City of Dreams
An integrated casino resort in Cotai, Macau, combining gaming, hotels, dining, retail, entertainment and nightlife.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
City of Dreams is a large integrated casino resort in Cotai, Macau, developed and operated by Melco Resorts & Entertainment. The property opened on 1 June 2009 after approximately six years of construction. It was originally commissioned by Melco Crown Entertainment, the joint venture between Melco and Crown Entertainment, and became one of Macau’s most significant casino developments during the rapid expansion of the Cotai resort district. The resort was conceived as more than a gaming venue. Its original program combined a major casino, hotels, restaurants, retail, live entertainment and visitor attractions in one destination. At opening, the first phase included the Hard Rock Hotel, Crown Towers, a 420,000-square-foot casino, approximately 500 gaming tables, a shopping mall and restaurants. The project continued through the global financial crisis, with reported development costs of approximately US$2.4 billion. The opening made City of Dreams the first new casino property to open in Macau in almost two years after the Venetian Macao and established it as one of the territory’s largest casino complexes. The resort’s hotel portfolio evolved as ownership and branding arrangements changed. The Grand Hyatt Macau towers opened in October 2009, while the former Crown Towers was later renamed Nüwa after Crown Resorts ceased to be a co-owner in 2018. The former Hard Rock Hotel was rebranded as The Countdown Hotel in 2017, although the Hard Rock Café Macau retained its name. Morpheus, the resort’s fifth hotel tower, opened in 2018. Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, Morpheus added a highly distinctive architectural element and luxury accommodation to the complex. Entertainment has been central to the City of Dreams proposition. The House of Dancing Water, created by Franco Dragone, opened in September 2010 in the Dancing Water Theatre. Its production uses large-scale water effects, acrobatics, fire and theatrical design, and became one of Macau’s best-known resident shows. The theatre contains a very large performance pool and seating for up to approximately 2,000 people. Other attractions have included Kids’ City, a supervised children’s entertainment venue, the former Club Cubic nightclub and a poker room operated under the PokerStars brand. Retail and food and beverage facilities have also been expanded. The Boulevard retail area, developed with DFS, was enlarged in 2016 to approximately 175,000 square feet and added outlets along Estrada do Istmo. The resort has been described as containing several casinos, five hotel towers, roughly 2,270 rooms, more than 30 restaurants and bars, approximately 420,000 square feet of gaming space, and hundreds of gaming tables and machines, although the operating mix can change over time. From 2019 onward, Melco announced a broad refurbishment program covering Nüwa, Morpheus villas and the former Countdown Hotel. Nüwa reopened on 31 March 2021 after a year-long renovation, with 300 hotel units, including luxury villas. The House of Dancing Water’s production was acquired by Melco in 2019, while Dragone remained involved as artistic director. During the COVID-19 pandemic, venues and attractions were temporarily affected by Macau government restrictions. In 2021, Melco announced that it would assume operation and management of the former Club Cubic venue, which was subsequently renamed Para Club. City of Dreams therefore represents a continually refreshed resort platform whose identity combines casino operations with luxury hospitality, entertainment, retail and destination dining.
History
City of Dreams was developed in Cotai, Macau, during the territory’s transformation into a large-scale integrated resort destination. The project was commissioned and developed by Melco Crown Entertainment, then a joint venture involving Melco Resorts & Entertainment and Crown Entertainment. Construction lasted approximately six years and continued despite the 2008 global financial crisis. Reported development expenditure was approximately US$2.4 billion. The resort opened on 1 June 2009. Its first phase included the Hard Rock Hotel, Crown Towers, a large casino, retail facilities and restaurants. The opening casino occupied approximately 420,000 square feet and initially offered about 500 gaming tables. City of Dreams was the first Macau casino to open in almost two years after the Venetian Macao and was positioned as one of the leading casino complexes in the Cotai area. Opening design elements included a large bubble fountain, a dome theatre presenting multimedia material inspired by Chinese mythology and large video walls designed as a virtual aquarium. The resort expanded its hotel capacity in October 2009 when the two Grand Hyatt Macau towers opened. The Grand Tower contained 424 rooms and the Grand Club Tower contained 367 rooms, while the hotel’s ballroom could accommodate up to approximately 2,500 guests. This expansion reinforced the property’s integrated-resort model, in which gaming was combined with accommodation, meetings, dining and entertainment. Entertainment became a major part of the resort’s identity in September 2010 with the opening of The House of Dancing Water in the Dancing Water Theatre. Created by Franco Dragone, the production uses acrobatics, water, fire and atmospheric effects. Its theatre includes a very large commercial performance pool and sloped seating for up to approximately 2,000 spectators. The show later received a Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement for a Live Show Spectacular. In 2013, the resort added a PokerStars-branded poker room and introduced Taboo, a resident cabaret show at Club Cubic. Taboo closed in 2016. The Boulevard retail district was expanded in 2016 in partnership with DFS. The project increased the shopping area to approximately 175,000 square feet and added outlets along Estrada do Istmo. Hotel branding and ownership subsequently changed. The Hard Rock Hotel became The Countdown Hotel in 2017, although the Hard Rock Café Macau continued to use the Hard Rock name. In May 2018, Crown Resorts ceased to be a co-owner, and Crown Towers was renamed Nüwa. Morpheus opened in 2018 as the resort’s fifth hotel tower. Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, it brought a distinctive exoskeletal architectural form and additional luxury accommodation to City of Dreams. Its hospitality offer included high-end suites and villas and dining associated with chef Alain Ducasse. Beginning in 2019, Melco pursued a refurbishment program covering Nüwa, Morpheus villas and the former Countdown Hotel. In the same year, Melco acquired The House of Dancing Water production from Dragone Macau Limitada, retaining Dragone as artistic director. Nüwa closed for approximately a year and reopened on 31 March 2021 with 300 units, including 33 luxury villas. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted Macau’s entertainment and hospitality operations. A government order temporarily closed entertainment venues in October 2021, affecting facilities such as Club Cubic. Melco subsequently announced that it would assume the venue’s operation and management and later relaunched it as Para Club. City of Dreams has consequently developed from a major casino opening into a multi-component resort whose principal elements include casino gaming, hotels, retail, restaurants, resident theatre, family entertainment and nightlife.
- 2021
Nüwa reopens after renovation
[1]The refurbished hotel reopens with 300 units, including luxury villas.
- 2018
Morpheus opens
[1]The Zaha Hadid Architects-designed hotel tower opens at the resort.
- 2016
The Boulevard expands
[1]The retail district expands through a development with DFS.
- 2010
The House of Dancing Water launches
[1]The Franco Dragone production begins performances at the Dancing Water Theatre.
- 2009
City of Dreams opens
[1]The first phase opens in Cotai with casino gaming, hotels, retail, restaurants and entertainment facilities.
- 2009
Grand Hyatt Macau opens
[1]The two Grand Hyatt Macau towers open, adding 791 rooms and major event facilities.
Products and positioning
A premium, entertainment-led integrated resort that combines Macau casino gaming with luxury hotels, destination dining, designer retail, theatrical productions and nightlife.
Gaming · 2009
Casino gaming
City of Dreams operates multiple casino areas within the integrated resort. The original opening phase contained approximately 420,000 square feet of gaming space and around 500 gaming tables. Reference material later describes the property as having three separate casinos, hundreds of tables and gaming machines, although the exact operating configuration may change with market conditions and regulatory requirements.
Hospitality · 2009
Hotels
The resort’s hotel platform has included Grand Hyatt Macau, Nüwa, the former Hard Rock Hotel and The Countdown Hotel, and Morpheus. Together, the complex has been described as having five towers and approximately 2,270 rooms. Hotel branding and room inventories have changed through renovations and rebranding.
Live entertainment · 2010
The House of Dancing Water
The House of Dancing Water is a large resident theatrical production created by Franco Dragone. It combines acrobatics, choreography, water effects, fire and atmospheric staging in the Dancing Water Theatre, which contains a large performance pool and seating for approximately 2,000 spectators. Melco acquired the production in 2019 and retained Dragone as artistic director.
Retail · 2009
The Boulevard
The Boulevard is the resort’s retail district. Its expansion with DFS increased the shopping offer to approximately 175,000 square feet and added stores along Estrada do Istmo, Cotai’s principal thoroughfare.
Nightlife · 2021
Para Club
Para Club is the nightclub venue that followed the former Club Cubic operation. The venue includes a stage, dance pool, VIP rooms and bars. Melco announced in 2021 that it would take over the venue’s operation and management before the subsequent rebranding.
Family entertainment · 2010
Kids' City
Kids’ City is a supervised children’s attraction offering activities, party planning, music events and performances. It was described as Macau’s largest children’s attraction when it opened, temporarily closed during the coronavirus pandemic and had reopened by 2022 for children aged two to twelve.
Marketing campaigns
- 2008Macau Guia Race sponsorship
Macau
Shortly before the resort’s opening, City of Dreams served as title sponsor for driver Matthew Marsh in the 2008 Macau Guia Race, linking the developing property with a prominent local motorsport event.
Outcome. The sponsorship preceded the resort’s 2009 opening.
Brand decisions
2021
Take over and rebrand the former Club Cubic venueStrategyBackground
Macau government restrictions temporarily closed entertainment venues during the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting the Club Cubic operation.
Action taken
Melco announced that it would assume operation and management of the venue, which was subsequently renamed Para Club.
Aftermath
The nightclub remained part of City of Dreams’ broader entertainment and nightlife offering under a new identity.
2019
Acquire The House of Dancing Water productionStrategyBackground
The long-running resident show had become a central entertainment asset for the resort.
Action taken
Melco acquired the production from Dragone Macau Limitada while retaining Franco Dragone as artistic director.
Aftermath
The transaction placed the production more directly under Melco’s ownership and operating strategy.
2018
Crown Resorts exits co-ownershipM&ABackground
Crown Resorts ceased to be a co-owner of City of Dreams in May 2018.
Action taken
Following the ownership change, Crown Towers was rebranded Nüwa.
Aftermath
The resort’s hotel portfolio moved further toward Melco-controlled branding.
2017
Rebrand the Hard Rock Hotel as The Countdown HotelGeneration changeBackground
The resort changed the name of its Hard Rock Hotel as its hotel portfolio and brand relationships evolved.
Action taken
The hotel was renamed The Countdown Hotel, while the Hard Rock Café Macau retained its existing branding.
Aftermath
The change preceded further hotel repositioning, including the 2018 renaming of Crown Towers as Nüwa.
Sources2 sources
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