in town, it would be a lot more appealing if it were located somewhere else.
Photo Gallery
LEGEND PALACE CASINO
The same company that owns the Legend Palace casino also runs the Babylon and the Landmark casinos. I only mention that because they’re two of Macau’s best looking casinos, rocking hieroglyphics and flaming suns, Babylonian dragons and Egyptian kings.
Sadly Legend Palace didn’t get the same kind of grand treatment, but it’s still an attractive gaming quarter nonetheless, very clearly laid out with plenty of room for the 31 tables on the main floor.
Minimums are fairly affordable, with Commission Free Baccarat $500 and other games starting from $200 or $300. A high limit section in the back adds another 26 tables with $1000 to $3000 lows, which is the only place where you can find Baccarat.
Slots, electronic games, and Live Baccarat consoles are located on the perimeter of the room, with slots starting from 10 cents, Live Gaming Baccarat $20, and Electronic Roulette ($10) and Sic Bo ($30).
LEGEND PALACE CASINO GAMES
Fantastic game selection for a casino that only has 46 tables, I wish more casinos in town would follow their lead.
Baccarat – Lows start from $1000 in the high limit section.
Commission Free Baccarat – Minimums begin from $500.
Blackjack – Rules are identical to Babylon and Landmark, resulting in a house edge of 0.15%. Minimum bet is $200.
Caribbean Stud Poker – Minimum bet is $200. Cheap 50-1 payout on a royal flush, while the side bet is only $20.
Fan Tan – Excellent Fan Tan lows, with Fan, Nim, Kwok, and Nga Tan $200 and Sheh Sam Hong $300.
Roulette – Both Inside and Outside minimums are $100, which is outrageous. Inside bets should be no more than $20.
Sic Bo – Big/Small lows are only $100.
Slots – Slots range from 10 cents to $1. There’s also Live Gaming Baccarat for $20, Electronic Roulette for $10 and Electronic Sic Bo for $30.
LEGEND PALACE CASINO PROMOTIONS
The Legend Palace VIP program returns 1.25% monthly (1.2% + 0.05% comp allowance) on buy ins over $20,000. Keep in mind that it takes $100,000 to open the account at the start.
1.25% is an excellent return for a casino run cash back program, only 0.05% off the highest rate I’ve ever seen given, which was 1.3% at the former Jimei Casino.
They also run a point redemption program related to free rooms at Legend Palace, as well as at the Harbourview Hotel. The magic number for 2 free nights is 60 points in one day or 250 points deducted from the card.
LEGEND PALACE HOTEL
The Legend Palace might not look like much from the outside, but the majority of online reviews are very positive, and I tend to believe them. The service staff was exemplary when I was there gathering information for my review, and a quick sneak peak at the morning buffet almost had me dropping money so I could try it out myself.
The rooms are clearly among the best in town – large, comfortable and even opulent swank, definitely choose one with a balcony that rocks great views of the sea.
All prices are in Macau Mops, inclusive of all tax and service charges.
While it’s true that rates might be a little high, splendor usually comes with a price.
LEGEND PALACE HOTEL ROOM
One thing you absolutely must know about two of the hotels at Fisherman’s Wharf (I’m not sure about the Rocks) is that the Harbourview and Legend Palace routinely hand out free upgrades to better rooms and/or suites, almost as a matter of regular policy. Of course, in certain peak times, there might not be anything left to upgrade to, but it should be game on if you’re traveling during low season.
You could say that I was in the Macau in the lowest of all low seasons, during the height of the 2020 Coronavirus, and was given an amazing upgrade without even saying a word. I had booked the cheapest room online through C Trip for $905, and somehow got bumped up to an Executive Seaview, which any other hotel would call a suite.
I checked the rates later on and saw the room usually goes for $1700 on C Trip and $2450 from the Legend Palace website. And yet I got it for a mere $905… are you kidding me??
So what to say about it exactly?? I’m still kind of processing it, a little dumbfounded that I was in it at all.
They gave me Number 803, on the eighth floor, which is the highest one in the hotel. First of all, the room was absolutely huge, big enough for a living room, bedroom, two bathrooms and two balconies. There were also two TVs, one in the living room and one in the bedroom that elevated out of a wooden cabinet directly in front of the bed.
Movies were available on a PPV basis with standard films $98, adult flicks $128, HD adult flicks $138 and $208 for all day porn access, which I think alternates between two movies for 24 hours.
The main bathroom was an absolute work of art, with a huge shower area and bathtub that dreams are made of.
You could sink into the bowels of that bad boy and never be seen again, dead to the world forever, drowned in the depths of debauchery and bliss.
As for the room style, some might find it unnecessarily showy and over the top, and that maybe more toned down approach would have been appropriate. To that I say, you obviously don’t know the mainland market at all, and if that’s the only criticism you’ve got, you’re just grasping at straws anyway.
The furniture was immaculate, everything in the room was in great condition, and given the relatively young age of the hotel (it debuted in 2017), it should continue being in tip top shape for years to come.
As for the view, it was a whole lot of the Amizade bridge that links the Macau Peninsula with Taipa, with the ferry and bus terminals in plain sight as well.
Most of the time I’d say that Legend Palace’s poor location precludes it from being a viable living option, but if you get a room like the Executive Seaview for under $1000, then it might be worth taking that hit. The next day I stayed at Wynn Macau for $1915, and as a straight apples to apples comparison, the digs at Legend Palace were much better.
It all just depends whether you can get that upgrade or not, which probably won’t be a problem during low season.
LEGEND PALACE POOL
Any hotel with a pool anywhere in the world, but especially in Macau, needs to follow a simple rule: it has to be outside. Indoor pools are suffocating, and not at all relaxing, in my experience.
The pool at Legend Palace is heated and open all year, with a slick layout and real hip vibe. For some reason, it just feels really good being out there.
Perhaps the only hotels with better pools on the old peninsula are the Grand Lapa and Grand Lisboa.
Located on the 2nd floor, the pool opens from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm in the summer and 8:00 am to 6:00 pm in the winter.
LEGEND PALACE RESTAURANTS
Legend Palace offers three restaurants for your dining pleasure, along with a small Pool Bar. Prices on the whole are very reasonable.
Grand Palace – Legend Palace’s signature restaurant serves Cantonese specialties on the 2nd floor.
Sharks fin: $468 to $568 Soup: $58 to $298
Bird’s nest: $198 to $828 Meat: $98 to $338
Seafood: $98 to $328 Vegetarian: $68 to $168
Dried seafood: $688 to $2388 Rice/Noodles: $78 to $488
Dim sum is the big attraction at lunch, with most selections $38 to $68.
In the evening there are 4 set meals that range in price from $480 to $888.
Hours are from 11 am to 3 pm and 6:30 pm to 11:30 pm daily.
Brassiere de Paris – Brasseire de Paris serves International cuisine as well as a buffet in the morning and evening. Their small a la carte menu is only available from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm.
Salad: $128 to $138 Pizzas: $108 to $138
Soup: $52 to $68 Macanese: $128 to $228
Burgers: $108 to $138
Afternoon Tea: $168 for 1, $238 for 2
Breakfast buffet: $168
Evening Buffet: $415
For guests staying in the hotel, they can pay $108 for the breakfast buffet, while children aged 6 to 12 are charged half price and those under 6 eat for free.
Hours are 7 am to 11:30 pm daily.
Infinite – Located beside the casino floor, Infinite is Legend Palace’s 24 hour fast food joint.
Chef’s Recommendations: $48 to $468
BBQ meat: $88 to $128
Vegetarian: $68 to $88
Noodles: $38 to $138
Rice: $48 to $188
Soup: $28 to $98
5 set meals: $98 to $108
Perhaps because Legend Palace seems to be popular with Korean guests, Infinite also a small Korean menu with 8 choices that range from $48 to $54.
Float – Float offers a range of snacks and drinks that you can enjoy outside by the pool.
Snacks: $68 to $98
Pasta: $108 to $168
Sandwiches: $108 to $138
Pizza: $108 to $138
Desserts: $65 to $82
Soft drinks: $40
Mineral water: $40
Juice: $50
Beer: $40/$50
Float opens from 8 am to 7 pm daily.
LEGEND PALACE SPA
Legend Palace has one spa on the 2nd floor named Senses Health Club. A touch cheaper than comparable spas in other 5 star hotels, signature treatments run $1500 or $1600, 60 minute body massage $680 to $980, while 90 minute varieties are $980 to $1180. Facials cost $480 (30 mins), $880 (60 mins) and $1280 (90 mins), while smaller add-ons like foot massage, back massage and head massage cost $280 to $580.
The only spa in Macau where I see breast massage offered ($580), that’s definitely one service I’d do for free!
In terms of free spa facilities, all guests can make use of the sauna and steam rooms in the pool changing rooms on the 2nd floor.
Opening hours are from 11 am to 11 pm daily.
LEGEND PALACE GYM
A gym in a brand new hotel is bound to be pretty good and the one at Legend Palace doesn’t disappoint. It’s locked and loaded with everything you’ll need for a full comprehensive workout. Located on the 2nd floor, hours are from 7 am to 10 pm daily.
LEGEND PALACE BARS
The Gallery may be deserted most of the time, but it’s a very cool little haunt nonetheless, straight out of 1940’s New York or Chicago.
If it ever developed a following (which it won’t) then I’d definitely become a regular customer. Current special is a doozy, Buy 1 Get 1 Free all day, from opening to closing.
Menu prices are as follows:
Champagne $90/$200 | Bottles: $300 to $1080
Wine: $85 | Bottles: $298 to $728
Cocktails: $70
Hard Stuff: $55 to $260
Beer: $40/$50
Sandwiches: $68 to $98
Pizza: $118 to $138
Snacks: $68 to $98
Hours are from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm daily
LEGEND PALACE SHOPPING
Dealing in the usual suspects: clothes, cosmetics, watches and jewellery, Legend Palace has a very large shopping quarter for a hotel of its size. I’m not sure if anything sold there is worth the price, but that’s for you to decide.
THE LAST WORD
If Legend Palace was in the middle of town where the Sintra is, I’d be behind it with everything I’ve got. It’s got a fantastic outdoor pool, great spa and facilities, and large seaside rooms that look quite luxurious. The only drawback is the location and it’s a rather significant one at that.
In and around the Macau Ferry Terminal is simply not the part of town that you want to be staying in.
LOCATION
Legend Palace is located at Fisherman’s Wharf, very close to the Macau Ferry Terminal and Sands Casino.