Hong Kong group wants to create “Little Lisbon” in the heart of Macau

On Tuesday, a Hong Kong business group told Lusa that it wants to create a “Little Lisbon” in the heart of Macau with restaurants, shops, open-air markets and festivals, including tram rides.

Between the ruins of São Paulo and the church of São Lazaro, the group already has projects such as the Albergue 1601 and Portucao restaurants, the 3 Sardines tavern, the Lazaro Brewing “nano-brewery” and a gift shop. Next to the place where Chaves pastries are sold, Ginja do Senado was born today, where you can buy Portuguese liqueur, an investment made in partnership with a Portuguese businessman. In early May, Travessa da Paixão will host Lata e Porto, dedicated to canned fish and port wine.

“Little Lisbon”, which will be presented to the Macau Tourist Board and six casino operators, should include at least 18 concepts also related to Portuguese-speaking countries and Macau’s cuisine within a five-minute walk.

The project, which already includes activities such as tile painting workshops, extends the Portuguese pavement in areas surrounding the Portuguese Consulate General in Macau, two small tram routes, the closure to traffic of some streets whose sign is a heritage of Portuguese architecture, as well as creation of esplanades, in addition to the rental of traditional Portuguese costumes, complemented by the services of a professional photographer.

One of the tram lines is designed to provide travel between the consulate area and the church of San Lazaro. Another can provide a ride between one of the streets serving the consulate and Fortaleza do Monte.

The group also proposes to create every weekend “a stimulating calendar of cultural events, street festivals, gastronomic festivals, concerts and open-air markets associated with Portuguese-speaking countries”.

Smaller events will take place on the streets of Bairro de San Lázaro, while larger events such as concerts and exhibitions can be spread in Praça do Tap Sic and the Multidesportos Pavilion, mainly because the area is one of the largest open urban spaces. city, overlooking some of the most iconic buildings of Portuguese architecture in Macau.

Lubuds Macau, a subsidiary of the Lubuds Group with a strong presence in Hong Kong, has over a thousand employees. The investment in Macau, which the business group did not disclose, will also be transferred to operate the restaurant at the Casa das Receções of the Taipa House Museum, whose concession was accepted this month by the Macau Cultural Institute. This restaurant will collaborate with the Macaenses Association, the group said.

The Taipa House Museum, converted into museum spaces, is considered one of the heritage and cultural relics of the Portuguese era. Built in 1921, it served as the residence of high-ranking officials on the islands and today also serves as the backdrop for the Lusofonia festival.