Maven Meter: Parisian Macao Casino & Hotel
(Last updated: August 23, 2023)
PARISIAN MACAO INTRODUCTION
Paris in Asia? In Macau anything is possible and with the Eiffel Tower now casting its long shadow over the Cotai Strip, consider it done! Debuting in September 2016 to massive fanfare, Las Vegas Sands has executed another stunner in the spirit of the Venetian, this time bringing all of the pomp and circumstance of the City of Light to Asia.
A grand production worthy of one of Europe’s great capitals, the Parisian Macao boasts 3000 rooms, 170 shops, and world class entertainment in the fully integrated 1200 seat Parisian Theater.
And despite all of the marble balconies, crystal chandeliers and elegant fountains, it’s surprisingly accessible and a lot of fun too, thanks to its motley crew of mimes, models, and street performers holding court in the lobby and shopping quarter.
With lively carnival cabaret vibes inside and Macau’s newest landmark signalling its bad intentions out front, the Parisian Macao has lived up to its massive promise and potential, raising the bar yet again for the next generation of Cotai properties.
Parisian Macao Photo Gallery
CASINO GAMES
A typical Sands casino with typical Sands games, it’s all the same, ad nauseum, forever, until the end of time.
Baccarat – Minimum bet is $5000, only available in the Signature Club.
Commission Free Baccarat – Players win only 50% on a won Banker bet that totals 6. Minimum bet is $1000.
Blackjack – Minimum bet is $500. Compared to most Blackjack in Macau, the rules at the Parisian are inferior, because Doubles made with totals of 11 lose both bets vs a Dealer Blackjack, instead of just the original wager. This results in a house edge of 0.24% compared to the standard number of 0.16% city wide.
Also has an Over Under 13 side bet that pays based on the sum of your first two cards. Aces always count as one. As is the case with most side bets, it’s a sucker bet so don’t play it. If you simply can’t resist, bet the over if you do.
Caribbean Stud Poker – Sands casinos in Macau call the game “Sands Stud Poker” even though it’s basically the same as Caribbean Stud Poker. The only difference is that the Progressive Jackpot side bet starts from $50 and you can bet as much as $250 on it.
Minimums are a very uncalled for $500.
Craps – Las Vegas Sands is the premier company for Craps in Macau as all of their casinos offer it, with the exception of the Sands Macao. Odds at the Parisian are 3-4-5 and the minimum bet is “only” $300, which is the lowest in Cotai.
Roulette – Outrageous minimums here with Inside bets $100 and Outside bets $500.
Sic Bo – Big/Small minimums are $500.
Slot Machines – I didn’t count the slot machines but there are probably around 800 with minimums that range from $0.05 and $10.
Live Gaming machihnes only offer Commission Free Baccarat with lows of $100 or $200.
Electronic Gaming is notable for its Blackjack machine with $50 minimums, because not many casinos in town still offer it. There’s also Electronic Roulette ($20) and Sic Bo ($10).
Three Card Poker – Minimum bet is a tough $500.
PROMOTIONS
The rolling program at the Parisian is no different than what’s offered at other Sands casinos in Macau.
Buy ins start from only $100,000 while the rate of return maxes out at 1.2% on amounts rolled in excess of 15 million Hong Kong Dollars.
It’s hilarious they feel the need to point out that rolling turnover under $100,000 returns nothing. Seems fairly obvious to me. Regardless, 0.6% at $100,000 is a hurting rate, beaten by basically every other casino in Macau.
PARISIAN MACAO HOTEL
Seeing how the Venetian was put together a decade earlier, you already knew what to expect of the Parisian and Las Vegas Sands didn’t disappoint. Starting with the obvious, there’s the stunning half size replica of the Eiffel Tower out front that spans 37 stories, and is a pretty stellar imitation of the real thing, especially when it’s lit up at night.
The lobby is another show stopper, home to a spectacular fountain modelled on the Fontaine des Mers at Place de la Concorde, and two check in counters straight out of the Palais de Versailles.
A further look around the hotel proves that they were only getting started. There are enough chandeliers, paintings, statues, arches, columns and runways to make any fat cat aristocrat feel right at home.
It’s all completely over the top and totally necessary, and I’d like to applaud Las Vegas Sands for the fine work they’ve done yet again, plundering another part of Europe to the benefit of everyone in Asia and Macau.
As for room prices, they’re a touch high, starting from $1364 for ones that don’t face the Eiffel Tower, while those that do are nearly $1500. If you shop around Trip.com and Agoda first, it’s very possible you might be able to save $200 Mops at least.
For those on the road with little ones, you might want to consider the Famille Room, which come equipped with bunk beds and a colour scheme that only preschoolers would love. Awash in soft pinks and light blues it’s one of the few rooms in Cotai that caters exclusively to families travelling with small children.
Prices below are in Macau Mops and include all tax and service charges.
With 2700 rooms, the Parisian is an absolute monster and the fourth largest property on the Cotai Strip, behind only Londoner Macao (6000), Galaxy (3505) and the Venetian (3000).
Summer Shopping Extravaganza – I’m pretty sure this deal is available no matter the season, but all I know are the summer figures. If you drop $300,000 in the Sands Shoppes Macao, they’ll give you a free night’s stay in a Deluxe Room.
Parisian Macao Hotel Room
Due to the sheer number of guests, check in and check out can sometimes be a hassle, so I did their Express Check in instead. You can request it by giving them an email at keyexpress_parisian@sands.com.mo, after which you’ll need to fill in a form stating your confirmation number, arrival date, requested check in time, passport number, nationality, date of birth and credit card information.
You can also make some special requests, so I asked for late checkout at 3 pm and two free tickets for the Eiffel Tower Experience. The free tickets were denied outright, but they did agree to a late check out time of 2 pm. I was then sent an Express Check in pass which I took to the hotel and presented to the concierge who then passed it along to the front desk. Within two minutes I had my room key, and I didn’t even have to give a deposit, which would end up causing problems later on.
I stayed for one night on December 13th, 2016 in the Eiffel Tower King Room, which cost $1120 Mops then. Fairly small and pretty basic, the windows were half the size they be and nothing was free, except for water.
It actually reminded me a lot of the rooms at the Holiday Inn next door at the Sands Cotai, which are $200 to $300 cheaper per night.
I had a couple of minor problems during my stay there, one with the mini bar and the other with the Wifi. Since I didn’t pay a deposit, the fridge was automatically locked and I needed staff to come and clear it out before I could use it to store some of the food I had brought myself. I just looked at the whole thing as a big headache and a rather unnecessary one at that.
Everything in that fridge might have amounted to $15 US, which isn’t even a minimum bet in the casino, so why not just give it free of charge to in house guests? They can make that money back in a nanosecond on the gaming floor, and do so, every minute of everyday.
The other issue was with the Wifi, as staff wasn’t sure if it was free for me or not. After a few phone calls we got it straightened out, with the rule being that it is free for all guests who booked a room through the Parisian website, as I had done.
If you got your room through other means, then Wifi costs money, with the magic number $160 for 24 hours.
All in all, the Parisian hotel room is nothing to write home about, but at least it’s new and everything should be in top condition for the next two or three years. Even so, I probably won’t be staying again, and would advise you to find cheaper alternatives in Cotai to base your stay from.
As you’ll see below, the rest of the property is fairly lackluster as a living option, especially in terms of guest amenities and other in-house services.
PARISIAN MACAO POOL
I was originally going to give the Parisian pool some serious praise due to its Aqua World component, a children’s play area full of water guns, water slides, and one big badass pirate ship. While it isn’t as good as the Grand Resort Deck at Galaxy, it’s a lot better than what you usually get and certainly a nice perk for Parisian guests.
And then I found later that Aqua World is Pay for Play…. even if you’re staying at the hotel! Completely unacceptable, all I have to say is shame on you Parisian for being so cheap.
Prices are $160 per person on weekdays while a Family Package (2 adults and 2 kids) is $480 per day.
Hotel guests are eligible to get 10% off, when it should be 100%, GD it Parisian!
Hours at Aqua World are from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm during the summer season.
As for the Parisian’s free pool facilities, they’re no better than okay, with one main pool, one wading pool and a few jacuzzis.
When the hotel is rocking peak capacity, there’s no way those pools are going to hold up to the ferocious demand.
Hours are from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm daily.
There’s also one place to enjoy food outside, the Parisian Pool Bar. Snack items run $68 to $138, while salads are $108 to $128 and sandwiches $128 to $208. There’s also mains from $78 to $138, pizza for $118 to $138 and desserts $75 to $88. A Kids Menu is composed of 4 selections for $78 to $98.
Hours are from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.
PARISIAN MACAO RESTAURANTS
The Parisian has a nice mix of restaurants offering both Eastern and Western fare, at prices that should suit all comers. Here are the main venues.
Lotus Palace – Serving contemporary Cantonese, Lotus Place is the Parisian’s most upscale and expensive eatery.
Most dishes are over $200, with appetizers $75 to $438, barbecue $118 to $328, vegetables $98 to $128, and rice and noodles $98 to $328. More premium fare breaks the bank, with abalone and dried seafood $548 to $4718, bird’s nest $648, seafood $175 to $758 and meat $140 to $328. At lunch, there’s a wide selection of dim sum available for $48 to $98.
A 8 course Tasting Menu at night looks like pretty decent value, only going for $978 a head.
Closed on Wednesdays, hours daily are from 12:00 am to 3:00 pm in the afternoon, and 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm at night. On weekends it opens an hour earlier at 11:00 am.
Brasserie – Serving contemporary French, Brassiere looks pretty hip going for a trendy bar/bistro combination.
Prices aren’t way out of line either, and I quite enjoyed my dinner there. For more information on how it went, please check the review here: Brasserie.
Appetizers run $118 to $175, while soups are $108 to $130, and vegan selections $98 to $170. Oysters check in at $55 top $85 per piece, while seafood platters are $768 or $1418, and cold cut platters $265 or $285. The rest of the menu includes steak tartare ($248 to $328), main meat dishes ($215 to $568), grilled favourites ($438 to $548) and sandwiches and snacks ($138 to $240). A nice selection of mouth watering desserts costs $75 to $95.
At lunch a two course set runs $258 while one for three courses is just $278. At night, a five course set is on for a very economical $548.
Hours daily are from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm.
La Chine – Located on the 6th floor of the Eiffel Tower, I used to think La Chine had a bright future, possibly one that included Michelin stars. However their first chef left and they’ve been through quite a few more ever since. That means the review of my splendid lunch there from 2018 is no longer relevant: La Chine. That French inspired dim sum was really something else!
Now it’s strictly Chinese fare at prices that will lower the boom. Specifically, specialties are $148 to $3088, while chilled seafood is $78 to 1888, and abalone dried seafood $188 to $2288. The rest of the menu is more affordable, featuring appetizers ($88 to $248), soups ($108 to $538), barbecue ($218 to $798), mains ($208 to $898), and noodles and rice ($148 to $278).
An all day 8 course set runs $1088, while a Black Pearl set at night is 9 courses for $2088.
On weekends, lunch is served from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, while dinner happens daily from 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm. La Chine is closed on Tuesdays.
Le Buffet – The Parisian’s only buffet restaurant, they probably should have come up with a better name.
Buffet happens twice daily, with adult prices of $398 for brunch and $688 for dinner. Children eat for half price.
Brunch buffet is on from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm while dinners happen from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm at night.
Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao – Sometimes this casual Beijing, Sichuan and Shanghai restaurant turns up #1 on Trip Advisor for Best Macau Restaurants. Hint, hint: every other single one in the top 10 also happens to come from a Las Vegas Sands property. They’ve gamed the system big time and I don’t like it one bit. It’s a farce and insulting to travellers everywhere.
If Crystal Jade is the best restaurant in Macau – or even top 100 – then I’m the second coming myself.
Handmade noodles run $75 to $108, while dim sum is $40 to $168 and vegetables $75 to $118. The rest of the menu is composed of appetizers ($65 to $168), meat ($98 to $155), seafood ($140 to $368) and rice and noodles ($68 to $120).
Located on Level 1, it’s open daily from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm.
Emerald House – The chef at Emerald House hails from Dalian, one of the most overrated cities in China. Let’s hope his food is better than his hometown.
Cold appetizers run $70 to $108, while soup is $75 to $198, and hot mains $108 to $285. Pricier options include chef’s selections for $108 to $2288 and seafood for $108 to $318. The menu is rounded off by Northeastern dishes ($98 to $218), rice and noodles ($88 to $205), and dumplings and dim sum ($68 to $88).
Emerald House keeps hours from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm Monday to Thursday, and 11:00 am to 1:00 am Friday to Sunday.
Food Court – The food court on the 5th floor serves Japanese, BBQ, steak, Taiwanese, seafood, Nanyang dishes and Vietnamese fare for about $68 to $138 a plate.
PARISIAN MACAO GYM
The Parisian’s gym is everything you’d expect from new hotel. Rocking a full assortment of cardio equipment, resistance trainers and free weights, everything is state of the art and in immaculate condition.
When it’s time step it up a notch, personal trainers are also on hand from daily 6 am to 10 pm to give guidance and assistance.
Located on the 6th floor, the Parisian’s gym is open 24 hours. Just bring your room key if you want to get in after 10 pm.
PARISIAN MACAO SPA
The only way for Parisian guests to enjoy spa amenities is to buy the $250 door pass at Le SPA’tique which allows access to the vitality pool, sauna and steam room. Why these things aren’t free in signature five star hotels is beyond me, but such is the market in Macau.
Treatments at Le SPA’tique are all standard choices and include 2 to 3 hour Signature Journeys ($1750 to $2880), 90 minute Massages ($1300 to $1420), 120 minute Massages ($1750 to $1890), 75 or 90 minute Facials ($1390 to $1650), and Body Scrubs and Wraps ($490 to $1300). There’s also a Couples Treatment for 2.5 hours that costs $2400 per person.
After your treatment is over, guests can stay and use the facilities for free for as long as they want.
Located on the 6th floor, Le SPA’tique is open daily from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
PARISIAN MACAO ENTERTAINMENT
Parisian entertainment ranks among the best on the Strip, mostly due to the Eiffel Tower and 1,200 seat Parisian Theater, which played the outstanding Thriller Live for much of 2017.
Eiffel Tower Experience – I thought the whole idea of having an Eiffel Tower in Macau was cheap and ludicrous, but it actually looks pretty good, especially at night. At 525 feet high, it’s half the size of the original, and has two observation decks on the 7th and 37th floors. Tickets are down to just $75 for adults and children, when they had been $110 and $90 before.
If you book a Parisian room through their website, you can sometimes get one ticket for only $5 HKD, depending on the time of year and which promotions are on.
The Eiffel Tower Experience is open from 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm daily. Last entries are at 9:15 pm.
Qube Kingdom – Standard play area for children aged 3 to 15, featuring slides, climbing nets, gaming consoles and even a horse carousel outside.
The price is $160 for two hours (1 child and 1 adult) on the weekend, and $140 on weekdays. Although I’m not 100% sure, I believe each additional hour after that is $70.
If another adult wants to join the fun, it costs $70 for the first two hours, and $30 for every hour after that.
Located at Level 6, Qube Kingdom is open daily from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.
The Parisian Theater – Make sure to keep tabs on the Parisian website to see who’s in town and what’s playing in their state of the art 1200 seat Parisian Theater, the second largest one of its kind in Cotai.
PARISIAN MACAO SHOPPING
The Parisian’s shopping arcade is a fun take on Paris, full of mimes, jugglers, living statues, opera singers, can can dancers and people carrying copious amounts of bread and garlic. Principal highlights include reconstructions of Place Vendôme, Napoleon’s Vendôme Column, and Champs-Elysees, the most beautiful avenue in the world.
Of course, if you go there to shop you can do that too, with clothes, cosmetics, jewellery, bags and watches all on sale and in plentiful supply in their 170 up market stores and boutiques.
THE LAST WORD
Love it! The Parisian is precisely what the Cotai Strip needs these days, a massive photogenic property with the capability to be an attraction in itself. With awe inspiring architecture, world class entertainment and a bevy of shops, restaurants and tourist worthy activities, the Parisian is on the fast track to the promised land – must see status for visitors of all pedigree and persuasions.
The only unfortunate thing is that the hotel itself is slightly underwhelming. Rooms don’t drop jaws or whisk you off to the comforts of the Old World or anywhere else that nice. Las Vegas Sands clearly favoured brute force functionality over luxury, largesse and living the Eurotrash dream, so by all means visit Paris, just don’t stay there.
LOCATION
Across the road from Londoner Macao, and in between Studio City and the Four Seasons, the Parisian rocks a pretty sweet spot on the Strip.