From degustations & special menu additions to free movie screenings and street food markets, discover everything there is to do this Lunar New Year.
The world is gearing up to celebrate Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year. Luckily for us, Sydney is turning it on with a bunch of activations across the city. Round up your friends or loved ones for this family-friendly event and check out our picks of what’s on below.
Ring In The Year Of The Rabbit With Providoor
Don’t miss out on a delicious meal if you’re celebrating from home! Bring the fun to you with a festive order from Providoor. Restaurants including Ho Jiak, XOPP, Golden Century and Spice Temple have released new dishes and banquet options in the theme of Lunar New Year. You can also get your hands on a Limited-Edition Celebration Box including a dumpling feast from Sydney’s best Asian eateries. Order online here.
Cheap Eats & An Instagrammable Lantern Tunnel At Darling Square
The buzzing precinct will come to life with a lantern tunnel, lion dancers, and special dishes from restaurants across Darling Square. Enjoy a 6-pack of Lunar New Year-inspired donuts from Shortstop, Fiery Hoisin Wings with crispy shallots and fresh chilli from Wingboy and specials from IIKO Mazesoba including Prosperity Mazesoba which is a tangy noodle salad and Rabbit Parfait which gives you the choice of Matcha or Houjicha gelato (available from 21 January – 5 February). Find out more.
9-Course Degustation Experience At Botanic House
Take a walk through Sydney’s adored Royal Botanic Gardens and end up at Botanic House for their 9-course Lunar New Year Degustation experience. The menu is made up of recipes that have been handed down from Chef Luke Nguyen’s Chinese grandfather. Expect to taste native ingredients, fresh produce, and a botanical lunar cocktail on arrival for $95pp. Dishes including Botanic House Prawns, BBQ Roasted Duck with lychees, cherry tomatoes and spicy satay sauce, Vietnamese Coconut Cake with mango pudding, almond cookies, seasonal fruit and olive ice cream, and so much more (available from 22nd January – 5 February).
Free Crazy Rich Asians Screening At Darling Quarter’s Open Air Cinema
The Warner Bros. 100 Open Air Cinema will celebrate Lunar New Year with a screening of the Hollywood hit, Crazy Rich Asians. Enjoy Click & Collect snacks throughout the movie from the likes of Dopa and Doodee Noodle, and order drinks from the pop-up bar. This is a free event happening at 6pm on 22 January. Find out more here.
Lunar New Year Degustation With Waterfront Views at Luna Lu
What better way to spend Lunar New Year than with a view of Sydney Harbour and contemporary Asian cuisine on the table! One of our favourite new openings in Cambell Cove, Luna Lu, is putting on a decadent five-course degustation to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit. The newly appointed Head Chef Pier Davide Maiuri has created a unique menu featuring Crispy Lobster Puffs with charcoal and Oscietra Caviar, Cured Scallops with cashew, daikon, seaweed and lemongrass tea, Egg Noodles with King Prawn, XO sauce, Spanner Crab and Trout Caviar, Goldbang Snapper with oyster mushroom and vervain, and more for $220pp. There will also be traditional lion dance performances at the venue. Find out more here.
Bao & Beer At BrewDog South Eveleigh
South Eveleigh’s newly opened beer house, BrewDog, will be slinging Crispy Korean Chicken Bao Buns complete with red onion Kimchi, Korean hot sauce, sesame, fried shallots and topped with miso mayo, in celebration of Lunar New Year. The limited-edition dish will be available from 22 – 25 January at $18.95 for 3 pieces and you can pair this with one of their expertly crafted beers on tap. Book your table here.
Have A Laugh At The Lunar New Year Comedy Show
The country’s best Asian-Australian comedians are heading to Chatswood for a one-night-only comedy show on 28 February! Tickets are just $39 and the lineup includes Diana Nguyen, Nina Oyama, Harry Jun, Jenny Tian, AJ Lamarque, Ting Lim, Chris Nguyen and Kevin Jin. Get your tickets here.
Indulge In A Banquet At Lotus Group Dining
Lotus Dining Group is gearing up to celebrate The Year of the Rabbit with a selection of exclusive Lunar New Year dishes and traditional lion dance performances from 22 January until 5 February. Enjoy Lunar New Year banquets at Lotus The Galeries, The Gardens by Lotus, CHI by Lotus and Lotus Double Bay. You can also head into Lotus Barangaroo, Lotus The Galeries, or The Gardens by Lotus to enjoy traditional lion dance performances. Find out more.
Get Crafty At South Eveleigh’s Lantern Making Workshop
For those who like to get hands-on in the festivities, sign up for a lantern-making workshop, perfect for everyone from kids to adults. Learn about the 2,000-year-old Asian tradition and contribute to the community installation with sustainable materials. There are 5 45-minute workshops on 22 January. Book online here.