When Fernando Marques opened his café, Ou Mun, in 2001 – not long after Portugal returned the region to China – he didn't expect it to become a big success. Now it is one of Macao's most celebrated Portuguese coffee shops, with an average of 200 patrons a day.
The café, which lies in a little lane off of Macau's bustling Senado Square, offers authentic Portuguese pastries, bread and coffee for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They are also sold in other restaurants throughout the region.
The joyful owner of café "Ou Mun" [Yang Dan/China.org.cn] |
Marques paid homage to Macao's heavy population of Chinese with his café's name, which is Cantonese for "Macao." "I chose this name because it is easy to remember for the Chinese people," Marques said.
The tribute paid off. Most of Ou Mun's customers are Chinese, though many Portuguese and other ethnicities also frequent the place.
"I can understand a little Chinese, so I don't have trouble communicating with the Chinese customers," Marques said.
As his business grew, Marques opened a bakery in Taipa, one of Macao's islands. He now has 10 employees working for him.
Ou Mun is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Colorfully-decorated interior of the café [Yang Dan/China.org.cn] |
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