Macau's bars have gone upmarket, and here are seven of the best

Gone are the days when Macau's drinking holes were pretty much limited to beer, Portuguese plonk and Chinese rice liquor . The scene has changed as dramatically as the skyline in the past two decades. There are wine lists that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best, and the number and magnitude of the "integrated resorts" is matched only by their drinking and eating options.

The trend will continue with several hotels opening in the next few years. Nonetheless, the existing inventory of watering holes is pretty good. Here are a few of the more popular bars:

If you enter the Four Seasons Hotel Macau through the Venetian Shoppes (rather than the lobby entrance), you can tell when you have crossed the threshold into the hotel. There is an air of calm along with the distinct feeling that a layer of kitschiness has been stripped away. Azul is an extension of this calm. Elegant yet fashionable, it has everything you would expect from a high-end hotel bar; a good range of cocktails and bottle service for spirits that include cognac and bourbon - ranging from 1,100 patacas to a whopping 51,888 patacas. Recommended for: Friday night wine tastings from 6pm to 8pm for 150 patacas plus 15 per cent service charge and tax

In typical Wynn hotel style, Bar Cristal can be a bit overwhelming initially. Decorated to look like the inside of a jewellery box, the bar is designed around a 19th century antique French chandelier that lends an air of historical elegance. As for drinks, all the classics are available, as well as a few signatures - try the Sinatra Smash, made with blackberries, sweet and sour, vanilla syrup, creme de cassis and bourbon. Recommended for: a pre-dinner glass of champagne or a nightcap.