Once a bustling hub for artisans and merchants, Rua das Estalagens now welcomes a new wave of entrepreneurs blending tradition with innovation. Sands China has published a bilingual edition of In Search of Its Roots – An Illustrated History of Rua das Estalagens, revealing the stories behind this historic street and inviting residents and visitors alike to rediscover its century-old shops and cultural atmosphere. Each month, Plataforma and Sands China will highlight the community, businesses, and revitalisation efforts that aim to breathe new life into one of Macao’s oldest streets. Through captivating stories, we explore its transformation, honouring its past while shaping its future. Each report will be published in Chinese, English, and Portuguese on the last Friday of every month, in print and digital formats.
Learn more about In Search of Its Roots – An Illustrated History of Rua das Estalagens
- Producer: Sands China Ltd.
- Publisher: Macau Artist Society
- Author: Siguo Chen
- Illustrator: Shirley Lu
In Search of Its Roots – An Illustrated History of Rua das Estalagens Earns PATA Gold Award The bilingual publication In Search of Its Roots – An Illustrated History of Rua das Estalagens was one of the winners of the PATA Gold Awards 2025, being distinguished in the category of Best Printed Marketing Campaign (Industry). The book reveals the stories of this street, inviting Macao’s residents and visitors to rediscover its century-old shops and cultural atmosphere.
The Faces of Revitalisation on Rua das Estalagens
Café Fantart
Chan Iat Seng wants his customers to feel that Café Fantart is “modern with a nostalgic touch.” Platform
Café Fantart serves both locals and tourists. “When the locals travel, the number of tourists increases accordingly,” says Chan Iat Seng. Platform
Café Fantart’s signature item is its puff pastry tarts, but the menu also features toasts, pasta, and rice dishes. Platform
With its puff pastry tarts and classic appeal, Café Fantart brings a fresh flavour to Rua das Estalagens. “We serve pasta, rice dishes and toasts, but the essence lies in the atmosphere of a modern café with a nostalgic touch,” says Chan Iat Seng. He joined Sands China’s Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme because he saw the development potential of Rua das Estalagens, as it is close to the Ruins of St. Paul’s and other tourist attractions. He believes that Sands China’s assistance has become the foundation of his confidence in starting the business, while also offering promising development opportunities for young entrepreneurs. “And in terms of marketing, Sands China has continued to support us by arranging media interviews.”
Today, the café welcomes both tourists and locals, keeping a steady flow of customers throughout the year. “When the locals travel, the number of tourists increases accordingly. In recent months, business has been very good,” he concludes.
Little Port
Ng Sin Toi, Marketing and Retail Manager of Little Port. Platform
Little Port offers a wide range of soaps made from essential oils. Platform
In addition to soaps, Little Port also carries a variety of cork and wooden products featuring traditional Portuguese design. Platform
Among shelves of fragrant soaps, cork coasters and wooden crafts, Little Port celebrates Portuguese identity in the heart of Macao. “We want to promote Portuguese culture and the exchange between Portugal and China,” says Ng Sin Toi, Marketing and Retail Manager. Joining Sands China’s Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme made it possible for Little Port to open its first physical store, transforming years of online sales into a street-level presence. “Now we have a dedicated shop,” she says, noting that more tourists and locals are discovering the store. Participating in the Sands Shopping Carnival also gave the brand an extra boost: “Our booth was located at the centre of the exhibition and drew large crowds. For tourists, soap is an original souvenir. Many local residents said they wanted to visit our shop afterwards and that greatly increased the brand’s visibility.”
Also read: Rua das Estalagens: The Businesses of Revitalisation (Part I)
OLÁLÁ
Luciano Ma, from OLÁLÁ, shows the shop’s creative reinterpretation of traditional Macao snacks with playful packaging. Platform
OLÁLÁ’s signature codfish tarts, reimagined with new flavours and presented on traditional Portuguese tiles. Platform
Creative and unmistakably local, OLÁLÁ reinvents Macao’s snacks with bold twists on codfish tarts and other fusion treats. “We’re probably the first brand in Macao to develop several new flavours of this delicacy,” says Luciano Ma. He recalls how important Sands China’s Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme was in refining their business plan. “It helped us approach data collection and budgeting with greater precision, reducing risks and setting a clear direction for our project.” Financial support also proved decisive. “For a micro-enterprise like ours, it was one of the key reasons we were able to keep going. The programme gave us the platform and visibility to turn our idea into reality.” Today, OLÁLÁ adds a distinctive identity to Rua das Estalagens, sharing the flavours of Macao’s cultural mix with its visitors.
Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme
These three stories are part of a wider effort. Since 2024, Sands China has been leading the revitalisation of Rua das Estalagens, breathing new life into one of Macao’s most historic streets. One of its early actions was launching the Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme: an initiative created to finance and support creative, sustainable businesses willing to contribute to the street’s transformation.
Sands China received 128 applications, of which 120 met the eligibility criteria. After three rigorous rounds of evaluation by a panel of judges, seven projects were selected as those best aligned with the Macao Government’s revitalisation strategy.
The Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme provided financial support for the launch of these businesses, but it did not stop there. It assisted them in selecting their locations on Rua das Estalagens and ensured follow-up throughout the licensing processes. Today, it continues to support these businesses through active promotion of their brands across various platforms and events that Sands China organises or participates in, generating buzz about the historic street.
Over the past months, we have met artisans, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who continue to bring life to various corners of Rua das Estalagens. What remains is a lasting and vibrant portrait of heritage and innovation that continues each day in the hands of those who live and create along this historic street. You may revisit all the stories through HERE.
