Gong Xi Fa Cai! That’s the traditional Chinese greeting for Chinese New Year. This year, the auspicious Lunar New Year fell on January 22 and ushered in the Year of the Rabbit. Observed across Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Vietnam, the festival is widespread and celebrations continue well until February 5 which marks the annual Lantern Festival. As always, multicultural Dubai isn’t one to be left behind and there are myriad dinners serving ‘longevity noodles’ and lion and dragon dances around town.
1. Eat lucky foods at China Bistro
The Pan-Asian restaurant chain has launched a special menu to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit. Dishes that represent luck and prosperity in Chinese culture will be served until January 28. Dig into delicacices such as radish cake with burnt garlic, charcoal prawn dumplings, fruit berry sushi and more.
Dishes start from AED 30 – AED 60; visit www.chinabistro.co for details
2. Eat authentic Cantonese cuisine at Shang Palace, Shangri-La Dubai
Until January 27, Shangri-La Dubai’s renowned Chinese restaurant Shang Palace is serving a set menu to celebrate Lunar Ne Year. Tuck into abundance-bringing dishes such as Yusheng (raw fish salad), mixed seafood soup with lily root, steamed fish roll with egg yolk, pan-fried lamb chops and other scrummy dishes.
From AED 388 per person
For reservations, call 05 405 2703 or email fbreservations.sldb@shangri-la.com
3. Add Vietnamese vibes to Lunar New Year celebrations at Hoi An, Shangri -La Dubai
Shangri-La Dubai’s Vietnamese joint Hoi An has it’s on spin on the festivities which are known as Tết Nguyên Đán in Vietnamese. Until January 25, savour a delicious 5-course set menu which includes Vietnamese Pho beef noodles soup, pan-fried seabass with lemongrass purée, wok-fried prawn and other delicacies.
From AED 599 per person
For reservations, call 05 405 2703 or email fbreservations.sldb@shangri-la.com
4. Test out Akira Back’s Chinese New Year specials
The swish restaurant at W Palm has added six limited dishes to its menu until February 5 in honour of Chinese New Year. You can sup on Wagyu dumplings, braised abalone, Wagyu ramen, Uni and Osceitra Caviar Temaki, Toro Tataki, and Whole Seabass.
Dishes start from AED 180
For bookings: Call 04 245 5800 or email wpalmdining@whotelsworldwide.com
5. Sample limited-edition Chinese New Year dinner and lunch at SHI, Bluewaters
Dreamy Ain Dubai views are forever at this upscale Chinese and Japanese restaurant but their special Chinese New Year menu will be short-lived. Until January 27, savour set dinner and lunch menus that feature dim sum, sushi platters, and main courses such as kung-fu Angus beef, spicy crispy Chilean seabass, and braised abalone with yam. Desert will see you crack open a fortune cookie and unwrap a special gift box!
AED 550 per person
For bookings, call 04 393 9990 or email reservations@shirestaurant.com
6. Waterside views and lion dances at Zheng He’s, Mina’ Salaam
What better way to bring in the Year of the Water Rabbit than with splendid views of the Madinat Jumeirah’s waterways? Their special set menu for Chinese New Year this year serves up carrot broth, hot & sour wonton soup and scallop dumplings for starters, mains such as stir-fried chicken fillet or wok-fried beef, desserts like chilled lemongrass jelly with passionfruit sorbet, all topped off by an authentic lion dance performance to complete the cultural experience. Available until February 13; from 12:30pm-10:30pm.
AED 288 per person
For bookings, call 800 323 232 or visit www.jumeirah.com
7. Toss up your meal for good fortune at Hakkasan, Atlantis the Palm
The Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant pulls out all the stops with its Chinese New Year menu available until February 5. We hope you’ve mastered your chopstick grip as you’ll get to participate in a traditional lo hei prosperity toss as part of this Cantonese eatery’s set menu. Made up of eight special dishes believed to bring in luck, an octopus salad, dim sum, cherrywood smoked roasted duck, steamed John Dory, stir-fried Wagyu beef, beetroot fragrant rice, and a dessert called The Lucky Rabbit as a nod to the Year of the Rabbit. Guests can also write their hopes for the year ahead on wishing ribbons that will hang throughout the restaurant’s wooden latticework.
AED 598 per person
For bookings, call 04 426 0752 or visit www.hakkasan.com/dubai
8. Hop to Shanghai ME, DIFC for rabbit prawn dumplings
DIFC’s glitzy art-deco East Asian restaurant has put together a classy a la carte menu for Chinese New Year. Highlights are lobster and enoki mushroom soup, steamed rabbit and prawn dumplings, Chinese-style salmon sashimi, fried roast duck and plenty more bites that usher in good luck and prosperity. Until January 31
For bookings; call 04 564 0505 or visit www.shanghaime-restaurant.com
9. Luxuriate in a luck-laden staycation at Palazzo Versace
Feeling lucky enough to splurge on some luxury? The five-star Italian hotel has an exclusive Chinese New Year Getaway package valid on stays until February 7. The package includes accommodation in lavish room or suite daily breakfast at Giardino for two adults and one child below 12 years old, high tea for 2 adults, F&B voucher that gets you a discount of AED 99 per person on a minimum spend of AED 250, spa voucher that entitles you to an AED 199 per person discount on a minimum spend of AED 650.
From AED 1,588 for two nights or more
10. Hunt dragons at Legoland this Chinese New Year
The family theme park is kicking off the Year of the Rabbit with various activities until January 29. You can join a Lego dragon hunt in Miniland, visit a Chinese Wishing Wall and a Chinese New Year Mosaic at the Factory Street Fun Zone. Make sure you don’t miss the street parades under enchanting lanterns, rabbit-themed cookie decorating kits and more.
Visit www.legoland.com/dubai for more details.
11. Zipline through a ghaf forest lit by red lanterns at Aventura Parks
The outdoor adventure park is transforming into a magical destination for Chinese New year. Until February 6, the park’s Ghaf tree forest will be lit up and decorated by traditional red paper lanterns. Kids can sign up for fun arts and crafts workshops and also pet cuddly bunnies who symbolise the Year of the Rabbit. The park’s adventure circuits, rope climbing and ziplining activities will be available throughout.
Call 052 178 7616 or visit www.aventuraparks.com for details
12. Learn free origami at Ibn Battuta Mall this Chinese New Year
Until January 29, Chinese New Year celebrations will unfold in the mall’s China Court. Kids can master zodiac origami at a free workshop. Keep your eyes peeled for dance performances by The Street Fighters at 6:10pm, 7pm, 8pm and 9pm as well as parades by performers in colourful costumes.
Visit www.ibnbattutamall.com
13. Get lucky charm knots at Dragon Mart
Until January 29, the shopping mall will host traditional dragon and lion dances every hour from 4:40pm until 8:55pm. Stilt walkers, art installations representing the Year of the Rabbit and more activities will entertain visitors. A knot booth in Dragon Mart 2 will be handing out free lucky charm knots to families with their names written in Chinese calligraphy by professional artists. Entry is free.
Visit www.mall.dragonmart.ae for details
14. Enjoy Chinese New Year fireworks at Kite Beach
On January 28, Kite Beach will celebrate the onset of the Year of the Rabbit by decorating the beach with lanterns and a special fireworks show.