Macau Military Club, Portuguese colonial building in Sé, Macau, China
Macau Military Club is a neoclassical building with pink and white facade, columns, pilasters, and arched windows located on Avenida da Praia Grande in the Sé area. The structure features wide balconies and a curved pediment typical of colonial architecture from the 19th century.
The building was constructed in 1870 as a military recreation center during Portuguese colonial rule. Between 1941 and 1945 it sheltered Hong Kong refugees fleeing wartime upheaval.
The club's restaurant serves traditional Portuguese dishes like salt cod, African chicken, and seafood rice that connect to the building's colonial past. These meals reflect the food traditions that shaped the region during centuries of Portuguese presence.
Access requires advance reservation and visitor groups are limited in size to maintain the building's condition. Guided tours are available in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin Chinese for better understanding of the space.
An art gallery in the basement regularly displays works by painters from Portuguese-speaking countries. This lesser-known space adds an unexpected cultural dimension to the building's military heritage.
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