Where to Celebrate Lunar New Year in Sydney
Lunar New Year is a big deal. In China alone, it counts for one of the world’s largest migrations, as many millions of people return home during the 40-day Spring Festival. But it reaches well beyond China, with celebrations in Malaysia, Korea (for Seollal), Vietnam (for Tet), Thailand (for Songkran), and beyond. In 2025, the Year of the Snake slithers towards us – symbolising wisdom and change – on Wednesday, January 29 (but festivities often kick off with a reunion dinner the night before). Whether you’re unable to make it home, or you just want to embrace the celebrations, these are the places in Sydney to ring it in. Many are offering exclusive set menus, lion dancing, firecrackers and more – with some offerings running right through February. They’re sure to make this year’s celebration one to remember.
Restaurant
Golden Century
The beloved Cantonese diner has reopened at Crown and it's celebrating Lunar New Year specials like poon choi, a traditional festive dish with layers of meat and shellfish, plus turnip cake. Or book in for its OG yum cha.
Restaurant
Spice Temple
Welcome luck and prosperity with a nine-course banquet. There’ll be purse-shaped pipis that represent opportunity, red noodles with braised beef for longevity and more. Book the feast from January 22 to February 5.
Restaurant
Yan
This creative smokehouse is ringing in the Year of the Snake with the return of its yee sang salad, available to pre-order. Book a table for the technicolour dish along with favourites like smoked chicken katsu.
Restaurant
Aria
Glistening views of the Harbour make a fine backdrop for a festive eight-course tasting menu ($350pp) with Peking duck consommé and red-braised Wagyu rump cap. Plus, wines from previous Years of the Snake.
Restaurant
Song Bird
Neil Perry’s multi-storey Cantonese restaurant is plating an eight-course festive menu ($148pp) from January 27 to February 10. Come for lobster and scallop money bag dumplings, red-braised beef with chestnuts and more.
Restaurant
Ho Jiak Town Hall
Pre-order yee sang at Junda Khoo’s Malaysian eatery to celebrate prosperity in the new year. There’s also lobster Squid Game pasta, buttermilk king prawns, plus traditional lion dances. Book your spot here.
Restaurant
Arthur
The cosy diner is flipping its menu for a festive Lunar New Year feast (from $120pp) fusing Chinese flavours with Australian ingredients. Book one of its 40 seats for zucchini flower siu mai, Sichuan kangaroo and pork char siu.
Restaurant
Lana
Alex Wong’s dinner-only prosperity menu ($188pp) returns, blending Italian flavours with Asian ingredients. Between January 29 to February 15, book a table for spanner crab capelli d’angelo and Ora King salmon yee sang.
Bar
The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre
Ring in the new year with Lucky Prawn’s festive banquet from January 29 to February 1, featuring its popular prawn toast and snake beans. Or book in for yum cha on February 2 to enjoy trollies of sweet and sour pork, special fried rice and more, while watching a lion dance.
Bar
Opera Bar
Soak in Harbour views with menu specials, from January 29 to February 2, like pork and prawn wontons and crispy duck bao. Sip on one-off cocktails like the Lunar High Ball and Jade Garden.
Accommodation
Capella Sydney
From Tuesday January 29 till Sunday February 16, high-end hotel Capella will serve afternoon tea ($125pp) to mark the Year of the Snake. Choose from lobster roll, sesame prawn toast and fried pork dumplings. Plus, upgrade with an overnight stay in the heritage sandstone building.
Restaurant
Royal Palace Seafood Restaurant
In the old Golden Century site, this 400-seat Cantonese diner has yum cha trolleys, seafood tanks and late-night dining. Book a group feast to usher in the Year of the Snake, or order some of its house-made sweets – like rice cake and turnip cake – to go.
Restaurant
Porkfat
A Long Chim alumnus is behind this 30-seat Chinatown restaurant, where you’ll get punchy takes on Thai street food and home-style cooking. For Lunar New Year, explore its menu of grilled pork jowl curry, tamarind chicken wings and marinated beef brisket. Bookings are essential.
Restaurant
Hanasuki
Sleek Hanasuki is the only Sydney restaurant dedicated to shabu-shabu, or Japanese-style hotpot. To celebrate the new year, it’s serving a special platter with three types of Wagyu, ox tongue and Kurobuta pork, which you can dip into a delicate, simmering broth. Available until Sunday, February 1, book your table here.
Restaurant
Amah
A brilliant partnership between Ho Jiak and Mr Wong’s ex-head chef, Loong Oon. Amah is ringing in the new year with a lion dance at 5.30pm on Sunday February, 2. Plus, find a [special menu] with char siu beef ribs, XO lobster and more.
Restaurant
Eaton Chinese Restaurant
Celebrate with a feast at late-night Cantonese star among Ashfield’s strip of Shanghai dumpling dealers. Some say it goes head-to-head with Golden Century on quality and price.
Restaurant
The Chairman
Start the new year with the fiery Hunanese restaurant's signature smoked pork – a dish that counts Neil Perry and Matt Moran among its fans.
Restaurant
Taste of Shunde
Take a seat for roast goose, “fried milk” and fish dumplings at this unsung diner serving niche cuisine from south-east China.
Restaurant
Malay Chinese Takeaway
Head to the laksa institution for piping hot bowls among smoky char kway teow and comforting Hainanese chicken and combination rice dishes.
Shop
Kariton Sorbetes
The playful Filipino dessert spot is scooping a new red packet flavour: gelato with jujube red velvet, candied goji berry and baijiu jelly. If you spend $20 or more, receive a lucky red packet with prizes like the chance to create your dream flavour.
More Options
Lilymu , Parramatta
Dine at Asian-inspired eatery Lilymu from January 25 to February 2 for a one-off Lunar New Year banquet ($108pp) featuring dishes like roast barramundi with ginger and shallot; and beef short rib with gochujang and perilla. Enjoy lion dances while you dine, plus each guest will get a lucky red pocket containing a $20 dining voucher.
