Lunar New Year Menus To Try in London 2024

Celebrated by billions of people around the world, Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations among East and Southeast Asian communities. It marks the beginning of the new year according to the lunisolar calendar – and unlike in the Gregorian calendar, festivities run across multiple days, kicking off this year on 10 February 2024, marking the beginning of the Year of the Dragon. One of the best – and tastiest – ways to get involved with the celebrations from London is by trying one of the many great Lunar New Year menus and specials on offer. Here we highlight some of the best restaurants to visit in the capital for Chinese New Year 2024.

Speedboat Bar

Spice lover? Head to Luke Farrell’s fiery Thai restaurant to try a selection of specials inspired by the neon-lit Yaowarat Road, Bangkok’s own Chinatown. On the menu you’ll find dishes like Gui Chai Tord Sai Khai, a pan-fried chive cake with dark soy sauce and gooey egg yolks, and the Khao Muu Daeng Muu Grob, which features Speedboat’s signature roasted meats in a savoury gravy. Balance out the spice with a King Colada cocktail, a tropical rum-based drink made with coconut, fruit, lime and sparkling wine.

5 – 18 February 2024. speedboatbar.co.uk

Pan Pacific London

Sleek City hotel Pan Pacific London is the first European outpost from the Singaporean hotel group, merging the traditions, flavours and hospitality of the East with traditional British design. It’s marking the Lunar New Year with two culinary offerings: a special afternoon tea in The Orchid Lounge, and a feasting menu at Straits Kitchen. The former is a collaboration with Cantonese Bun House, and will feature an array of sweet and savoury buns – from lamb and bamboo shoot to mandarin filled with custard, which symbolises good luck in Chinese cultures. Alternatively, head to Straits Kitchen for a six-course menu of dishes like Rainbow Yu Sheng Bluefin tuna salad, a nod to the tradition of tossing salad whilst sharing well wishes with family and friends; wagyu steak; and steamed turbot.

Afternoon tea from 8 February 2024, £68pp; Straits Kitchen menu available exclusively on 10 February 2024, £138pp. panpacific.com

A.Wong

This special evening will see chef Andrew Wong collaborating with Dom Pérignon for a 30-dish dining experience at his eponymous Pimlico restaurant. The bespoke menu will draw on the cuisine of China’s 14 international borders, with dish highlights including tangerine fish with chiu chow beef broth, braised daikon and Oscietra caviar. All this can be enjoyed alongside paired vintage champagnes, amid the sleek surroundings of the restaurant.

8 February 2024, £500pp. awong.co.uk

MiMi Mei Fair

Samyukta Nair’s Chinese restaurant MiMi Mei Fair is renowned for its beautiful interiors – but it’s going to be even more snap-worthy this month thanks to a new installation. The space will transform into a floral paradise for the occasion, complete with a wishing tree dressed in blues, emerald greens, pinks and deep maroons in honour of the wood dragon. Alongside this, there will also be a special menu on offer, kicking off with ‘basket of wealth’ dim sum, followed by ‘fortune’ crispy Norfolk pork with pineapple and pomelo, grilled ginger cod, and garlic chive dumplings. For dessert, there’s a Jewel of the Dragon egg: a carefully crafted chocolate egg filled with chocolate mousse, cherry heart and red velvet crumble. All this can be paired with Courvoisier cocktails, such as The Rising Dragon, a mix of Courvoisier, apricot liqueur, grand marnier, and orange bitters.

1 – 24 February 2024, £128. mimimeifair.com

Mei Ume

Mei Ume, the glitzy Japanese and Chinese restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel London, is ringing in the Year of the Dragon with a multi-course menu from chef Peter Ho. To begin, guests will take part in the Yu Sheng ritual, also known as the Prosperity Toss Salad, which is traditionally eaten while standing and tossed with chopsticks – the higher the toss, the better luck you’ll have that year, as legend goes. This will be followed with a selection of dishes such as succulent eight treasures duck, steamed jumbo king prawns, and Tang Hulu, a sweet and sour dessert which symbolises happiness for the year ahead. 

5 – 24 February 2024, £228pp. fourseasons.com

Hakkasan

Internationally renowned Cantonese restaurant Hakkasan always goes big on its Chinese New Year offering; for 2024 it’s offering a special menu across both its London branches. Hakkasan Hanway Place and Hakkasan Mayfair are launching a limited-edition menu alongside a celebratory cocktail, The Red Dragon, in collaboration with Moët & Chandon Champagne and Belvedere vodka. Enjoy dishes like the Wishes of Prosperity dim sum, eight treasure duck, and wild king prawn with braised dragon beard noodles. Wishing tree installations will also pop up at the restaurants, and guests will receive red wishing ribbons, upon which they can write their wishes for the year ahead.

30 January – 25 February 2024, £128pp. hakkasan.com

Hutong

Found on the 33rd floor of The Shard, with panoramic views of the city, Hutong is certainly fit for hosting a special occasion. Visit this Chinese New Year to enjoy a decadent menu, kicking off with the traditional Lo Hei salad, where each ingredient represents a blessing like good health, wealth and happiness. Next up you’ll enjoy dishes like fried tiger prawns with black pepper and chilli, duck with Sichuan pepper, and black truffle fried rice, ahead of sweet dumplings in rice wine for dessert. If you visit on 10 February, you can join in with the restaurant’s Chinese New Year party, complete with a calligrapher, a traditional dancer and the chance to add your wish to the wishing tree.

7 – 12 February 224, £118pp. hutong.co.uk