Gong Xi Fa Cai! That’s the traditional Chinese greeting for Chinese New Year. This year, the auspicious occasion falsl on January 29 marking the Year of the Wood Snake. Observed across Asian countries like Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Vietnam, the festival’s celebrations continue well until February 2 which marks the annual Lantern Festival. As always, multicultural Dubai isn’t one to be left behind with myriad dinners serving ‘longevity noodles’, and colourful Lunar New Year parades with lion and dragon dances around town.
1. See red at this free outdoor CNY celebration at JLT Park
This verdant park’s greenery will be overshadowed by red lanterns, red decor and bright colours on January 29 as part of Chinese New Year celebrations. Visitors can participate in calligraphy and crafts, play the Chinese ring toss games and snap pictures wearing traditional Chinese attire.
Entrance is free, register here. From 4pm-8pm
2. See live noodle-making Long Yin
The authentic Chinese restaurant at Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre will soar into the Year of the Dragon with a buffet on January 28 with live dragon performances. Watch Chef George prepare stir-fried noodles in front of the crowd and tuck into freshly served crispy Peking duck and other Chinese delicacies. Packages from AED 325 per person.
From 7pm-12am; call 04 702 2455 or visit the website
3. Toshi, Grand Millennium
This pan-Asian restaurant has a lavish one-day Chinese buffet for the Year of the Snake on January 29. Dine to your heart’s content on sushi and sashimi, and from live cooking stations roasting up Peking duck and crispy aromatic duck. Complimentary mooncakes and fortune cookies will be handed out to guests too.
AED 329 per person for soft package; free for children aged 0-4 years and AED 119 per child aged 5-10 years. Add-on alcoholic drinks packages from AED 99 for 2 hours and AED 149 for 3 hours.
Call 04 423 4100
4. Sip on exotic Chinese New Year cocktails and dishes at Lah Lah
This pan-Asian joint at Zabeel House in The Greens has a finely crafted Chinese New Year menu on January 29 for lunch and dinner. This set menu will charm you into the Year of the Snake with Crispy Prawn with Wasabi Sauce, Wagyu Foie-Gras Rolls, Crab soup with egg drop, roasted Beijing Duck and lotus-wrapped fried rice and signature cocktails such as “Way of the Dragon,” “The Wood Snake,” and “The Loong”.
AED 375 per person , including two hours of beverages. Call 04 519 1111
5. Savour some South-Asian street food at Hawkerboi
JLT’s Southeast Asian-inspired hawker restaurant is adding glowing Chinese lanterns to its mix of neon lights from January 23-29. Dig into Kung Pao Soup, Mushroom Spring Rolls, Spicy Beef Dumplings and a Hawkerboi Crab Doughnut daily as part of the special Chinese New Year menu. Each dinner guest will be gifted a fortune cookie hiding surprises such as EATX experiences.
From 6pm; AED 240 per person. Call 050 427 5217
6. Go Kung Fu fighting at Motiongate Dubai
The Hollywood-inspired theme park is gliding into the Year of the Wood Snake with a special show at the Kung Fu Academy (based on the Kung Fu Panda movies) in the park’s Dreamworks Zone. From January 18 to February 2, the 20-minute show will let young Kung Fu fighters learn kickass moves with Master Shifu and meet-and-greet cuddly Po (prepare to hum the song all day). You can also participate in the Red Warrior Challenge—a thrilling park-wide quest and see the Dragon Parade Dance. Foodies can slurp up on delicious noodles and steamed dumplings at Mr. Ping’s Noodle Shop.
Tickets are AED 295 per person online and AED 330 per person at the gate, more info here
7. See traditional Chinese performances at Shanghai ME
The DIFC restaurant is serving a special menu from January 29- February 15 in honour of Chinese New Year. Dig into Cantonse-stye Roast Duck, sweet and sour chicke, prawn egg fried rice many other items. The eatery is going all out for this year for the Lunar New Year with elaborate performances of a Dragon Dance, Guzheng (traditional Chinese instrument), drums and live DJ sets.
From 8pm; call 04 564 0505. More info here
8. Eat traditional Cantonese delicacies at Shangri-La Dubai
From January 29-February 3, renowned Cantonese restaurant Shang Palace is serving a Chinese New Year set menu featuring delicacies like Sichuan Shrimp Dumplings, Crispy Sea Urchin & Shrimp Spring Roll, and Wok-baked Lamb Chops. Hungry for more? You can also try out their special Yusheng Chinese Rainbow Raw Fish Salad which is only available on January 29.
AED 388 per person for set menu and AED 118 for 2-4 guests for Yusheng salad. Ccall 04 343 8888
9. Waterside views and lion dances at Zheng He’s
What better way to bring in the Year of the Wood Snake than with splendid views of the Madinat Jumeirah’s waterways? Zheng He at Jumeirah Mina A’Salam’s Feast of Fortune menu for Chinese New Year this year serves up starters like cod fish and egg white dumplings, and mains like steamed seabass fillet in green ginger sauce. On January 28 and 29, see authentic lion dance performances and complete the cultural experience with traditional red envelopes being handed out.
Available until February 9; more info here
10. Lunar New Year Brunch a Trader Vic’s, Palm Jumeirah
The tiki bar chain gets a serpentine makeover for Chinese New Year. On February 1, they’re hosting a Chinese New Year-themed brunch with island bites, meat stations cooked in traditional Chinese wood oven, sharing platters and free-flowing beverages.
AED 299 per person for soft package and AED 349 per person onwards for house drinks.
From 1pm to 4pm; call 4 230 0073
11. Maiden Shanghai, FIVE Palm Jumeirah
The Naughty Noodles brunch kicks at the rooftop of Maiden Shanghai on February 1. It’s going to be a party for the ages with live entertainment and games like truth-or-dare fortune cookies, hand-crafted cocktails and authentic dishes.
Chinese New Year Packages from AED 350 per person for non-alcoholic packages and AED 450 per person for house beverages. From 12.30pm – 7pm; book here
12. Have a Chinese High Tea at Palazzo Versace
Sampling all the tea in China might be a bit overambitious but you can attempt to savour the best of the nation’s infusions at the Chinese New Year high tea in Mosaico, the lobby lounge at Palazzo Versace. From January 28 – Febraury 7, the Chinese New Year-themed high tea will serve special delicacies like green tea red bean roll, Chinese bao and live performances of traditional Chinese entertainment.
AED 420 for two people/ per stand; from 10:30am-7pm. Call 04 556 8805
13. Build a LEGO Snake at Legoland
The Lego-centric theme park is going all out for Chinese New Year from January 24-February 2. Hundreds of lanterns will adorn Factory Street making it a perfect spot for festive pictures. You can leave your wishes on a giant wishing wall, participate in a lucky red envelope scavenger hunt, build your own LEGO Snake and meet LEGOLAND characters. Find more details here
14. See a Burmese Python this Year of the Snake
Start this serpentine year on a hiss-terically good note at The Green Planet – the indoor biodome is conducting special showings of the majestic Burmese python. Learn all about this remarkable reptile’s role in maintaining ecological balance and shed your misconceptions surrounding snakes. From January 24-31. Get more info here
15. Relish a Michelin-starred 9-course meal at Hakkasan
The Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant at Atlantis The Palm has introduced a special Chinese New Year menu from January 28. We hope you’ve mastered your chopstick grip as Hakkasan usually hosts the traditional lo hei prosperity toss as part of this Chinese New Year celebration. This year, a special 9-course set menu of Golden Yuan bao, abalone and sea cucumber dumplings and festive cocktails are the centrepiece of the festivities.
AED 738 per person; from 6pm-11pm. Call 04 426 0752 or visit hakkasandubai
16. Celebrate Lunar New Year with a brunch atop Burj Khalifa
A Chinese New Year Brunch at Armani/Mediterraneo on January 29 will see you dig into dim sums, noodle soups, Peking duck, taro cake Chinese cookies and more while you gaze over Downtown Dubai.
From 1pm – 4pm; AED 399 per person, food only. Book here
17. Ewaan, Palace Downtown
The Arabian splendour at this Middle Eastern restaurant takes an oriental turn for Lunar New Year. A special buffet spread of sushi rolls, carvery and grill corners, traditional Asian delicacies, and main courses will be served from January 29-February 2.
AED 350 per person; from 7pm-10:30pm. Call 04 428 7961
18. Add Italian flair to your Lunar New Year at Arrogante
Arrogante at the Address Residences Dubai Opera has a Festival della Fortuna menu running from January 28-February 12. Pack in prosperity with a three-course menu of Baci di Pizza with mushrooms, mozzarella fior di latte, Dorada al Limon fish fillet, Tagliatelle alla Bolognese pasta and more.
AED 250 per person; from 12pm-12am. Call 04 570 3653
19. Experience a 5-course CNY menu at Salvaje
Latin American flavours and sleek Japanese techniques come together to celebrate the Year at the Snake here. This Downtown Dubai eatery in the Address Residences Dubai Opera has a five-course set menu of Avocado Ceviche, Aubergine Maki, Corn-Fed Baby Chicken marinated in miso and more. From January 28 – February 12.
AED 300 per person. Call 04 570 3653