London’s Soho district claims to be the original, with its name apparently coming from a 17th century hunting call. And although it once had a reputation for sex shops and nightlife, London’s Soho has been transformed in recent years and is now full of culture, and packed with trendy bars and restaurants. In New York, SoHo refers to the area South of Houston Street and was known to be the artistic area, Today it is better known for both its cool and upmarket boutiques and dining scene. In our neighbouring Hong Kong, the area just south of Hollywood Road has developed into a mix of art galleries and a gastronomic paradise, much like the previous namesake areas.
And now Macau can boast an equally entertainment rich and gastronomically diverse SOHO, within City of Dreams on the Cotai Strip.
The district includes 16 restaurants, covering a range of cuisines from around the world, alongside street artists and entertainers. Among the dining options to choose from are the award-winning and Michelin-recommended, Taiwan’s king of xiao long bao Din Tai Fung; Hong Kong’s traditional roasted goose at Chan Kee Roasted Goose; organic Italian restaurant Shelter; the Hotpot80 concept at Fuk Hin Hot Pot; UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity washoku or “Japanese cuisine” at The Tsu Japanese Gourmet Market; and the popular StarZ Kitchen owned by singers Alan Tam and Haiken Lee.
There is also a gigantic interactive digital wall and the first magnetic “musion” screen with 3D effects in Macau and Hong Kong, together with an international troupe of high energy street performers with stunning acts, including the one-of-a-kind flash mob featuring international award winning dancers.
The concept of the area was inspired by the backstreets of New York. Located on the second floor of COD, it has quite an authentic feel, from the paved streets and brick buildings to the graffiti and tags from well-established street artists. Two large graffiti inspired art murals were created by the famous multimedia artist and curator D*Face, who has created artwork for Cristina Aguilera in the past.
“I’m privileged to have travelled the world with my artwork, painting numerous large scale murals in different cities around the world, including London and New York. I’m excited I can realize a distinct Soho culture and to have had the opportunity to paint murals in this SOHO. I believe this will open up a new chapter in Macau’s Street Art development,” D*Face said at the grand opening last month.
Also attending the grand opening was celebrity chef Nicholas Tse.
“I had high expectations for the opening of SOHO when I was shooting my travelogue in City of Dreams last May. I am delighted to come back to see the seamless merging of global culinary cultures, state-of-the-art entertainment and street art here in SOHO. I’m sure it will become the leading social hub in Macau,” he said.
Restaurants in SOHO
1. El Pinball Mexican Restaurant
2. Hongjiade Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup
3. Sham Tseng Chan Kee Roasted Goose Restaurant
4. The Lobster Bar
5. Shelter Italian Bar and Restaurant
6. The Tsu Japanese Gourmet Market
SOHO at City of Dreams 2/F, City of Dreams,
Estrada do Istma, Cotai, Macau,
+853 8868 6688 cityofdreamsmacau.com/soho
