Mesa by José Avillez

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Where Portuguese Heritage Meets Lagerfeld's Vision

Mesa by José Avillez occupies a singular position in Macau's dining landscape — one of the territory's most celebrated destinations for contemporary Portuguese cuisine, housed in the only restaurant space in the world designed by Karl Lagerfeld. Set on Level 3 of The Karl Lagerfeld hotel within Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau, the room announces itself immediately: the legendary designer's signature black, white and gold palette frames geometric floor patterns, a 3D faux-window ceiling, and regal furniture dressed in Lagerfeld-designed staff ensembles.

The visual centrepiece is a gilded, circular bar modelled on a birdcage — a tribute to Macau's long tradition of birdkeeping as a pastime, and a quietly brilliant piece of storytelling through design. A mesmerising LED ceiling animation traces the flight of magpies, a motif chosen deliberately as a cultural bridge between China and Portugal, carrying connotations of happiness and good fortune in Chinese tradition. The East-meets-West conversation continues in elegant tabletop ornaments throughout the dining room.

The Culinary Partnership

MICHELIN-starred chef José Avillez serves as the restaurant's creative partner, bringing a philosophy he calls "Casual Fine Dining" — an approach rooted in sharing, connection, and the pleasure of the table rather than ceremony for its own sake. Head Chef Herlander Fernandes translates this ethos into a menu that honours Portugal's culinary heritage through classic favourites and seasonal specialties, elevated with modern techniques and the finest ingredients. Signature dishes such as Seafood Rice and Caviar, and King Crab and Caviar, speak directly to this balance: authentic traditional flavours reframed with precision and ambition.

The recognition Mesa has accumulated reflects the kitchen's consistency. Forbes Travel Guide awarded it a Five-Star rating in 2026, and the MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong | Macau granted its first Selected Restaurant distinction the same year. The restaurant also holds a Platinum rating from the Trip.Gourmet 2026 Global Selection.

The Bar as Destination

MESA Bar, helmed by Resort Master Mixologist Frederick Ma, has become one of Macau's most talked-about spaces in its own right. Cocktails here are built around narrative — the Last Back Garden, for instance, combines jasmine-infused gin, wolfberry and swallow's nest, served in a bird-shaped glass as a direct homage to the birds nesting in the fishing village of Coloane. The bar operates with a Zero Waste philosophy: house-planted herbs, kombucha and mead honey wine made from kitchen fruit remnants, and spirits sourced through ecoSPIRITS to reduce carbon footprint. MESA Bar earned two stars at China's Cocktail and Spirits List Awards, and its wine list — one of the largest selections of Portuguese wines in Macau, including exclusive bottles from Douro Valley estates such as Quinta do Crasto and Quinta do Noval — earned the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence. A resident Portuguese sommelier is on hand to guide guests through the list.