Where to Celebrate Lunar New Year in Sydney 2025
From lion dances to Yum Cha, there is plenty on in Sydney this Lunar New Year.
Lunar New Year is just around the corner and 2025 marks the Year of the Snake, a symbol of wisdom, elegance and prosperity. Strong vibes!
To help you celebrate this iconic sign in style, we've rounded up delicious, entertaining and fun-filled events to celebrate Lunar New Year in Sydney.
From bountiful banquets to hands-on activities, there's no shortage of ways to celebrate in 2025.
View the Lantern Display at Darling Square
Head to Darling Square, one of Sydney's most exciting dining precincts, for their annual display of New Year lanterns. Whilst you're there, indulge in a Lunar New Year special from one of the plentiful eateries. You can also experience a meet and greet with a real snake, grab a free Chinese calligraphy fan and watch performances from traditional fan veil dancers.
Wednesday 22nd January to Sunday 16th February
Darling Square, 35 Tumablong Boulevarde
Lunar New Year Specials at Lilymu
Lilymu is easily one of our favourite restaurants in Paramatta and this year they are celebrating with some extra special dishes designed to share. Their Year of the Snake banquet features tuna tataki with XO and nasturtiums, as well as Mapo eggplant with a rare green Sichuan pepper. Lion dances will be taking places on Saturday 1st Feb and Sunday 2nd Feb at 12pm so don't miss them.
$108 per person
Saturday 25th January to Sunday 2nd February
3 Parramatta Square, 153 Macquarie Street, Parramatta
Experience a One-Off Lunar Feast at Luke Nguyen's Fat Noodle
With dishes symbolising togetherness and happiness, this Lunar New Year feast is what we're channelling for 2025. You'll be greeted with a complimentary lychee and kalamansi mocktail on arrival before digging in to a six-course menu curated with cultural celebration and storytelling in mind. Think spanner crab soup and braised pork ravioli.
$128 per person, bookings can be made here
Tuesday 4th February, 6pm
The Star, 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont
Swing by The Lucky Prawn for a Yum Cha Feast
Nothing beats a succulent Chinese meal and no one does it quite like The Lucky Prawn, located within iconic Sydney venue Hawkes Beer & Leisure Centre. There will be a Lunar New Year banquet on the Thursday 30th January followed by a Yum Cha brunch on Sunday 2nd February. Jin Wu Koon Lion Dancers will be performing at both events as an added bonus!
Thursday 30th January & Sunday 2nd February
8-12 Sydney Street, Marrickville
Ring in the Year of the Snake at Lana
Dinner at Lana is always a pleasure but this menu is even more special. The Prosperity Menu is all about togetherness and abundance and starts off with a handful of flavour packed snacks. You'll then moved into larger dishes that cover off all of the symbolic ingredients from king salmon to spanner crab.
$188 per person
Wednesday 29th January to Saturday 15th February (excluding 14th February)
5-7 Young Street, Sydney
Head to Darling Harbour for a Celebratory Fireworks Display
Nothing screams New Year like fireworks. Darling Harbour are putting on multiple shows to mark the special occasion so be sure to pop on down at least once.
Saturdays, from 9pm
Darling Harbour
Join in the Festivities at the Chinese Garden of Friendship
This gorgeous Sydney gem is celebrating with plenty of fun activities and we want in on all of them. The twilight garden party is at the top of our list. Hosting two events, be serenaded by the sounds of contemporary jazz as you soak up the tranquil gardens.
Entry to the gardens at $12 per person
Friday 31st January & Friday 7th February, 5pm to 9pm
Pier Street, Darling Harbour
Haymarket Street Festival
Kick-off Lunar New Year with the ultimate street party. We're talking market stalls packed with Asian cuisine and specialty treats, live entertainment, and cultural performances. Sounds like the perfect night to us! Catch the full schedule here.
Saturday 1st February, 5pm to 10pm
Dixon Street, Chinatown and surrounds, Haymarket
Spice Temple's Lunar New Year Feast
This year Spice Temple is celebrating the Lunar New Year with the ultimate feast. The banquet will be on offer for 16 days, in celebration of the Year of the Snake, and feature ingredients that are said to symbolic and auspicious. You can expect green lip abalone with mung bean noodles, crescent shaped pipis with pork and Shaoxing wine and rose, raspberry and chocolate lollipops.
$159 per person
Wednesday 22nd January to Wednesday 5th February
10 Bligh Street, Sydney
Head to Market City for Activities Galore
There is SO much happening in Market City this Lunar New Year that one visit might not be enough. Many of the interactive activities taking place across the festival period are free, too. There will be high pole shows, roaming lion dances and store blessings, lion dance workshops, feasts and calligraphy as well as the opportunity to score one of 5000 lucky red envelopes. For timings and details click here.
Tuesday 7th January to Sunday 16th February
Market City, 13 Hay Street, Haymarket
Lunar New Year at Aria
Kick off the Lunar New Year with something a little special. This year Aria is going all out with an eight-course tasting menu. The one-off menu will feature prestigious traditional flavours with a signature Aria twist. Think drunken quail, handmade noodles with mud crab and XO and Peking duck consommé with green lip abalone and shiitake. As for drinks, you can look forward to a wine list curated from previous year of the snake drops.
$350 per person
Wednesday 29th January to Wednesday 12th February
1 Macquarie Street, Sydney
If you loved this edit of where to celebrate Lunar New Year in Sydney and are looking for more cool things to do around be sure to take a peek at our weekly guide as well as our edit of iconic things to do around Sydney.
