It’s The Year Of The Dragon! 11 Ways To Celebrate Lunar New Year In London
Lunar New Year is Asia’s biggest holiday – and London’s celebrations are the largest in Europe. This year, London’s celebratory parade will make its way through the West End on 11th February to celebrate The Year of the Dragon, and food plays an important part in the celebrations…
From Lunar New Year afternoon tea to Chinese feasts, head on over to these London restaurants and bars to celebrate Lunar New Year in London.
London Lunar New Year 2024: Where To Celebrate The Year Of The Dragon
Pan Pacific London
Pan Pacific London and Cantonese Bun House are toasting to new beginnings with present a brand new afternoon tea experience starting from 8th February. Curated by Executive Pastry Chef Francesco Mannino and Chef Z He, the experience features a selection of sweet and savoury buns, including a signature lamb and bamboo shoot, a custard-filled Mandarin for good luck, and a decadent black chocolate bun.
With two sui mai baskets and picture-perfect patisserie, it’s one of the most elegant ways to celebrate, priced at £68 per person, and available daily from 12:30pm-4 pm.
Where: 80 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7AB
Website: www.panpacific.com
Pasta Evangelists
Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with Pasta Evangelists’ exclusive Pasta Dragon creation. This limited-time dish features fresh egg pasta filled with ricotta and spinach, expertly shaped into a Dragon’s tail and served with a fiery tomato sauce. With the dragon symbolising power and luck in Chinese tradition and featuring heavily in Italian folklore, this unique pasta is available for online order from 9th February via Pasta Evangelists takeaway platforms, including Deliveroo and UberEats.
Fancy giving it a go yourself? Join their special Pasta Academy class on 8th February to master the art of making it.
Where: The Pasta Academy, 62-63 Long Lane, EC1A 9EJ
Website: www.pastaevangelists.com
Fatt Pundit
To celebrate Chinese New Year, Fatt Pundit, London’s Indo-Chinese hotspot will be serving fiery Dragon Momo, a spicy twist on their must-try classic steamed dumpling, bathed in a red “dragon” sauce, which in Indo-Chinese cuisine is typically known as the spiciest sauce on the menu.
Made with red peppers, green peppercorn, and dried Szechuan chili, the limited-time dish can be ordered at Fatt Pundit Covent Garden from 10-17th February.
Where: 6 Maiden Ln, London WC2E 7NA
Website: www.fattpundit.co.uk
Daddy Bao
Daddy Bao is embracing Taiwanese Lunar New Year traditions at their Tooting restaurant in an all day celebration to mark the Lunar New Year.. With a decadent feasting menu that blends tradition with innovation, each dish carries symbolic meaning. From fortune-filled dumplings to a whole fish, a Lunar New Year staple, representing abundance, the feast is designed for sharing with loved ones.
Prices start at £50 for the vegetarian and pescetarian menu and £60 for the regular menu, with a £15 add-on for whole grilled bream.
Where: 113 Mitcham Rd, London SW17 9PE
Website: www.daddybao.co.uk
Park Chinois
From 1st-11th February, Park Chinois, Mayfair’s most luxurious Asian restaurant, will be celebrating the Year of The Dragon in style. Indulge in decadent Chinese fare with A La Carte specials or the celebratory group dining menu, alongside a spectacular lineup of entertainment, including traditional Lion Dance each evening at 8pm, and Chinese Drumming on selected evenings.
For a stylish party to kick off the new year, head down on 9th February for late-night revelry in Club Chinois, featuring an immersive show, traditional Lion Dance, and a DJ to keep the party going into the early hours.
Where: 17 Berkeley St, London W1J 8EA
Website: www.parkchinois.com
House of Ming
Celebrate the Lunar New Year in style at House of Ming, who are adding a fiery cocktail, the Firestorm, to the menu, along with a selection of mouth watering dishes. From 9-11th February, enjoy six limited edition dishes including a delicious Yuanna Style Lamb and Sichuan Style Oriental Vegetable.
Chinese New Year traditions will also be honoured, with lucky bamboo centrepieces and the gifting of red envelopes (with special offers inside) to bestow good fortune for the year ahead.
Where: 54 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6AF
Website: www.houseofming.co.uk
Hutong
Dine sky-high in The Shard at Hutong, where from 7th-12th February, they’re serving a delicious Chinese New Year menu for £118pp. Dishes include the traditional Lo Hei Salad alongside fried tiger prawns with black pepper and chilli, duck with Sichuan pepper and pickled chilli, and black truffle fried rice. “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.
On Saturday 10th February, join their Chinese New Year party featuring hong bao, a Chinese calligrapher, a traditional dancer, and a Lion dance performing throughout the evening’s festivities.
Where: 33 St Thomas St, London SE1 9RY
Website:www.hutong.co.uk
Experimental Cocktail Club
From 10-24th February, celebrate the year of the Dragon with bespoke cocktails at Chinatown’s Experimental Cocktail Club, featuring Chinese spirit Ming River Baiju.
Indulge in the Dragonfire, a mix of Ming River Baiju, Bruxo Mezcal, Campari, mango lassi syrup and orange juice; and for a topical option, try the Red Lantern with coconut-washed Doorly’s 5yo Rum.
Where: 13a Gerrard St, London W1D 5PT
Website: www.experimentalcocktailclub.com
Mimi Mei Fair
Celebrate the Year of the Dragon at Mimi Mei Fair, where the Georgian Townhouse will transform into a floral paradise from 1st-24th February. Decorated with vibrant blues, greens, pinks, and maroons, the restaurant’s wishing trees set the stage for a lavish Chinese New Year celebration in collaboration with Courvoisier.
The Chinese New Year menu features traditional dishes symbolising the significance of the Year of the Dragon, including a Dim Sum ‘Basket of Wealth’ with steamed seabass, cabbage, and garlic-chive chicken dim sum; Fortune Crispy Norfolk Pork with pineapple, white onions and pomelo; and a Flourless Chocolate Bar with mandarin and pecan crunch, and vanilla bean ice cream. You’ll also receive a smoky Imperial Sunset cocktail made with Courvoisier VSOP, sweet vermouth, hibiscus mezcal, and grapefruit soda.
Where: 55 Curzon St, London W1J 8PG
Website: www.mimimeifair.com
TĪNG Restaurant
Join TĪNG Restaurant this Chinese New Year with a specially crafted menu featuring flavourful starters like Crispy Duck Bites and Seafood Sew Mai, followed by indulgent mains including Barbecue Pork Belly and Dragon Fried Rice. Each dish symbolises luck and prosperity, bringing a touch of festivity to the dining experience.
The Chinese New Year menu at TĪNG Restaurant is available from 9th-13th February, with prices starting from £21 per dish.
Where: Level 35, 31 St Thomas St, London SE1 9QU
Website: www.ting-shangri-la.com
Opium
This award-winning cocktail bar in Chinatown is partnering with Ming River Baijiu to offer a special menu featuring three delightful cocktails this Chinese New Year. Try the Red Dragon River, a mix of Ming River Baijiu, Żubrówka Rose Liqueur, Dragon Lemon Vodka, Kaffir Lime Cordial, Lemon bitters, Miraculous Foamer, and Berry dust; along with the Ming Fashioned and Dragon Spritz.
Pair your drinks with large baskets of dim sum to top off the celebrations. You can join the Chinese New Year festivities at Opium Chinatown from 5th-18th February.
Where: 15-16 Gerrard St, London W1D 6JE
Website: www.opiumchinatown.com