Margaret's Café e Nata
7.6Friend Score / 10#5 of 12 Cafés & Coffee in Macau
Known forsandwichescroissantsbrowniescakes
The peninsula's egg tart heavyweight, run by Margaret Wong — Andrew Stow's ex-wife — and locked in a decades-long friendly rivalry with Lord Stow's. Tarts are about MOP 11, flakier and a touch more caramelized. It's a five-minute walk from Senado Square, but be warned: it closes Wednesdays and the queue can be brutal at peak times.
Key facts
| Hours | Mon–Sun 06:30–20:00 |
|---|---|
| Price | $ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | Buses along Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro; 5-minute walk from Senado Square, near the Grand Lisboa |
| Time needed | 30-45 minutes including the queue |
| Best time to go | Right at opening (6:30am) or late afternoon; avoid late morning weekends |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
7.6/10- Value7.5
- iconic7.5
- Freshness9.1
- Crowd level4.0
- Authenticity8.0
- Accessibility8.5
Frequently asked questions
- Can I pay by card at Margaret's Café e Nata?
- Bring cash (MOP or HKD accepted at par in most of Macau) to be safe — small heritage food shops in Macau are inconsistent with cards and mainland payment apps. The amounts are tiny anyway.
- Is Margaret's Café e Nata closed on Wednesdays?
- Yes — Wednesday is its regular closing day, and it catches visitors out constantly. Plan your egg tart run for any other day, roughly 6:30am to 8pm.
- Is there seating at Margaret's?
- A handful of outdoor tables in the alley, usually taken. Most people get takeaway and eat standing — the tart is best warm anyway, so don't overthink it.
- Where exactly is Margaret's Café e Nata?
- Tucked down a small side street off Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, near the Grand Lisboa — about five minutes' walk from Senado Square. Follow the smell of pastry and the line of people holding tart boxes.
- How long is the queue at Margaret's Café e Nata?
- Anywhere from five minutes to close to an hour on weekend late mornings. The line moves fastest before 9am; late afternoon on weekdays is also manageable.
- Margaret's or Lord Stow's — which egg tart wins?
- Margaret's leans flakier and more caramelized; Lord Stow's is creamier. Locals are genuinely split, and the backstory — they were once married — makes trying both mandatory.
- Does Margaret's sell anything besides egg tarts?
- Yes — sandwiches, coconut tarts, milk tea, and coffee, all decent. But the egg tart is the reason the queue exists; everything else is a supporting act.
- How much is an egg tart at Margaret's?
- About MOP 11 each. Cash-friendly, cheap, and most people regret not buying a second one on the spot.
Nearby in Ask Macau
- Clube Militar de MacauRestaurant0.23 km · 3 min walk
- Monte FortAttraction0.4 km · 5 min walk
- St. Dominic's ChurchAttraction0.41 km · 5 min walk
- Single OriginCafé0.41 km · 5 min walk
- Macau Postal MuseumMuseum0.45 km · 6 min walk
Where to stay near Margaret's Café e Nata
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