Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, marks the start of a new lunar calendar and is one of the biggest celebrations in Chinese culture. Each year is tied to a different animal from the Chinese zodiac, bringing its own symbols, personality traits and traditions. The festivities usually run for 15 days and centre around spending time with loved ones, eating lucky foods, watching colourful parades and welcoming good fortune for the year ahead.
Celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse with Inamo Soho and Covent Garden's fun-filled offerings. Book a table at this high-tech joint to enjoy delicious Asian eats - particularly the sushi that they've created for the occasion.
The edible tribute is made up of fresh salmon, seasoned rice and crunchy cucumber, and is available from the 16th to the 22nd of February.
Situated inside The Hippodrome, the UK's largest casino, Chop Chop by Four Seasons is an award-winning Chinese restaurant that's open until late. They're putting on a high-energy celebration for Lunar New year, complete with lion dance performances, lucky red envelope and Chinese calendar giveaways.
There'll also be plenty of delicious Cantonese food on the cards, from handmade dumplings to roast duck. And to celebrate the Year of the Horse, guests born under this zodiac sign (1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990 and 2002) will get 20% off their bill between 16th and 18th February.
With all kinds of restaurants serving up authentic East Asian cuisine, London is a great place to be for the Lunar New Year. It's all up for grabs here, from Cantonese and Sichuan to dumplings and Michelin-starred plates.
All moody lighting and modern dim sum, The Courtesan hopes to transport you back to the peak of Imperial China. Want something a little more relaxed? Get over to Alan Yau's gastropub Duck and Rice. He's the genius behind Wagamama and Hakkasan, so you can be sure he knows a thing or two.
A buzzing Taiwanese restaurant in Tooting Broadway, Daddy Bao is the second venue from the owner behind Peckham's Mr Bao. Its much-anticipated Lunar New Year Feast is back, celebrating the Year of the Horse with a special tasting menu.
This is taking place for one night only on 17th February, featuring noodles, fish bao, confit duck dumplings and more.
From 5th February to 3rd March, Noodle And Beer is celebrating the Year of the Fire Horse in spectacular style. Expect packed tables, red garlands and light installations handmade by local artists.
The menu is packed with lucky dishes and good fortune. Begin with Auspicious Lotus Root Parcels, before tucking into dishes like Prosperity Beer Duck and Sweet Glutinous Rice Balls.
Created by the team behind Fallow and FOWL, Roe usually serves up modern British dishes. Things are a little different for the Year of the Fire Horse, with a sensational set menu up for grabs.
To celebrate the Lunar New Year, you can tuck into a choice of maitake mushroom wonton, char sui lamb skewer, yee sang prosperity toss salad, sweet and sour suckling pork, 'Fire horse' red chilli cod head and plenty more.
Duck & Waffle London is celebrating the Year of the Horse with a special Chinese New Year menu, running from the 16th to the 20th of February. The feast kicks off with small plates like prawn crackers with crispy chilli oil, smashed and fermented baby cucumbers with chilli, and tea-infused duck eggs drizzled with a bang-bang peanut dressing.
For mains, diners can tuck into crispy duck confit pancakes with cucumber, spring onions and hoisin, plant-based 'Wannabe' pancakes with crispy oyster mushrooms and tofu, or a fillet of sea bass with pak choi, chilli, ginger, soy and oyster sauce. Sweet endings include a duck egg custard tart with matcha ice cream or rice pudding with poached rhubarb and honey, finished off with classic fortune cookies for a playful nod to tradition.
BAO is welcoming the Lunar New Year in suitably indulgent fashion, marking the Year of the Horse with a limited-time menu that's all about abundance, symbolism and a little bit of fun.
Running from the 10th to the 26th of February, the celebration brings together show-stopping specials like chilli crab noodles topped with tempura crab legs and salmon roe, a classic prosperity-tossing salmon salad, and playful Horse Charms BAO served with a rich chocolate dipping sauce. Drinks get in on the action too, with a pineapple highball finished with a frothy Campari foam and delicious Red Stallion cocktails. Ahead of the main event, BAO will be teasing the festivities with a special pop-up at Rose Bakery on the 6th and 7th of February, giving you an early taste of the Lunar New Year dishes to come.
Carousel is well and truly in the saddle when it comes to celebrating the Year of the Fire Horse. Acclaimed chefs John Javier and Jackson Boxer are reuniting for a special guest residency from 17th to 21st February.
Their limited-time menu blends regional Chinese influences with modern techniques and playful fusions. Think monkfish and prawn siu mai with trout roe, bang bang chicken, poached squid in superior broth with radish and egg custard, burnt cabbage with fish sauce butter, and the super nostalgic deep fried milk ice cream.
Bun House Chinatown is celebrating the Lunar New Year with an OG Cantonese feast. The Grand Nine (Gau Dai Gwai) is made for sharing, celebrating and flexing abundance. The party starts with with classic Prosperity Toss and continues with brand-new creations like Lobster XO Risotto alongside crowd-favourites like Nam Yu Crispy Pork.
But wait, there's more. The legends from Circle Thirteen are in town with the Disco Herbal Tea Shop - a cocktail menu inspired by Chinese herbal medicine. Think Hoisin Cobbler with Shaoxing wine and Szechuan Pepper Paloma.
XI Dumplings brings the bold, comforting flavours of Northeastern China to London. Inspired by the communal spirit of dumpling-making in Northern China, it's all about family, celebration and connection.
To celebrate the Lunar New Year, it's serving its beautifully sculpted, hand-crafted Lion Dance Buns, made using authentic Northeastern Chinese pastry techniques and filled with custard and matcha. Available for a limited time only, you'll need to pre-order online and collect in store between 1st and 15th February.
Celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse in style at Lucky Cat Mayfair, nestled in the heart of Grosvenor Square. Dive into their exquisite à la carte menu, starting with baby squid before exploring a vibrant selection of sashimi and nigiri from the raw bar.
For mains, indulge in delights like mushroom dumplings with cumin and dashi or one of their signature creations - the irresistible GFC and hand-mixed-at-your-table egg fried rice. Pair your feast with Asian-inspired cocktails from the 9 Lives Cocktail Menu, where every drink is just £9.
Head to sleek Shoreditch venue UBA for a fantastic feast this January, with their limited edition Lunar New Year menu. Kick off the zodiac season in style, by indulging in traditional Chinese dishes with a pan-Asian twist - we're talking Serpent's spice rendang curry chicken skewers, prawn and scallop dim sum and Longevity Noodles.
Those dining from this menu will receive receive a hongbao red envelope containing special offers to use in the future, like 10% off food or 15% off cocktails. As for the venue itself? Expect sultry red interiors and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over Great Eastern Street.
