Lunar New Year falls on the 17 February 2026, and restaurants across London are marking the Year of the Fire Horse with menus shaped by symbolism and flavour. These 20 restaurants are the best places to celebrate Chinese New Year in London.
Prosperity salads tossed high, dumplings formed like ancient ingots, and cocktails built around baijiu, gin and tea are all on offer – alongside other exciting menus. With something for everyone, these are the tables we recommend booking to welcome in the New Year.
From rooftop dining rooms with dramatic skyline views, to can’t-miss one-week chef collaborations, midnight feasts, casual dim sum dining and a timely new opening in Canary Wharf, London’s Lunar New Year celebrations span every mood and appetite.
Park Chinois
One of London’s most opulent and atmospheric restaurants, Park Chinois opened in 2015 on Mayfair’s Berkeley Street, and has remained a constant for discerning London diners ever since. The dishes here live up to the hype – don’t miss the Duck de Chine (order in advance), the black truffle dumpling or the stir fried lamb cutlets with a chilli mint sauce – but any reservation at this London hotspot is as much for the atmospheric setting as it is for the food. Dark and sultry, Jacques Garcia’s rich interior design emulates 1930’s Shanghainese decadence, swathed in plush red-velvet drapes, gilded gold accents and black lacquered floors. Downstairs, Club Chinois comes to life from 7pm every Thursday through Saturday. All this to say, Park Chinois is a great choice for a sophisticated Chinese dinner or a late-night soirée any time of the year, but it’s going the extra mile for Chinese New Year 2026. Until 22 February the special celebratory meal includes an Auspicious Spring Abalone & Bamboo Fungus Soup to start, mains including the Fortune Glazed Wagyu Chae Sui, and a Sweet Prosperity Mango Pomelo Sago to end. But the night is still young here, and from 16 – 18 February lion dancers join the live entertainment line up, performing alongside other immersive acts. Katie Silcox
The Peninsula
Fitting to the hotel’s own heritage as a flagship of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels group, The Peninsula has curated a month-long programme of celebrations to mark the Lunar New Year. Their signature restaurant Canton Blue’s six-course set menu is the anchor, serving up refined takes on symbolic dishes, from dim sum and seasonal starters through to sea bass, lobster, wagyu and house-made noodles. An alternative, but equally appealing option is the hotel’s Little Blue Noodle Bar, which has created a baijiu cocktail list to mark the occasion. Baijiu, China’s iconic spirit, is a robust liquor traditionally enjoyed during festive gatherings and associated with celebration and prosperity. Away from the food and drink offerings, She’s Bestowed Love II, a limited-time installation by the renowned Chinese textile artist Lin Fanglu is on display in The Tea Lounge, curated by Dr Xiaoxin Li in partnership with The Peninsula Hotels Art in Resonance programme. And, on 17 February, the hotel hosts a courtyard dragon dance, with drumming and colourful costumes intended to usher in good fortune.
House Of Ming
Set within St James’ Court, A Taj Hotel, House of Ming is welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse with a specially curated menu running throughout February and leaning into the symbolism of the Fire Horse – vitality, movement and energy. Throughout the season, the restaurant’s elegant interiors will also be dressed in traditional Lunar New Year décor, creating a polished setting for festive gatherings. Known for its refined Sichuan and Cantonese cooking, standout dishes on the specials menu include stir-fried vegetables in a black bean sauce alongside Typhoon Shelter fried crab, Three Treasure seafood in XO sauce, a pan-fried rack of lamb with honey black pepper, and a soy-braised pork belly. A seasonal cocktail, Inferno Ride, has also been designed to accompany the menu featuring a five-spice infused baijiu.
Four Seasons Hotel London, Tower Bridge
For Lunar New Year, Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge, in partnership with Hennessy, is transforming the hotel’s Rotunda Bar & Lounge and signature Chinese and Japanese restaurant – Mei Ume – into a festive spectacle of hand-crafted lanterns and delicate florals, with a wishing tree taking centre stage. Throughout the month, a wishing card will be served alongside The Eternal Seasons, a bespoke cocktail created by Head of Bars Michele Lombardi, encouraging guests to hang their wishes upon the tree – a tradition said to grant good fortune for the year ahead. After cocktails, Mei Ume continues the experience with a specially curated ten-course tasting menu by chef Peter Ho, alongside a limited-edition cocktail list designed to reflect the celebrations.
Hutong, The Shard
Hutong, on Level 33 of The Shard, is offering a high-altitude experience until 3 March, serving a set Chinese New Year menu, alongside a dedicated special drinks menu created with Peddlers Gin – which originated on the back streets of Shanghai. For those looking for extra drama there is also the option to upgrade to a Window Experience with views across the capital. Food wise, the set menus (including a vegetarian option) are anchored by the classic Lo Hei salad, the symbolic prosperity toss that turns dinner into part spectacle. The main celebrations take place on 16 February when guests can take part in wishing-tree rituals, receive lucky red envelopes with prize opportunities, and enjoy live entertainment including dragon dances and the Sichuan art of Bian Lian face-changing mask performance.
Shanghai Me
Perched atop the Hilton Park Lane, Shanghai Me, Mayfair’s highest restaurant will celebrate its first Chinese New Year from now until 3 March. Throughout the season, glowing lanterns and elegant Chinese fans dress the plush interiors, whilst the rich red seating and Shanghai Me’s signature 1930s Shanghai–meets–Art Deco design sets a suitably auspicious scene. The festive menu features delicious offerings such as spicy wagyu BBQ rolls, creamy king crab Puffs with caviar and a roasted pineapple cake. Their headline celebration will take place on 18 February, when Shanghai Me hosts a one-night theatrical dinner. Guests will enjoy the special menu alongside live cultural performances, including a traditional lion dance and drumming, bringing the evening to a rousing close.
Carousel x Jackson Boxer
For Lunar New Year plans that feel distinctly only-in-London, Carousel’s guest chef kitchen hosts a five-night collaboration between top chefs John Javier (Caia) and Jackson Boxer (Dove, Brunswick House, Henri): a special pairing that promises some real creativity to recognise the occasion. The tasting menu has been over a year in the making, sparked by a New Year meal John cooked for Jackson, and draws on Hong Kong staples and wider Chinese influences filtered through modern technique. Expect clever, craveable dishes such as monkfish and prawn siu mai (dumplings), bang bang chicken, poached squid and a deep-fried milk ice cream finale. It’s the perfect pick for those looking to recognise the cultural significance of Lunar New Year with something food-forward.
Dim Sum Library
New Covent Garden opening, Dim Sum Library from the Aqua Restaurant Group is running a dedicated set menu this Lunar New Year, plus a few playful activities to add to the festivities. The headline dish is the Lo Hei salad (lobster, scallops, prawns, salmon, sweet plum sauce and crunchy amber walnuts). The rest of the menu is a strong run of favourites including their signature dim sum, while their limited-edition cocktail list is curated in partnership with Peddlers Gin. Our choice would be on the Good Fortune Mule, which comes garnished with a fortune cookie. For those looking for something more ritual led there’s also a special Tea Tales for Two moment, a rare invitation to slow the pace mid-meal. To add to the fun, guests will be invited to try their hand at a Lucky Horse chopstick game. Successful victors can win a selection of prizes from Sichuan chilli oil to signature dishes from the à la carte menu.
MiMi Mei Fair
MiMi Mei Fair is a beautifully cosy restaurant that pulls off a rare feat: it’s the perfect venue for a celebratory dinner, and at the same time comfortable and homely. For the Year of the Fire Horse, it has created a limited-edition four-course sharing menu, bespoke mini cocktails in partnership with GREY GOOSE®, and also has a wishing tree installation for diners to interact with. The set menu includes one of their ever-popular dim sum baskets, rock oysters with Sichuan sauce, wok-baked lobster and crispy Norfolk pork.
Lucky Cat Mayfair
While not planning specific New Year celebrations for 2026, Lucky Cat Mayfair remains a festive destination year-round. Gordon Ramsay’s Asian-inspired restaurant offers a menu that moves from refined raw plates through tempura, wok dishes and grill-led mains, designed for sharing and late-night dining. Standouts from the raw bar include yellowtail tartare with caviar and yuzu, and Australian Wagyu beef tataki with truffle ponzu. Small plates feature Gordon’s Fried Chicken and pork and lobster gyoza with kimchi and miso, while larger dishes such as Korean-spiced black cod with gochujang and daikon and spiced lamb chops with chilli sauce deliver bold, balanced flavours. As the evening unfolds, the restaurant settles into a lively late-night rhythm, soundtracked by a resident DJ throughout service.
Poon's at Somerset House
Poon’s at Somerset House will mark the Year of the Horse with a ticketed set menu from 19 – 21 February. With two seatings per evening, the celebration offers the chance to experience more of Amy Poon’s signature southern Chinese home-style cooking in the atmospheric setting of Somerset House. The nine-course menu features Poon’s classics, including Amy’s famed wontons, Magic Soup and Poon’s wind-dried meats, alongside celebratory dishes such as Shou Xi Duck and a Lo Hei prosperity toss salad. Dessert closes on a traditional note with Nian Gao, the Chinese New Year sweet rice cake symbolising growth and good fortune.
Duck & Waffle London
Located on the 40th floor of 110 Bishopsgate, Duck & Waffle London offers another high-altitude setting for Lunar New Year celebrations, with uninterrupted views of The City as your dining backdrop. Until 20 February, the restaurant is introducing a limited-edition Chinese New Year menu designed for sharing, gathering and marking the Year of the Horse from above the skyline. The menu opens with small plates including tea-infused duck eggs with bang-bang peanut dressing. Mains follow in celebratory form with crispy duck confit pancakes with hoisin and traditional accompaniments. Non-meat eaters are also remembered – a plant-based ‘Wannabe’ pancake filled with crispy oyster mushrooms and tofu is on offer. Desserts keep the theme going: a duck-egg custard tart, a wink to the restaurant’s namesake, paired with its ever popular matcha ice cream.
Hainan House
Hainan House on Islington’s Upper Street is marking Chinese New Year with a limited series of special dishes running alongside the seasonal à la carte offering. The cooking here is rooted in Southern Chinese home-style traditions, including clear flavours, balanced seasoning and time-honoured techniques, all interpreted with a personal touch. Founder Sunny (Cenlang) Wu draws on her childhood shaped across Hainan, Shanghai and family heritage from Hubei and Jiangxi, resulting in a distinctive menu for diners to enjoy. For the Year of the Fire Horse, a symbol of vitality and movement, Hainan House introduces a small selection of celebratory specials inspired by regional symbolism. Highlights include king prawns prepared two ways, and pickled mustard duck soup, gently sour and delicately spiced and all designed to bring balance and calm to the table.
Xi Home Dumplings Bay
Founded by Wenjun Xiang, XI Home Dumplings Bay offers an authentic deep dive into dumplings inspired by Northern China’s coastal city of Dalian. Xi Home is marking Lunar New Year with a limited-run ‘Golden Spring Feast menu’ from February through to mid-March. A series of artfully presented dishes, the feast leans into traditional symbolism using modern ingredients, each course representing a different blessing such as longevity, wealth and happiness, without compromising on flavour. Highlights include the theatrical ‘Squirrel’ sea bass (no real squirrels harmed!) served with plum sauce – a centrepiece designed for sharing, where sea bass is intricately carved to resemble a squirrel’s tail; the braised pork belly; and the Spanish mackerel dumplings wrapped in pumpkin-flour skins.
Jang
Not everything needs to be a banquet to feel special. For those looking to celebrate Korean New Year, on Tuesday 17 February, Jang in the Royal Exchange will be marking the occasion with a special one-day-only dish, rooted in both comfort and tradition. Tteokguk (a warming rice cake soup that’s all about fresh beginnings) is paired with galbi mandu – tender short rib dumplings, plus a trio of seasonal sides that add brightness and bite. Designed to be enjoyed slowly, this limited-edition dish celebrates the new year the Korean way; gathered around the table with intention. You still get the sense of occasion – the setting helps, the Royal Exchange always feels a touch special. This is a reminder that celebrations don’t have to be loud spectacles to still be meaningful.
Chop Chop at The Hippodrome
For those looking for late-night Lunar celebrations, Chop Chop, hidden inside Leicester Square’s The Hippodrome, is one for your address book. Open daily from 6pm to 4am (last orders at 3.30am), it’s celebrating the season with lion dance performances, lucky red envelope giveaways and Chinese calendar gifts. The setting carries the high-energy buzz you’d expect from its iconic location, but the food is the main attraction. The menu is built for feasting: think premium dim sum, handmade dumplings, sharing plates and an acclaimed Hong Kong–style roast duck. Dessert comes via a collaboration with Japanese patisserie Sakurado, including pistachio mille crêpe cake and yuzu cheesecake to provide a satisfyingly sweet end to a midnight feast. All guests must present a physical photo ID (18+), as it sits within the casino.
Bun House x Circle 13
Chinatown’s Bun House is known for Cantonese steamed buns and house-made pickles. Its newest outpost, Bun House Disco in Shoreditch, opened in 2024 as a neon-lit love letter to the disco scene of 1980s Hong Kong. For Lunar New Year, the team brings those Chinatown roots and Hong Kong energy together for a one-night collaboration with Circle 13 (the pétanque and cocktail specialists) for a night of feasting on Tuesday 17 February. The evening centres on Gau Dai Gwai or The Grand Nine, a traditional Cantonese nine-dish banquet designed for sharing, and symbolising abundance, harmony and prosperity. It begins with a prosperity toss salad of cured trout, pomelo and candied tangerines in a citrus peppercorn dressing: chopsticks encouraged, theatrics rewarded. Dishes that follow include dan dan wontons, Hong Kong curry short ribs and lobster XO risotto with ginger-soy cabbage. And, in Lunar New Year tradition, there are dumpling buns: steamed parcels filled with black sesame lava, shaped to resemble ancient Chinese ingots – symbols of wealth and good fortune. Drinks come via Circle 13’s Disco Herbal Tea Shop: Chinese herbal teas reimagined as cocktails using Chinese spirits. Expect playful pours like the Hoisin Cobbler, Szechuan Pepper Paloma and a minty Sore Throat number.
Mama Li
For more casual celebrations, Mama Li, an authentic Cantonese restaurant, has opened its third London site, at Canary Wharf, just in time for Lunar New Year celebrations. Befitting of its location on Wood Wharf, the new site marks an evolution of the brand, introducing a more considered dine-in experience alongside its signature Cantonese roast meats. Mama Li was founded by Catherine Hua and her mother after they struggled to find Cantonese roast meats in London that tasted like the food they grew up with. What started as a way to preserve a sense of home has today grown into a restaurant group rooted in the comfort of everyday Cantonese cooking. The popular Cantonese style of roast meat – Siu Mei, remains at the heart of the menu, with Mama Li continuing to prepare its roasts using authentic Cantonese techniques, including a charcoal-fired roast duck oven. The Canary Wharf menu will also introduce soup noodle dishes, nostalgic cha chaan teng favourites taken from traditional Hong Kong cafe culture, and a new-range of tea-based cocktails.
Noodle & Beer
Noodle & Beer is known for its bold Sichuan flavours and a lively, no-fuss atmosphere, making it a relaxed option for celebrations. From now until 3 March both locations (Chinatown and Spitalfields) will offer a seven-dish specials menu, seven being a lucky number in Chinese culture, with each dish named for luck and good fortune, designed to bless diners with a prosperous year ahead. The specials run alongside the restaurant’s regular menu, so guests can order exclusively from the festive offering or mix and match with existing favourites. On 16 and 17 February, every diner will receive an auspicious red envelope (hongbao) containing a surprise, from a complimentary drink to a dining discount or small gift. At the Spitalfields restaurant, calligraphy and horse-block painting sessions will run on 16 and 17 February, adding a playful daytime element for both adults and children. A final traditional touch comes in the form of sweet glutinous rice balls, eaten on the last day of Chinese New Year, which this year falls on 3 March, and will be available in abundance as part of the specials menu at both restaurants.
ULI and HUÕ
Sister restaurants ULI (Notting Hill) and HUŌ (Chelsea, Belsize Village) will be marking Lunar New Year with a limited-edition special menu inspired by the Year of the Horse, available alongside their usual à la carte menu. Designed to evoke prosperity, fortune and fresh beginnings, the specials include a dim sum basket of chicken siu mai with XO sauce, prawn and truffle har gau, and aubergine and spinach dumplings, as well as whole Dover sole with soy, ginger and scallions. Served at lunch and dinner, the menu reflects both restaurants’ contemporary approach to Chinese and Southeast Asian cooking: polished, produce-led and quietly celebratory. Ideal for a lunchtime or more low-key dinner celebration.
Lead image credit: MiMi Mei Fair
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