Starworld Macau

The Maven Meter: Starworld Macau Casino & Hotel

(Last updated: August 23, 2023)

INTRODUCTION

Opening in 2006, Starworld Macau used to be Galaxy’s Entertainment Group’s flagship property in Macau before being usurped by the huge Galaxy Macau resort in 2011.  Now it’s mostly an afterthought, and an expensive one at that, with the Whisky Bar and free entertainment in the lobby the only things they get right.

Of course due to Covid, the free lobby shows aren’t even happening anymore, but they should return in the future.

As for the casino, the addition of $100 Roulette and $300 Three Card Poker has improved it greatly.  For the first time in its history, it’s something more than just a Baccarat Hall now.

Starworld Photo Gallery

Starworld Macau Casino

Starworld Macau has always been one of the busiest casinos on the old Peninsula, for no good reason that I ever saw.  A bustling Baccarat Hall, the vast majority of tables were always $1000 plus, while the game selection was a joke, with Blackjack the only Western game offered.

Of course, Starworld is owned by the same Taiwanese company responsible for the huge “World Class Asian Heart” Galaxy Macau Resort, so I guess they always knew who their market was and where their bread gets buttered much better than me.

The times though, they are a changing, and Starworld now has reasons for people to visit it, after introducing $300 Three Card Poker and $25/$100 Roulette sometime during Covid.  Limits for both games are the lowest in Macau and Starworld should be commended for giving gamers a break in a city that’s becoming ridiculously expensive to gamble in.

Mass gaming now takes up three floors with most of the tables on the first floor, which is where you’ll find the Blackjack, Three Card Poker and Roulette.  The third floor is much less hectic in comparison, notable for some $500 Commission Free Baccarat tables, as well as being home to the casino’s Live Gaming Baccarat consoles and electronic gaming machines.

Drink service at Starworld is exceptionally good, although I’ve only ever seen soft drinks, coffee and tea served.  Their security also seems to have cooled it in recent years too, which is always nice to see.

Update: Well, that was fun while it lasted.  As of August 2023 the section with the Blackjack, Roulette and Three Card Poker is currently cordoned off for renovations.  Why they’re going to work on only one part of a casino floor is beyond me, but all of those games are currently unavailable.  It’s anyone’s guess whether they will return in the future, especially given they didn’t just move the tables out to another area.  Starworld has always had Blackjack though, so I’d have more hope to see that again.

STARWORLD MACAU CASINO GAMES

Starworld is back to being a boring Baccarat hall.

Baccarat – Minimum bet of $3000 in the high limit quarter.

Commission Free Baccarat –  Minimum bet is $500 on the 3rd floor.

Sic Bo – 9 different bets available.  Big/Small low is $300.

Slots – Starworld offers 72 slots, with minimums from $0.05 to $2.  The 3rd floor has a ton of Live Gaming Baccarat for $50, $100 and $200, along with Electronic Versions of Baccarat ($30), Sic Bo ($30) and Roulette ($10).

STARWORLD MACAU CASINO PROMOTIONS

For information on Starworld’s player card, promotions, prizes and other membership information, please check out the excellent website here: GEG Rewards.  Wouldn’t it be nice if every Macau casino did this for their players?

In terms of VIP gaming, Starworld no longer offers a dead chip rolling program, preferring to keep that action focused exclusively in Cotai at the Galaxy Macau.

STARWORLD MACAU HOTEL

You got to love the tall tantalizing Starworld ambassadors that hold court in the lobby.

Let’s just line them up, one by one, and savour the swift fleeting sweetness of young beauty in bloom.

And a tip of the cap to the trailblazers in 2014, who worked it just as hard, but have moved on to bigger and better things.

Alright, now back to your regularly scheduled program!

Starworld rooms have become impossible to get on the weekend, so it’s only an option Sunday to Thursday.  Expect to drop $1595 for a Deluxe Double room and $1815 for an Executive Double room, all tax and service charges included.

Update: As of July 2023, Starworld rooms are totally sold out for the summer.  Don’t know what their secret sauce is, but that is highly suspect.

STARWORLD MACAU POOL

Starworld’s pool is unheated and the views afforded from the 17th floor aren’t anything I’d like to see again.  Way too small for my liking, both the pool and deck get a failing grade from me.

There’s also supposed to be a jacuzzi outside as well, but I didn’t see it while taking pictures.

The only good thing to say about it is that the male and female change rooms have saunas, at least.

Pool hours are from 8 am to 8 pm.

STARWORLD MACAU DINING

Starworld has a surprisingly good dining selection, headlined by Feng Wei Ju, Passion by Dubois and Jade de Jardin.

Feng Wei Ju – Serving Sichuan and Hunan fare, the prices at Feng Wei Ju are excellent, considering the restaurant has two Michelin stars.  Whether they deserve those stars though is another matter.  (Spoiler alert, no!!)

Appetizers start from $108 to $138, while soup is $98 to $598 and noodles $98 to $198.  Meat favourites run $188 to $208 while fish is $348 to $588 and dumplings $48 to $118.

For a review of my lunch there, please click here: Feng Wei Ju.

Feng Wei Ju is located on the 5th floor and keeps hours daily from 11 am to 11 pm.

Jade de Jardin – Formerly known as Jade Garden, Jade de Jardin does food in Shanghai style.  Like Feng Wei Ju, it’s very reasonably priced, with most dishes staying around $150 and more premium fare still below $300.  Specifically, cold starters are $58 to $138, vegetables $68 to $128 and soup $88 to $388.  Most main meat dishes are $98 to $388, while seafood is $158 to $428, and pricy shark’s fin $168 to $680.

At lunch, a load of dim sum stays in the $22 to $42 range, with more premium selections $68 to $108.

I had a very good dinner there quite a few years ago, which you can read about here: Jade de Jardin.

Located on the 6th floor, Jade Garden is open daily from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm and from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm in the evening.

Laurel – Laurel used to be a lot cheaper, but prices have gone up quite a bit over the years.  Appetizers run $888 to $388, while soup is $88 to $368 and dried seafood $128 to $788.  Other selections include Recommendations ($98 to $568), Cantonese favourites ($168 to $338) and home made dishes ($108 to $398).

Located on the 2nd floor, hours are 10:30 am to 11:00 pm daily.

Passion By Dubois – This Swiss patisserie has two locations in Macau, one in Galaxy and the other at Starworld.  Often rocking a good business, it serves a variety of Western food that includes sandwiches ($52 to $57), pizza ($86 to $92), and pasta ($85).  There’s also an All-Day Breakfast for $118 and inexpensive soup and salad sets for $28.

Located on the lobby floor beside the VIP entrance, Passion keeps hours from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm daily.

Temptations – Starworld’s only Western restaurant, Temptations only offers buffets on Friday and Saturday nights for $488 a head.  The rest of the time it’s strictly a la carte, with appetizers $148 to $208, soup $65 to $85 and mains $108 to $238.  The most expensive choices are main meat dishes for $398 and $488, while pasta is $208 or $238.

They also run quite a few sets at lunch and dinner, with most of them just $208.

Located on the 16th floor, Temptations is open everyday from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm and 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm.

Tsui Wah – Famous Hong Kong chain keeps prices low and their Asian patrons satisfied.  I personally wouldn’t touch any of their Western dishes with a ten foot pole.  Stick to the Chinese selections if dining there.

The menu is composed of soup and appetizers ($46 to $92), vegetables ($35 to $73), noodles in fish soup ($48 to $88), and congee ($34 to $105).  Mains include rice dishes for $88 to $116, while sizzling plates are $118 to $158, and Hainanese Chicken $80 to $262.  The aforementioned Western dishes go for $86 to $118, while Southeastern Asian favourites are $80 to $98.

Located on the 3rd floor, Tsui Wah stays open 24 hours.

Sensations – Located on the 1st floor of the casino, Sensations does 24 hour fast food for hungry punters losing fortunes in the dead of night.  Barbecued meat runs $85 to $198, while rice combos are $88 to $148 and seasonal soup $55 to $388.  Other typical rice and noodle fare stays in the $68 to $148 range.

Hip Seng Seafood Hotpot – Two words that should have you running for the hills in Asia is “Seafood Hotpot.”  It literally translates into “Super expensive soup with no body that won’t fill you up.”  You’ve been warned!

To start off, you have to order the broth with cheaper selections $38 to $68, while more expensive choices go up to $888.  Next is to choose the food and if you go for some of the seafood, you’ll be in a world of hurt in no time.  A sashimi platter is $1380, while wagyu beef slices are $388 or $768, and fresh seafood $688 to $2388.  For more appropriately priced selections, try meat ($68 to $768) and vegetables ($38 to $88).

If only sticking to their cheaper choices, I can’t see how two people could eat for less than $800 to $1000.  For what basically amounts to soup!

No how, no way, no thanks!  No soup for you!

Located on the 10th floor, hours daily are from 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm and 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

GYM

Starworld’s fitness center is a joke, completely unbecoming of a hotel that says it has five stars.  Basically composed of free weights and cardio machines, there’s next to no heavy lifting equipment.

Like the pool, gym hours are also from 8 am until 8 pm.

STARWORLD MACAU ENTERTAINMENT

Entertainment happens on two fronts at Starworld, with musical acts and live DJing at the Whisky Bar, and other singing and dancing shows in the lobby.

Without a doubt, entertainment is one of Starworld’s strong suits.  The sad truth is that most hotels and casinos in Macau don’t do a thing.

Might have to wait awhile for the lobby entertainment to return though.

STARWORLD MACAU BARS

Whisky Bar – Whisky Bar pulls a pretty good local crowd mostly because of their balcony section where people are allowed to smoke.  Prices are fairly standard with bottled beers going for $62, draught beers $72 to $132, cocktails $92 to $98, and most hard stuff $60 to $115.  Their whisky selection is quite diverse with most shots ranging from $70 to $160 while glasses of wine are between $48 to $210.  Shooters finally are $82 to $158.

Their current special is buy 1 get 1 free from 5 pm to 9 pm.  Live music Thursday to Saturday from a Chinese pop band begins at 10 pm.

Whisky Bar stays open from 5 pm to 12 am daily, and closes at 1 am Thursdays to Saturdays.

Lobby Lounge – Starworld’s little lobby bar offers a small food menu with nibbles like sandwiches, spaghetti and tuna salad available for $58 to $95.

Drinks are also reasonably priced as well, with glasses of wine $75 or $88, champagne $140, and harder stuff like vodka, rum and tequila $62 to $270.  Beer costs just $38, while cocktails will set you back $92.

Lobby Lounge keeps hours from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm daily.

THE LAST WORD

Starworld charges over $1500 on weekdays but probably isn’t justified in doing so.  The hotel facilities aren’t good enough while the shopping and casino are both substandard as well.  You can get a much better bang for your buck across the street at New Orient Landmark and save $200 to $300 a night while doing so.

That doesn’t mean that Starworld is totally irrelevant though, just that the best things about the hotel are available to walk in guests too.  By all means, check out the fun Whisky Bar, the nice lobby ambassadors, the free shows in the lobby when they return, and some of the restaurants, like Jade de Jardin, while staying somewhere else in town.

STARWORLD MACAU LOCATION

Starworld has a prime location on the Amizade Strip, surrounded by the President, Landmark, Wynn, and L’Arc.