Starworld Macau

The Maven Meter: Starworld Macau Casino & Hotel

(Last updated: June 17, 2020)

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.

As for the casino, I’ve always found the table minimums way too high, given its size and status as a secondary venue.

Starworld Photo Gallery

Starworld Macau Casino

One of the busiest casinos on the old Peninsula, Starworld Macau is always alive with action, for no good reason that I can think of.  The vast majority of tables are $1000 plus, while the game selection is 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 Resort, so I guess they know who their market is and where their bread gets buttered.  I’ll just keep on ignoring it though, by shooting dice over at MGM Macau or hitting the Grand Lisboa for the Crazy Paris Show and some Caribbean Stud Poker.

Mass gaming at Starworld takes place over two floors which connect via one very tall majestic escalator.  Most of the tables are on the first floor, numbering 151 in all, which is where you’ll find the Sic Bo and Blackjack.  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 games.

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.

STARWORLD MACAU CASINO GAMES

Baccarat – Minimum bet of $2000 in the high limit quarter.

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

Blackjack – Minimum bet is $300.

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

Slots – Starworld offers 126 slots, with minimums from $0.05 to $0.20.  The 3rd floor has a ton of Live Gaming Baccarat for $5o, $100 and $200, along with Electronic Versions of Sic Bo ($5) and Roulette ($5).

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.

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 Garden.

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 $100 and more premium fare still below $300.  Specifically, cold starters are $48 to $98, vegetables $68 to $118 and soup $68 to $588.  Most main meat dishes are $188 to $298, while seafood is $138 to $588, and pricy shark’s fin $158 to $688.

At lunch, a load of dim sum stays in the $38 to $68 range.

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.  Hot dishes run $138 to $288, while Cantonese favourites are $128 to $268 and dried seafood $128 to $768.  Other selections include braised abalone ($1488/$2388), delicacies ($88 to $268) and home made dishes ($88 to $358).

Located on the 2nd floor, hours are 10:30 am to 11:00 pm daily.  On Saturday and Sunday they open a half hour earlier.

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 sandwiches ($47 to $59), soup ($85 to $119), pizza ($78 to $88), and pasta and lasagna ($68 to $91).

The dessert section is also extensive, featuring sweets like creme brulee, apple crumbles and tiramisu for $37 to $41.  One scoop of ice cream, finally, is $30.

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 has scrapped their buffets and now only offers a la carte dining.  The menu reportedly changes often, but the prices should stay in the same range.  Appetizers are $138 to $158, while soup is $60 and pizza $168 to $228.  The most expensive selections are main meat dishes for $168 to $488.

Located on the 16th floor, Temptations is open everyday from 12:00 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.

Soup and appetizers: $30 to $128      Traditional Chinese cuisine: $80 to $128
Vegetables: $45 to $73                          Signature dishes: $22 to $113
Chaozhou noodles: $48 to $56           Western dishes: $75 to $112
Malaysian curry: $75 to $102                Hong Kong delicacies: $45 to $80
Platters: $126 to $198

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

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 $68 to $168, while more expensive choices go up to $598.  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 $148, while wagyu balls are $118 to $568, and fresh seafood $65 to $1780.  More appropriately priced selections include meat ($65 to $288) 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 11:00 am to 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 1:00 am.

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.

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 from $50 to $88, draught beers $72 to $132, cocktails $82 to $98, and most hard stuff $50 to $130.  Their whisky selection is quite diverse with most shots ranging from $60 to $390 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 every night from a Chinese pop band begins at 10 pm.

Whisky Bar stays open from 5 pm to 2 am daily, and closes at 3 am on Friday and Saturday.

Lobby Lounge – Starworld’s little lobby bar offers a small food menu with nibbles like sandwiches, spaghetti and tuna fish salad available for $60 to $88.

Drinks are also reasonably priced as well, with glasses of wine $48 or $68, champagne $140 or $180, and harder stuff like vodka, rum and tequila $55 to $110.  Beer costs $50 to $62 while cocktails will set you back $82 to $98.

Lobby Lounge keeps hours from 8:00 to 12:00 am 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, 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.