For many years, Macau's only nighttime entertainment outside gambling centered on hotel bars and lounges. While these are still recommendable for a drink and live entertainment, one of the few benefits to have arisen from the otherwise hideously sterile reclaimed-land development on the Outer Harbour is the Docks, a string of sidewalk cafes and bars lining Avenida Dr. Sun Yat-sen near the Kun Iam Statue (locals also refer to it as Lan Kwai Fong, after Hong Kong's famous nightlife district). It's a great place for a drink and watching the parade of people file past. True to Macau's Mediterranean roots, the action doesn't start until after 10pm and is at its most frenetic after 1am. For a suggestion, try Moonwalker (tel. 853/2875 1326), open daily from 4pm to 4am (to 5am Fri and Sat) and offering live music Wednesday through Monday nights from 10pm. A great place to watch the sun go down is 180 Lounge and Grill in the Macau Tower (tel. 853/8988 8659), open daily from noon to 1am and with live music nightly 7:30 to 8pm and 10 to 10:30pm.
If you've had dinner in Taipa Village, you might want to amble over to the Old Taipa Tavern, 21 Rua dos Negociantes (tel. 853/2882 5221), popular with the expat crowd. Open to the street with sidewalk seating, it offers a good selection of draft beers, cocktails, and snacks. It's open daily from noon to midnight, with happy hour from 5 to 8pm. For a more sophisticated setting, head to Crown Towers, Avenida De Kwong Tung, Taipa, where on the 38th floor you'll find the Crystal Club (tel. 853/8803 6868), with great views of the Macau skyline from its chic lounge and from its outdoor patio. It's open 24 hours.
