Macau saunas November review

If someone asks me which Macau sauna is worth a visit right now, I find it harder to answer than I did a few months ago. There are more places I would seriously consider.

In June and July, several longstanding saunas closed in quick succession. Therapists dispersed across different venues, and for a while there was a gap in the market. By November, the picture had changed.

Yu keeps improving. Shang Pin still has a strong international team. Victoria has reopened with some keenly priced offers, and Manhao and Clube Rio are back. There is even talk that Number One Sauna might reopen, though I would wait for an official announcement on that one.

For visitors, the extra choice is welcome. Where there used to be two or three obvious favourites, there are now enough differences between venues to make it worth choosing one for your own reasons.

Prices are moving quickly. Several venues raised their rates over the October National Day holiday, and there were further changes in early November. If you are planning a trip, check what applies on the day. An old price list circulating online can easily give you the wrong idea.

Here is what stood out on my recent visits.

Yu Sauna is my first choice if you only have time for one venue

Yu Sauna (八湯御) increasingly reminds me of two old favourites. Number One had a big team, lively introductions and people from a wide range of countries. Dihu Spa was known for its waterbeds, food and service. Yu now brings much of that together under one roof.

About 90 therapists currently check in. The team includes people from mainland China, Southeast Asia, Japan, Korea, Europe and the Americas, including Black therapists. The selection feels stronger than it did in October. Steady business makes it easier for a venue to attract and retain staff.

Alongside its traditional waterbed sessions, Yu has added adult-film themes, scripted role-play and a youthful, playful series called “Peach”. There is considerably more choice than there was at opening.

I would still go for its signature Dongguan-style waterbed. If a fully staged role-play room is the main reason for your visit, East Castle has more elaborate sets and equipment. Yu is still experimenting with those sessions and does not yet have dedicated sets to match.

The drawback is the evening crowd. It usually gets busier after 9 pm, so I would arrive earlier if you dislike waiting.

My take. Yu has few obvious weak spots. For a first visit, especially if you want to see a large team and try a waterbed, it is the place I would feel most comfortable choosing.

Shang Pin for Japanese and Korean therapists, Western staff and bubble baths

Yu does a lot well, but Shang Pin has strengths of its own. On my visits I have preferred Shang Pin’s selection of Japanese, Korean and white therapists.

Shang Pin International Spa reminds me a little of Haomen Sauna Palace in its day. Its international team has long been its strength. Yu has a deeper selection from mainland China and Southeast Asia.

A few months ago my main frustration at Shang Pin was how crowded it got. At peak evening times there were sometimes more guests waiting than therapists available. That could take much of the enjoyment out of a visit.

The queues have eased. With a better balance between guests and staff, the long waits that used to be routine are less of an issue.

If you are interested in a bubble bath, I would still look at Shang Pin first. The reopened Victoria offers bubble baths too, but Shang Pin has more therapists familiar with them and, in my experience, more consistent training.

The food is my one lasting disappointment. For a venue that does so much else well, I wish the kitchen had made the same progress.

How I would choose. I would lean towards Shang Pin for a bubble bath or for its selection of Japanese, Korean and white therapists. For a broader mainland Chinese and Southeast Asian team and a fuller range of facilities, I would look at Yu.

Victoria or Majesty? What the two deals actually include

Victoria Sauna and Majesty Spa keep coming up in conversations about value. Both can be good buys, but the offers work differently.

Since reopening, Victoria has offered an attractively priced package with two Southeast Asian therapists. It can come in several hundred patacas below comparable offers elsewhere. I also like the food and the way the staff look after guests. A big headline discount counts for little if the rest of the visit is disappointing, and so far Victoria has done well on both fronts.

The selection is smaller, and my impression of the team varies a little from visit to visit. You can wait quite a while if you want to see a larger group introduced together.

Majesty makes most sense if you were already looking for its lowest-priced Vietnamese package. The two-for-one deal is competitive, but the complimentary place is for a designated therapist in the entry-level Vietnamese category. It does not give you a free choice across all price bands.

If you want a different combination of price bands, Victoria can work out cheaper. It also includes three attendant treatments, and the better food makes the overall package more appealing. I would give Majesty a slight edge for the setting and the team, and Victoria the edge for dining and hospitality.

For the lowest-priced entry-level Vietnamese package, I would check Majesty. For more flexibility in pairing two therapists and a better meal, I would ask Victoria first.

East Castle for its themed rooms and the way the team presents itself

East Castle Spa has changed in an interesting way. There was a stretch when the team did not particularly stand out. On my recent visit, the styling, looks and poise came close to what I remember from its best days. Judging on presentation alone, it might even be my first pick in Macau.

What makes East Castle distinctive, though, is its purpose-built role-play rooms. An aircraft cabin, hospital, office, prison and classroom each have their own fittings and scenery. The setting itself is part of the experience, down to details you would never get from a change of costume in an ordinary room. I have yet to see a direct equivalent elsewhere.

Service still varies. I have heard more positive accounts recently, but over the years East Castle has tended to do best when it is quieter. As visitor numbers rise, complaints often pick up too.

I would go for a particular set or for the presentation. If small details of service matter most to you, allow for some variation between visits.

For some services, you pay the venue and the therapist separately. Ask what each charge covers before settling up.

Number Nine is a well-rounded alternative to the busiest venues

If you have already visited Yu, Shang Pin and East Castle and feel like a change, I would give Number Nine Spa a look.

It has no single big selling point, but I was impressed by how well the team presented itself. Based on what I saw in October, I would put Number Nine roughly in Macau’s top four on looks alone.

There is a reasonably even spread of mainland Chinese, Southeast Asian, Japanese, Korean and white therapists. Guests with different preferences have a fair chance of finding someone, rather than one group dominating the selection.

People have asked whether Number Nine was opened by the old Number One team. It wasn’t. After Number One closed, its former staff went to several places. The team did not move here together.

One detail that is easy to overlook is the space where guests meet the therapists. The lighting is comfortable and the seats are at a sensible distance from the stage.

The gap between Macau venues has narrowed. It is harder than it used to be for one place to outperform all the others across the board. Number Nine is a good example of a balanced choice with few obvious weaknesses. It may not surprise you every time, but it is worth considering even when it is getting less attention.

Empire still stands out for its rooms and surroundings

Empire Sauna used to stand out for the size and quality of its mainland Chinese team. Other venues have been building up their teams in that area, so the difference is less pronounced now.

I saw a little over 20 therapists on site on my recent visit. My estimate is around 40 checking in overall, down from a few months ago.

The interiors are still among the most luxurious in Macau. The rooms are spacious, the waterbeds are large and the facilities are well appointed. Some room types allow a private overnight stay for an extra charge.

A smaller team does not take away the appeal of a beautiful room. If space, comfort and privacy matter more to you than the number of therapists available, Empire is still worth a look.

Manhao and Clube Rio have reopened. Is now the time to visit?

I would give both a little time.

Manhao Spa has reopened after a break of about six weeks. It had only just launched a discounted two-therapist package when it closed, which was unfortunate timing.

Since reopening, it has kept a low profile. There seem to be noticeably fewer international and mainland Chinese therapists than before the closure. The facilities and the location are both appealing, but the team has not yet recovered. If it grows again, Shang Pin will have stronger competition on Taipa.

Clube Rio is in a similar position. With a newly reopened venue, I want to see what lasts. The first two or three days can draw plenty of therapists, but if visitor numbers fail to follow, people can quickly move on. An opening-week roster tells you little about the next month.

As for Excellent Sauna, I did not have enough recent visits or guest feedback last month to offer a fair assessment in this issue.

How I would choose a Macau sauna this November

It is easier to narrow down the options this November than it was a few months ago. Each venue has developed a clearer identity.

For a first visit, lively group introductions and a Dongguan-style waterbed, I would start with Yu. For Japanese, Korean or white therapists, or for a bubble bath, I would choose Shang Pin.

If you have a budget in mind, compare Victoria’s and Majesty’s two-therapist offers for the date you are travelling. Check what each package includes as well as the discount on the poster.

For a stylish team and a room built around a particular story, East Castle stands out. If you have tried the most popular venues and want somewhere different, Number Nine is a sound choice.

Empire still has the edge for larger waterbeds, luxurious surroundings and space to rest privately. Manhao and Clube Rio need a little time to settle back in after reopening, so I would wait before making a special trip for either.

A headcount alone tells you very little about which Macau sauna you will enjoy most. Think about what matters to you: the team, the price, a particular experience, or the setting and service. That is a better guide than following everybody else to the same venue.

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What to check with us before you visit

Prices and offers have been changing frequently, and the team on duty can vary considerably at busy times. Checking ahead can save you arriving to find the offer has changed or someone you hoped to meet is away.

If you book through us, we can check the day’s offers, the number and nationalities of therapists on duty, special experiences, room arrangements and the final price.

For bookings that meet the conditions, we can also arrange complimentary private transfers within Macau and confirm which attendant treatments and other extras are included that day.

If you are undecided, tell us your budget, your preferences, what you would like to try and when you will arrive in Macau. We can suggest an option based on what is available for your visit.

Contact our team about November 2026 offers and booking arrangements.