Chinese New Year (also known as Lunar New Year) is China’s biggest holiday – and London’s celebrations are the largest outside Asia. After a three-year hiatus, London’s Chinese New Year parade is making its return to the capital on January 22nd to celebrate the year of the Rabbit, and food plays an important part in the celebrations…
From Lunar New Year afternoon tea to Chinese feasts, hop on over to these London restaurants to celebrate Chinese New Year in London.
Hutong
Celebrate Chinese New Year in London by dining sky-high in The Shard at Hutong. From 21-22nd of January, Sifu (meaning ‘master’ in traditional Chinese culture) Fei Wang has designed a delicious five-course ‘Year of the Rabbit’ menu for £138pp with an optional Chinese wine pairing. Dishes include the traditional Lo Hei Salad alongside Sichuan Tiger Prawns and Roasted Peking Duck served with homemade sauce. “Lo Hei”, which translates to “tossing up good fortune” is popularly believed that the higher the salad is tossed, the better your prospects and fortune in the year ahead.
There’ll also be traditional Chinese festivities throughout the weekend, including a Chinese calligrapher from 7pm-9pm on the 21st of January and the famous Lion Dance throughout the evening on the 22nd of January.
Don’t miss Hutong’s limited edition Year of the Rabbit cocktail menu either – available from the 12th-31st of January at the Shanghai Bar. Highlights include the fruity HePing, a unique cocktail crafted with three different blends of wine infused with fresh cherries, Tanqueray no. 10, basil cordial and lychee liqueur.
WHERE: 33 ST THOMAS ST, LONDON SE1 9RY
WEBSITE: WWW.HUTONG.CO.UK
Straits Kitchen, Pan Pacific London
Enjoy a celebratory four-course sharing dinner at Straits Kitchen on Saturday 21st January. Priced at £138 per person, you’ll kick off with a welcome ‘Jade Rabbit’ cocktail before beginning with the Rainbow Yu Sheng salad. Known as a symbol of prosperity and abundance, this colourful creation sees carrots, Daikon radishes, sweet purple potatoes, pickled ginger, fresh mango and clementine finished with black cod and black truffle. An interactive experience, your group will toss the salad together – the idea being that the higher the toss, the more prosperous your year will be.
Next, a culinary delicacy of Braised Abalone, served with Shiitake mushrooms and gai lan. One of the most sought-after seafood ingredients in the world, eating abalone is believed to usher in good fortune.
Other indulgent dishes include steamed seabass with XO sauce; native lobster stir-fried longevity noodles and XO scallops fried rice. To truly toast the festivities, opt for two hours of unlimited Chinese wine to accompany your meal, for an additional £68pp.
WHERE: 80 HOUNDSDITCH, LONDON EC3A 7AB
WEBSITE: WWW.PANPACIFIC.COM
The Ivy Asia Mayfair
Celebrate a Lunar New Year to remember at The Ivy Asia Mayfair, where dazzling décor is designed to wow you from the moment you walk in.
The restaurant has joined forces with KI NO BI gin to bring you cocktails and food to capture the mood as they welcome the new year with open arms. The artisanal gin makers have helped craft an incredible collection of cocktails to celebrate the occasion, from The Good Fortune, made with equal parts KI NO BI gin, Cointreau and Lillet Rose, plus a dash of Absinthe; to The Lucky Rabbit blend of KI NO BI gin, cherry blossom syrup and The Ivy’s very own Champagne.
For those who like to indulge themselves, they’ve also unveiled The Golden Rabbit – a devilishly delicious dessert, combining the delicate delights of soft-serve ice-cream and smooth chocolate mousse with the tantilising texture of honeycomb. The perfect way to end a meal, or start the celebrations – you decide…
WHERE: 8-10 N AUDLEY ST, LONDON W1K 6ZD
WEBSITE: WWW.THEIVYASIAMAYFAIR.COM
The Orchid Lounge, Pan Pacific London
Known for her show-stopping patisserie, Executive Pastry Chef Cherish Finden at Pan Pacific London has partnered with Diptyque to create an extra special Lunar New Year Afternoon Tea. Inspired by the luxury brand’s Orange Tree and Orange Blossom scent – symbolising luck and happiness in Chinese culture – the candlelit Afternoon Tea is served in a beautiful birdcage.
Seasonal patisserie like mandarin and white chocolate mousse with orange marmalade is packed with citrus flavours, whilst standout Chinese savoury choices include crispy wonton with aromatic duck and tofu; lobster bun and Kaya toast. Wash it all down with your choice of tea from The Rare Tea Company or, opt for The Orchid Lounge’s Bespoke Blend – a perfect mix of Loose Leaf Indian & Malawian Black Tea, Chinese Oolong Tea and Indian Rose Petals. For a touch of indulgence, add a crisp glass of English sparkling wine.
And don’t forget to post a wish on The Orchid Lounge’s wishing tree – each guest will be given a red card (or ‘hóngbāo’) to write their hopes and dreams for the year ahead, before attaching it to the tree.
WHERE: 80 HOUNDSDITCH, LONDON EC3A 7AB
WEBSITE: WWW.PANPACIFIC.COM
BAO
Celebrate Lunar New Year and welcome the year of the rabbit at BAO Kings Cross or Shoreditch, with a private feast to bring good fortune in 2023. The menu includes BAO for good luck, featuring a choice of classic BAO or Daikon Pickle BAO, boiled Cull Yaw Dumplings (which symbolise prosperity), Cha Shao Gammon, roasted Delica Pumpkin, Stir-fried Swiss Chard with garlic.
And of course, it wouldn’t be Chinese New Year in London without some limited-edition creations either – this year they’ll be serving up sweet red bean Year of the Rabbit BBGs. The Lunar New Year menu is available from 20th January to 5th February for groups of six or more in the private dining room at Kings Cross or Shoreditch.
WHERE: KING’S CROSS / SHOREDITCH
WEBSITE: WWW.BAOLONDON.COM
The Perception, The W Hotel
Hidden within Chinatown, head down to the W Hotel on Saturday 21st January to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit, where The Perception bar will transform itself to create a vibrant atmosphere.
Throughout the night, there’ll be performances that capture the essence of traditional Chinese New Year celebrations – from lion dancers to immersive surprises. It’s set to be the ultimate Chinese NYE party.
WHERE: 10 WARDOUR ST, LONDON W1D 6QF
WEBSITE: WWW.DESIGNMYNIGHT.COM
Park Chinois
This January, Park Chinois, Mayfair’s most luxurious Asian restaurant, will be celebrating the Year of The Rabbit in style as a sumptuous feast awaits Down the Rabbit Hole. From January 19th to January 29th, Park Chinois will be offering a decadent Chinese New Year Menu including Whole Suckling Pig and playful Bunny Custard Bao’s served with Yuzu wine. Alongside this, they have partnered with Hennessy X.O to create three bespoke ‘Les Trois Petits Lapins’ cocktails.
From 19th – 22nd January, diners can also choose to immerse themselves in Salon de Chine where entertainment includes a mix of enthralling Chinese drumming and a silk string quartet along with the iconic lion dance in both Salon de Chine and Club Chinois
WHERE: 17 BERKELEY ST, LONDON W1J 8EA
WEBSITE: WWW.PARKCHINOIS.COM
MiMi Mei Fair
Delight in a purple paradise (symbolising prosperity), dine under a wishing tree canopy, and feast on a limited-edition Chinese New Year menu as MiMi Mei Fair bring in the Year of the Rabbit at their Georgian townhouse from 13th January-5th February.
The menu’s priced at £128 per person, and begins with Seared Fresh Oyster and Truffled vegetable Soong, followed by sharing mains like Fortune Crispy Norfolk Pork, Egg White Black Bean Tiger Prawns and Dried Scallop Braised Noodles. To finish, you’ll tuck into a Persimmon Sticky Rice Cake with raspberry ripple ice cream.
WHERE: 55 CURZON ST, LONDON W1J 8PG
WHEN: WWW.MIMIMEIFAIR.COM
By The Handbook
Hutong
Straits Kitchen, Pan Pacific London
The Ivy Asia Mayfair
The Orchid Lounge, Pan Pacific London
BAO
The Perception, The W Hotel
Park Chinois
MiMi Mei Fair
