Where to Find the Best Feeds for Lunar New Year in Sydney
Lunar New Year is all about good food, great company and plenty of luck to go around, and Sydney’s dining scene does not disappoint.
When is Lunar New Year in 2026?
Lunar New Year 2026 is on Tuesday 17th of February, but Sydney doesn’t celebrate for just one day — the city transforms for the Sydney Lunar Festival. From the 14th of February 2026 to 1st of March 2026, enjoy one of the biggest celebrations outside Asia, with lantern-lined streets, dragon boat races, markets, opera house projections and lion dancers that bring every corner of Sydney city to life. It’s the best time to eat your way across the city, with restaurants rolling out limited-edition banquets and dumpling feasts and dessert specials. Whether you’re here for the culture, the colour or the food (always the food), Lunar New Year in Sydney is a joy-packed way to reset, reconnect and start the Year of the Horse.
Where to Eat in Sydney for Lunar New Year 2026
From casual dumpling bars to indulgent harbour-side fine dining, and even a New York-style steakhouse, there’s a table to satisfy every craving. Here’s where to find the best food for Lunar New Year 2026 in Sydney.
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It's perfect for dumplings before curtain call or drinks with a side of crispy eggplant.You need to try the pan-fried pork buns, juicy with just the right crunch.Look out for the moody warehouse setting with water views worth lingering over.Read moreServing up handmade dumplings and creative cocktails, Lotus Dumpling Bar is a go-to for casual dining, and for good reason. Warm service, perfectly crafted dim sum, fresh local produce, sparkling water views… do we need to keep going? At Lotus, the Lunar New Year is often synonymous with an indulgent festive menu featuring crowd-favourites like goldfish dumplings and steamed whole red snapper. Plus, the cocktail list features creative twists on classics, perfect to pair with your feast.
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It's perfect for special occasions and pre-theatre diningLook out for events and special dining experiencesRead moreCelebrating Lunar New Year while taking in panoramic views of the Sydney Harbour and with a glass of champagne in hand? Sign us up. ARIA is made for special occasions, and for Lunar New Year, you can expect a refined, multi-dish dining experience carefully planned by Executive Chef Tom Gorringe. Think elevated seasonal produce, delicate flavours, and dishes that celebrate premium Australian produce with subtle nods to Asian flavours.
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Read moreIn Sydney's Western gem of Parramatta, Lilymu is the place to go for good vibes, inventive plates, and festive Chinese and South-Eastern flavours. And what more could you ask for for Lunar New Year? There’s usually a special banquet to mark the occasion, meticulously crafted to bring prosperity (and a seriously good feed) to every table. And the traditional lion dance performances are the absolute perfect finishing touch.
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It's perfect for moody dinners with luxe vibes and modern Cantonese flair.You need to try the signature cocktails and broad live seafood offeringLook out for velvet booths, dim lighting and a knockout cocktail list.Read morePearl Dining is a Cantonese restaurant and bar in the CBD, seating 84 guests in its moody, velvet-draped dining room. Think plush booths, dim lighting, and a knockout cocktail list. The menu celebrates traditional Cantonese cuisine but brings a contemporary flair to the dishes we all know and love, from roast duck and char siu pork to san choy bao and steamed prawn dumplings. In previous years, Pearl has organised Lunar New Year events with special banquets to usher in good fortune, so keep an eye on their calendar.
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Read moreTucked away in retail mecca Westfield Sydney, New Shanghai is a full-on Chinese dining experience. Known as a pork bun empire, this Chinese restaurant serves up a menu packed with festive favourites. Come Lunar New Year, it comes alive with banquet spreads, hypnotising lion dance performances, and scratchies for those feeling lucky. Not in the CBD? No stress, most New Shanghai locations should be marking the Lunar New Year with their own celebrations.
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It's perfect for serious steaks with old-school polish and a smoky surround.You need to try a dry-aged cut that demands applause.Look out for polished leathers, white linens, and the grill’s smoky hum—pure steakhouse soul.Read moreA New York-style steakhouse might not be the first place that comes to mind when planning a Lunar New Year meal out, but if you’re up for something a little unexpected (and love a good cut of meat), Chophouse Sydney might surprise you in the best way. In past years, the restaurant has joined the festivities with special dishes nodding to traditional Chinese flavours - like butterfly king prawn with XO butter and fresh kingfish ceviche with soy, mandarin and ginger, to name a couple.
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It's perfect for sharing a multicultural Asian street‑food feast in lantern-lit lanes.You need to try chicken laksa, pancake roti or mango sticky rice.Look out for hawker-style stalls, hanging lanterns and a buzzy communal vibe.Read moreIf you can’t decide whether you’re craving Chinese, Vietnamese or Korean, Spice Alley is the spot for you. Tucked away in the Kensington Street precinct in Chippendale, just five minutes away from the CBD, this bustling alley brings together a mix of Asian street food favourites. Here, Lunar New Year is a big deal, complete with the mesmerising lion dance, red envelopes hanging from trees and, of course, plenty of food to ring in the festivities.
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Read moreOffering a modern take on provincial Chinese food and generous servings designed to share, Spice Temple is perfect for big groups. And with a 100-bottle Chinese wine list, you’ll easily find a bottle to toast the year ahead. Lunar New Year is always a vibrant time at Spice Temple, with special feasts full of symbolic and auspicious dishes to kick off the year right. Expect red lanterns, clinking glasses, and festive cheer to fill the room with good vibes.