Completed in 2010, the Manhattan is a relatively new residential property in Central Taipa, Macau. It is located on the Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen, Taipa, Macau, within walking distance of supermarkets, restaurants, banks, post office, and the charming Old Taipa Village with its pubs, cafes and specialty restaurants. The Cotai strip – the main location of Taipa’s hotels and casinos – is about a 20 minute walk through the village. And 10 minutes walk away is the lovely leafy Grand Taipa hill with its well laid out family trails for those who enjoy outdoor exercise.
The Manhattan is made up of two, 37 storey towers, the North and the South. There are three, 3 or 4 bedroom units on the majority of the floors as there are in the South Tower. The North tower is considered marginally more desirable because its units have, for now, slightly better views from the living room; sadly even these have now been largely obscured by the Pacifica Garden residences across the road and behind that a large unsightly wall of blue-tiled social housing apartments. For the most part the South Tower views towards the Cotai Strip are obscured by the unattractive exteriors of older high rises across the road.
Flooring in all the apartments is a standard deep brown wood which can tend to make them feel dark. Bathrooms are well appointed in light cream marble; master bathroom has bath and shower, guest bathroom only a shower. Kitchens are long and narrow with built in ovens (rare in Macau), and most having a tiny ‘smokers’ balcony at the end which is used primarily as a laundry area. A few units have terraces and the higher floors have access to a shared terrace.
Design of the public areas was inspired by the art deco buildings of New York. On entering one certainly gets the sense of calm and security and a very ‘western’ feel from the décor (no guards cooking up their noodles in the lobby reception as is the case in most of the older buildings!)
The clubhouse area is on the 6/F podium, with 5 floors of parking below. Although properties built after the Manhattan now offer even more lavishly designed clubhouses, the Manhattan in its day was considered the most luxurious with its large gym, golf simulator, central pool area, extensive entertainment facilities, mini cinema and children’s play area.
Things have got a little tired looking in the Manhattan but what it does have going for it is its friendly, helpful security staff and its convenient location.
