Five of Macau's best private kitchens

Down the narrow alley of Rua da Vitoria hides one of the hottest tables in town. Here, knocking on the right door doesn’t guarantee entry – the single round table accommodates just one booking per night. “For weekend bookings you have to wait for more than a month,” says owner-chef Victor Law, checking his calendar. “And I have to reserve some days exclusively for my friends.”

The eatery Law operates is a private kitchen. While the dining concept took off in Hong Kong during the 1990s, it was not until recent years that it made a formal foray across the border.

Found mostly in residential buildings in the less touristy districts of Macau, private kitchens offer a gastronomic alternative to the luxury hotels. By calling themselves “private”, they get around the need for licensing and the relevant regulations, and therefore enjoy greater flexibility in terms of presentation and pricing.

As no official promotion can be done, these reservation-only businesses depend heavily on word of mouth. Many have managed to survive, however, with home-style cooking and creative menus that draw customers time and again.

“Just from bookings, you can tell that private kitchens are widely welcomed among the local community,” says local lifestyle blogger and columnist Susanna Lei, whose food writing is seen on websites such as Vogue China and 163.com.