From multi-course feasts to street food markets, discover the best spots to celebrate Chinese New Year in Sydney in 2020.
Bodhi Restaurant, Sydney CBD
Ring in the ‘Year of the Rat’ at Sydney’s iconic vegan restaurant, Bodhi. Experience a limited-edition menu of Lunar-inspired dishes, all served with a vegan twist. Try their Koi Mochi on a Coconut, Pumpkin and Pandan Layered dessert at lunch or a Palm Sugar Steamed Sponge Cake when dining at dinner. Plus, book a table on Wednesday, January 29th to experience a traditional lion dance performance at 7:30pm, with all proceeds from the event’s donation box to be donated to WIRES. To find out more and to book your spot, click here.
Aria, Sydney CBD
Overlooking Sydney Harbour, Aria will be celebrating Chinese New Year with a limited-edition menu of luxurious fine-dining eats. From January 22nd to 29th, experience Executive Chef Joel Bickford’s special six-course Chinese-inspired degustation menu. Featuring everything from South Australian rock oysters to Maremma duck and king oyster mushrooms, dine in style this CNY for $260 per person, with the addition of a Prestige ($328), Classic ($128) or Non-Alcoholic ($78) drink pairings. To find out more and to book your seat, click here.
Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel
The iconic beachside venue Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel is set to deliver an unmissable seafood feast for diners this Chinese New Year. Indulge in the venue’s most luxurious platter of fresh seafood for a cool $450 a head, boasting 12 different types of seafood including mud crab, sea urchin, salmon roe, scallop ceviche and so much more. Dive into 2kg of delicious seafood eats, or head to the Lower Beach Club to order ocean-inspired specials including Whole Crispy Fried Snapper with ginger, soy and sesame ($40) and New Zealand XO Pipis ($50), available now until February 9th 2020. Find out more here.
Lotus The Galeries, Sydney CBD
Looking for a spot to feast this Chinese New Year? Head to Lotus The Galeries to experience one of their four banquet menus this summer. From January 20th to February 2nd, experience a feast of traditional Chinese flavours with a package to suit every budget. With banquets ranging from $88 per person all the way up to a decadent $269 per person (with Lobster Sashimi, Pork and Prawn Wonton Soup, Soy Poached Duck and so much more), make sure to come hungry. To find out more, click here.
IKEA Tempe
A Swedish furniture store might sound like the last place to celebrate Chinese New Year, but hear us out. On January 22nd, head to IKEA Tempe to enjoy a Chinese Lunar Buffet for just $29.95 per person. The best bit? You can experience a whole host of traditional dishes and Chinese street food favourites at this all-you-can-eat buffet. To find out more here.
WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo
Get ready for a wild encounter and an epic feast this Chinese New Year at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo. In partnership with New Shanghai, dive into the zoo’s all-you-can-eat twilight dumplings experience hosted at their koala rooftop. Be one of the first to experience this Chinese Dumpling kingdom featuring prawn and pork wontons, Xiao Long Bao and more, with exclusive after-hours access to the zoo included in your ticket. Plus, $5 from every ticket sold will be donated to wildlife charities helping assist injured animals in the wake of Australia’s ongoing bushfire crisis. Find out more here.
Darling Square, Haymarket
Ring in the Chinese New Year with illuminated interactive installations and over 60 spots to drink and dine at Darling Square. From January 20th to February 9th, Darling Square is celebrating the Year of the Rat with themed installations to capture the imaginations of Sydneysiders and guests alike. Plus, get ready to experience lobster dumplings and dragon ball ice cream from Made in China, a Yee Sang raw fish salad from Dopa by Devon and even limited edition organic red beetroot noodles from IIKO Mazesoba. To find out more, click here.
Spice Temple, Sydney CBD
Speaking of feasts, make room for Spice Temple’s Year of the Rat nine-course fortuitous feast this Chinese New Year. Curated by Executive Chef Andy Evans, this elegant banquet menu has been crafted to signify good luck for the year ahead. Available for lunch and dinner from January 20th to February 9th, prepare for an exclusive menu ($99 per person, with an additional wine pairing for $55 per person). From raw tuna ‘Yu Sheng’ with spicy orange oil and iceberg to stir-fried spanner crab with leeks and mung bean noodles, make sure to come hungry to this epic dining experience. Find out more here.
Lunar New Year at The Rocks
Looking for an evening of entertainment and great eats this Chinese New Year? Make sure to check out The Rocks, set to come alive with foodie markets, Chinese-inspired street food, colourful installations and more. Start with the annual Lunar New Year Lantern Walk featuring 12 larger-than-life Lunar zodiac signs before continuing to Kendall Lane to experience Lunar Lane, an explosion of light and colour with cascading lanterns. From January 30th to February 9th make sure to stop by The Rocks Lunar Markets, featuring street food favourites including Mr Bao, Let’s Do Yum Cha and so much more. To find out more, click here.
World Square, Sydney CBD
From roving activations to delicious eats, World Square is set to deliver an unmissable program of events this Chinese New Year. Head to Din Tai Fun from January 23rd to February 9th to experience their limited-edition red and gold “Good Fortune” dumplings filled with wagyu beef and black truffle (5 pieces for $21.60). Looking for a hearty feast? Head to Gami Chicken and Beer for their special CNY banquet, ranging from $38 for two up to crews of 6 for $88. As for entertainment, watch the traditional Plucking of the Greens and Lion Dance on Friday January 24th from 1pm and make sure to swing by the precinct from January 31st to February 16th to watch the interactive Ratrobats display. To find out more, click here.
Chin Chin, Surry Hills
This Chinese New Year, flock to Surry Hill’s Chin Chin from Saturday, January 25th 2020 for a decadent lunch of Yum-Cha goodness. For just $39.50 per person, diners will be treated to a banquet of crowd-pleasing favourites, all infused the flavours of South-East Asian cooking. Think steamed mud crab dumplings, crispy prawn spring rolls and even fried squid with nahm jim. To find out more, click here.
Sunrise SKYWALKS, Sydney Tower Eye CBD
Celebrate the start of the Year of the Rat with an epic sunrise SKYWALk session overlooking the Sydney CBD. For two days only, Saturday January 25th and Sunday January 26th, Sydney Tower Eye will be offering 90-minute sunrise walks at 6am, 7:30am and 8:00am to kick start your day with sweeping views of Sydney’s spectacular sunrise. Soak in the first rays of sunshine and take advantage of this epic photo opportunity. Plus, SKYWALK will be continuing the CNY celebrations indoors from January 18th to February 2nd with free activities, photo opportunities, giveaways and so much more. To find out more about this program of events, click here.
The Star, Sydney CBD
Attracting over 30,000 visitors daily across the Chinese New Year period, The Star is playing host to a spectacular festival for the sense this CNY. From January 18th to February 9th, the precinct’s string of top-notch dining destinations will be serving up limited-edition CNY menus. Flock to CHUUKA, Sokyo, Flying Fish, BLACK Bar & Grill, Fat Noodle, Harvest Buffet and the Food Quarter to experience everything from lavish sashimi platters to Hokkaido scallops, seafood buffets and so much more. Plus, from January 24th to February 15th The Star will be running free entertainment including spectacular ribbon aerialist performances, stilt walkers, lion dancers, and more. To find out more, click here.