We have rounded up our selection of events for you to celebrate Chinese New Year in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Enjoy clicking through to book your Chinese New Year experience!
Chinese New Year, also referred to as Spring Festival, marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and is the most important annual event in Chinese culture. We are pleased to share our curated list of events to celebrate the New Year in style!
1. Buddha Bar at Grosvenor House Dubai
Head to Buddha Bar as they take you on a journey back to a night in 1920’s Shanghai. For one night only, this Saturday 17 February, Buddha Bar will be putting on an impressive dinner show starring epic Chinese singer Amy and infamous Burlesque dancer Scarlett.
Those who dress to impress and follow the 1920’s theme, will be offered a complimentary coupette of French Fine bubbles. Guests can also indulge in a traditional Chinese 4 course sharing set menu. Buddha Bar has pulled out all the stops this Chinese New Year, making it a calendar event that’s not to be missed.
The Details.
Buddha Bar Dubai, Grosvenor House Dubai Al Emreef Street | Saturday 17 February | 19.00 – 02.00.
For reservations call or visit www.buddhabar-dubai.com.
2. Hakkasan Dubai & Hakkasan Abu Dhabi
Hakkasan welcomes the new lunar year with a limited edition signature menu created by Hakkasan chefs from London, USA, the Middle East and Asia available at Hakkasan Dubai and Hakkasan Abu Dhabi until 4 March 2018.
The menu has been designed to include ingredients which are thought to bestow happiness, longevity, luck and prosperity. With dishes such as Szechuan wind dried oyster with lotus root with crispy rice in man tou, the oyster traditionally symbolising fortune and good luck, Grilled Chilean sea bass with kumquat glaze, as eating fish at Chinese New Year is said to bring increased prosperity and Abalone fried rice in bean curd wrap with mushroom and fai cai (fat choy), an ingredient which in Chinese means to ‘get rich and grow wealth’ – you will be set for an exceptional 2018!
A special cocktail marks the occasion: the Happy Daisy comprises Tanqueray No.10 gin, Chartreuse Yellow, lemon, spiced mandarin jam, egg white and soda water. For those wishing to indulge in a mocktail, Hakkasan offers a series of fruit blends such as Xingyun, a mix of mandarin and lemon juice, spice mandarin jam, passion fruit and soda water, garnished with a fortune cookie.
Hakkasan will continue their annual Chinese New Year wishing tradition by inviting guests to write their wishes on red ribbons that will be hung around the dining areas. This custom is said to have begun hundreds of years ago in Lam Tsuen, Hong Kong. During Chinese New Year, villagers would travel for miles to visit the sacred Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees (two ancient banyan trees) and hang notes on the branches using red ribbon. These notes contained wishes for the year ahead and it was believed that the wishes that were successfully hung on the trees would come true.
The Details.
Hakkasan Dubai, Jumeirah Emirates Towers. To make a reservation call +971 4 384 8484 or email reservations@hakkasandubai.com or Hakkasan Abu Dhabi. To make a reservation call +971 2 690 7739 or email hakkasan@emiratespalace.ae.
3. Al Maryah Island Abu Dhabi
Head to Al Maryah Island from 15 to 17 February to celebrate Chinese New Year 2018 with an authentic experience. You can will enjoy an array of events on offer, from traditional Chinese dances and entertainment, to enigmatic performances from the Far East, and a delicious food market. Abu Dhabi’s business and lifestyle destination will be filled with authentic experiences for all ages to enjoy, with an impressive firework display on 16 February at 21.00.
Known for hosting one of the most spectacular Chinese New Year celebrations in the UAE, Al Maryah Island’s waterfront Promenade and The Galleria on Al Maryah Island’s interior will be transformed into an illuminating display of Chinese lanterns and decorations. A stunning Tree of Fortune (Ang Pao) will be located in The Galleria Ground Floor ‘Great Room’, where visitors can make a Chinese New Year wish. Throughout the weekend on the glistening waterfront Promenade, residents and visitors will experience the roaming entertainment of lion dancers, special performances by a Chinese opera singer, and will also be transfixed by the cultural art of Chinese folk and fan dancing, along with an array of delicious Chinese cuisine to try.
Little ones will adore the hands-on activities such as origami making and Chinese paper lanterns, as well as kite designing and face painting. The public will be enchanted with the arts and crafts section, showcasing Chinese calligraphy, paper marbling and the customary Chinese New Year Red Packet.
The Details.
From 15 to 17 February. For more information and complete event listings click here.
4. Royal China at DIFC
Royal China pays tribute to the beginning of the lunar calendar with a bespoke menu and festive amenities.
As exquisite cuisine is central to the celebrations, guests will be offered a carefully designed Chef’s Niannian You Yu menu to indulge the senses, representing a delicately balanced and richly evocative taste of China, with highlights including Yee Sang, which is a Raw Fish salad also known as the Lucky Salad, and much more. The menu concludes with Sticky Rice and Sesame Ball Pudding, a sweet treat that is best savoured with an aromatic and refreshing Chinese Tea.
Glittering, glamorous decorations including traditional Chinese lanterns complete the festive journey to Asia. In addition, guests will be gifted with the iconic red packets that are an integral part of Chinese New Year celebrations, bringing good fortune for the months ahead.
The Details.
Chinese New Year celebrations at Royal China run from 15 – 28 February 2018. For reservations call 04 3545543 or visit www.royalchinadubai.com.
5. Thiptara at Palace Downtown
Gather with family and friends to welcome the Year of the Dog with Chinese inspired cuisine at Palace Downtown’s spectacular array of award-winning restaurants. Celebrate while enjoying unparalleled views of the Burj Khalifa, brought alive up by an awe-inspiring light show and Dubai Fountain, the world’s largest choreographed water display.
Indulge in a four-course set menu of Chinese at Thiptara inspired dishes including vegetable dim sum, duck spring rolls and black pepper lobster.
The Details.
Thiptara at Palace Downtown. For reservations call 800 DINING, email dine@emaar.com or visit addresshotels.com.
For more luxury events in Dubai and Abu Dhabi click here.
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