Alfresco Dining at Bene

Photo: Bene's new patio furniture includes a mix of hightops, lounges and small tables

You may have read our article on alfresco dining in Macau (if not, read it here), but one alfresco option that didn’t get mentioned is the patio at Sheraton’s Italian restaurant Bene.

We’ve always loved the patio at Bene. Intimate and inviting and somewhat protected from the nearby road by greenery, you can escape the Cotai Strip environs for a little while. If you’re lucky there will be a cooling breeze to temper the balmy summer weather, but if all else fails there are industrial fans that get the job done. We love it even more after its recent facelift and new cocktail and canapé menu.

The patio now has a handful of low tables tucked around the corner with a couple of high tops and sofa seats closer to the entrance. As with all other outdoor areas in Macau, it is often used as a smoking area, but the table around the corner helps with that.

Photo: The new alfresco menu at Bene includes wine and tapas-style snacks

The menu (available from 6pm to 11pm daily) offers ten choices of tapas-style portions which range from MOP40+ to MOP78+. There is also the option to order the dishes in sets of three (MOP168+), five (MOP268+), and eight (MOP428+).

Signature dishes include roasted Iberico lamb ribs with red chili sauce and a white pizzetta with tomato, eggplant and buffalo mozzarella. Our favorites were the creamed salt cod with crispy bread and the Parma ham with melon and Parmesan.

As for drinks, there is sparkling, white and red wines by the glass (from MOP85+ to MOP140+) and bottle (from MOP390+ to MOP700+); a range of beers (MOP78+); cocktails (MOP75+), including the Macaista, an interesting nod to the Portuguese heritage of Macau made with ginjinha, Campari and tonic; and a few refreshing Prosecco spritzers (MOP65+).

View the full menu here.

For reservations call (853) 8113 1200

www.sheratonmacao.com

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