This article first appeared in the Chinese New Year 2010 special issue of World Gaming magazine.
The Lion’s Bar at the MGM casino is the best live music venue in Macau. Our resident party animal The Stallion tells us why this place ROCKS.
One of the questions I always get asked when friends come to Macau is where is the best place to party. This is actually a pretty hard question to answer because Macau is really one big party and to give you one great party hangout would be impossible. However, if they are more specific about the type of party place they enjoy the task becomes a lot easier. If you want live music, then you must head straight for The Lion’s Bar before anywhere else.
For me, I love live music. The teenies and the early twenties can have as much DJ, dance, hip hop and bone-shuddering base dance music as they can handle but for me nothing beats a live band pumping out my favourite rock, blues and hits. Sure there are a few other live venues but this is the biggest and the best.
Right in the middle of the lavish gold-laced MGM casino floor there is a big black curtain that houses the most rocking drinking bar on the whole of the island. There is no cover charge; no hassles just make your way straight to the MGM. If you listen for a pumping band you won’t find it hard to find this place.
The Lion’s Bar at the MGM casino
The bar has plenty of private booths along the edges of the room and at the front of the stage and you can try your luck to reserve a table or grab one when you get there. This way you can get table service and drink your drinks by the bottle instead of the glass. There is nothing better than a bottle of your favourite drink, some ice, mixers and nibbles to get the party started. There is also a massive bar with plenty of seating. The good thing about this bar is that it is well staffed and you won’t have to spend half an hour elbowing people out of the way to get a drink.
The surroundings are perfect. It’s nice and dark like all good live venues should be but there is enough light to take in all the sights that are on offer. The music is also at the perfect level. If you’re right up the front dancing then the music will be nice and loud but you will also be able to talk to the person next to you if you are at the bar or in one of the booths.
Now let’s talk about the music. I have been coming to this bar for a long time and I have never seen a bad band. In fact I have only ever seen fantastic rock bands. They specialise in large bands; usually six to eight musicians that cover a really wide range of music. You can expect to hear your favourite rock ballads from the 80s and 90s, the sweet sounds of reggae, some rocking grunge, the latest big hits and even the odd golden oldie. You name it the band can usually play it and you will be finding yourself singing and dancing along with every tune.
The last two boxes you have to tick are the drinks and the ladies. The bar here is one of the best run in the whole of Macau and as I said the service is always fast and efficient. The drink prices are right on the money. They aren’t dirt cheap but they are certainly reasonable when comparable to other Macau highend night spots. Compared to places like Hong Kong and Las Vegas you will be thinking the prices are straight out of the 90s. You’ll find plenty of ladies who like to party having a good time at this bar. There are locals, Hong Kongers, mainland Chinese, Westerners and Filipinos drinking here.
If you like a drink and you like live music then I promise you will love this bar.
