Where to Celebrate Lunar New Year in Melbourne

Lunar New Year is just around the corner and 2024 marks the Year of the Dragon, a symbol of power, nobility, honour, luck, and success. 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 Melbourne..

From bountiful banquets to immersive installations, there's no shortage of ways to celebrate in 2024.

Firebird 

This Lunar New Year, Prahran-based neo-Vietnamese restaurant Firebird - will celebrate Tết, or Vietnamese New Year with a show stopping seafood tower.

There a three tiers of goodness involved. The first hosts grilled king prawns with Vietnamese sate, lemongrass squid, grilled bun rieu octopus, fine vermicelli noodles and papaya salad. The second is a dreamy layer of fresh oysters, tuna tartare and kingfish sashimi, scallop with tamarind and pomelo. The third tier provides all the condiments and accompaniments you could possibly want for this seafood vision; pineapple mignonette and green nuoc mam being two of them. 

The towers will be available until sold out on both Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th February, with 10 towers available per service. Guests can choose either a tower for two or three. 

$99.00 per two; $148.00 per three

Book here

223 High Street, Prahran 

'Get Lucky' in Warabi

W Melbourne’s Warabi is inviting guests to manifest good fortune and celebrate the Year of the Dragon with their ‘Get Lucky in Warabi’ offering.

All guests who book the Omakase experience between February 10th to February 24th, will receive a red envelope containing an instant win or an automatic draw for a stay at W Melbourne. 

Lean more into luck with their dragon-inspired cocktail, O-Ren Ishii, featuring Sakaki XV Pure Japanese Craft Gin, Kuzuruyu ‘Silk Dragon’ Daiginjo Shuzo, sakura bitters and rose, served alongside a prawn cracker with scallop and Caviar Oscietra. It'll be a boujee but brilliant addition to your meal. 

Saturday February 10th to Saturday February 24th

Book here

W Melbourne, 408 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 

Moonhouse 

Balaclava’s Chinese bistro, Moonhouse has a Lunar New Year special that will set your mind and tastebuds alight! 

Across three nights, diners can choose between its special a la carte menu or the banquet-style menu. 

Expect to celebrate the auspicious festival with a feast of traditional Lunar New Year-inspired dishes including roasted duck pancakes, longevity noodles and beef and bone marrow spring rolls.

There'll also be a Lunar New Year lucky dip, where each guest will receive a red envelope, a symbol of good fortune and joy in traditional Chinese culture, which will contain a Commune Group voucher, ranging from $5 to $100.

Friday 10th to Sunday 12th February

$75.00 per person (banquet style menu)

Book here (bookings from 6.00pm onwards)

Spice Temple 

Spice Temple is embracing the Chinese custom of ushering in fortuitous times with special feasts of auspicious dishes in place to celebrate Lunar New Year.

Executive Chef Andy Evans and Head Chef Maggie Chan have curated these delicious banquet menus to celebrate the Year of the Dragon, which falls on Saturday 10^th February with traditional celebrations lasting for up to 16 days. The menus feature dishes typically saved for celebratory occasions, as well as ingredients said to promote prosperity, happiness, peace, love and more good fortune. 

Expect to delight in golden bao buns representing wealth, fresh abalone for wealth and power, as well as classic LNY dishes, like the raw fish Yu Sheng salad, otherwise known as ‘Prosperity Toss’, which symbolises good luck for the new year.

"Diners are encouraged to toss the shredded ingredients of the salad in the air; the higher they toss the ingredients the greater their good fortune in the year ahead,” Chef Andy says.

Trust us. This is one epic Lunar New Year in Melbourne feast you don't want to miss!

$149.00 per person (lunch and dinner)

Book here

Monday 5th February to Sunday 18th February

Fishpot - Hotpot & Lion Dance Performances

Known for its automatic levitating hotpot stations, Fishpot invites you to take your Chinese New Year celebration to new heights with two exclusive sets.

The first set includes a fresh grouper fish soup and a live lobster seafood platter with an array of delightful seafood items. The second set features a live coral trout soup and seafood platter with similar seafood options.

Additionally, customers heading to their CBD location can enjoy live Lion Dance performances on Friday and Saturday from 7.00pm. 

Friday February 9th to Saturday February 10th, from 7.00pm

Book here

9/206 Bourke Street, Melbourne (7.00pm Lion Dance performances on both nights)

914B Doncaster Road, Doncaster East

QQ Chicky Pot

QQ Chicky Pot invites you to savour the Year of the Dragon with two delectable (and exclusive) sizzling clay pot creations. There's a ginger and spring onion abalone chicken pot offering a unique twist on a Chinese New Year classic. Or, choose to indulge in the dried scallops and fish maw chicken soup pot; the creamy combination of chicken broth, dried scallops, fish maw, and tender chicken pieces will nourish right down to your soul.

Additionally, customers to Chicky Pot's CBD location can enjoy live Lion Dance performances on Saturday February 10th at 6:30pm.

Friday 10th to Saturday 11th February

11 Heffernan Lane, Melbourne 

The Glen, Shop 006/235 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley 

Le Yeahllow

Have you tasted the whimsical creations of dessert maestros Le Yeahllow yet? Lunar New Year in Melbourne is the perfect opportunity to do it! 

Their special-edition Lunar New Year masterpiece is a Fine Ceramic Apple Cake. It's a testament to their expertise in transforming desserts into edible works of art.

Drawing inspiration from the fine china art of Emperor Kang Xi’s Qing Dynasty, this exquisite piece symbolises a safe and peaceful year ahead. With its pristine porcelain finish and delightful blend of vanilla, apple, and walnut, it's bound to add a touch of sophistication to any Lunar New Year celebration.

$85.00 for 5-inch cake; $115.00 for 7-inch cake

Order here 

14 Claremont Street, South Yarra 

366 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

Piccolina x Lagoon Dining

To celebrate the Year of the Dragon, Piccolina Gelateria is partnering with contemporary Asian restaurant, Lagoon Dining to deliver a three-week long gelato and noodle-fuelled venture. 

It's set to be scooped out in two sets of flavours over these three weeks, and will be available in stores across Melbourne from Wednesday February 7th to Friday 16th February and Saturday 17th February to Tuesday 27th February. 

These bespoke flavours reimagine the LNY tradition of consuming an abundance of dried fruit and candies; fusing the crisp, punchy flavours of Lagoon's Chinese-Malaysian informed menu and Piccolina’s passion for Italian-honoured technique with delightful aplomb.  

Expect jackfruit, grapefruit and lime sorbet with coconut jellies; a banana gelato with butterscotch ganache; jasmine tea gelato with orange and caramelised fig; toasted walnut and more. 

To mark this oh-so-festive culinary collaboration and of course, the official start to the Year of the Dragon, Lagoon and Piccolina are also holding a Lunar New Year ticketed event at the Piccolina Hardware Lane store. 

Event goers can treat their taste buds to a celebration of flavour and innovation with a savoury noodle dish by Lagoon, a scoop of limited edition Lunar New Year gelato and a fruity soda to wash it all down.

All Piccolina stores across Melbourne

$35.00 tickets available for ticketed CBD event; 43 Hardware Lane, Melbourne; Saturday February 10th, 12.00pm to 3.00pm; book here

Hawker Hall Festive Banquet

For wallet-friendly Lunar New Year celebrations, indulge in Hawker Hall's epic banquet. Feast on the iconic eatery's best Malaysian and Singaporean dishes, including kingfish sashimi with a red chilli sambal, lychee and coconut, roast duck wonton with plum vinegar, smoked chicken Hokkien Mee and Singapore chilli Moreton Bay bug with a toasted Chinese doughnut. 

Plus, to celebrate the Year of the Dragon you'll find your fortune in a cookie and win cocktails, vouchers or an $888 voucher for Hawker Hall, to keep the celebrations going all year long!

The best part? Traditional Lion Dance performances will be taking place at Hawker Hall on both the Friday and Saturday. 

$88.00 per person (banquet)

Friday 9th to Sunday 11th February

98 Chapel Street, Windsor 

Albert Park Hotel Lunar New Year Banquet 

Welcome the Year of the Dragon in style at The Albert Park Hotel's Happy Valley dining space, which is offering up their signature banquets. Enjoy traditional dishes specially chosen for the New Year celebrations, like the classic Yee Sang Prosperity Salad and a half Red Emperor special, as well as a live lion dancer performance on Friday at 6.30pm and Saturday at 12.15opm to officially ring in the festivities. 

$75.00/$110.00 a la carte, plus add-on specials like the half Red Emperor and chocolate dessert

Book here

Friday 9th to Saturday 10th February

85 Dundas Place, Albert Park

Silks LNY Banquet

They say how you start the year is also how you’ll finish it…so let’s eat! Sample the best of Cantonese cuisine with a southern Chinese influence as Silks’ skillful chefs prepare a fresh take on traditional flavours and plates honouring the LNY. 

The decadent four-course banquet is designed to share and features dishes such as Yu Sheng, Steamed Queensland Coral Trout and Poon Choi. This menu will also be available to compliment optional set menus for lunch and dinner. There is no better place to celebrate your Lunar New Year than at Crown's Chinese fine diner. 

Friday 9th February to Sunday 18th February

Book here

8 Whiteman Street, Southbank

Secret Kitchen Lunar New Year Banquet

For top yum cha in Melbourne, you can't go past Secret Kitchen... and their Lunar New Year banquet set menus offer up an inimitable Chinese feast.

Celebrate with the special, multi-course banquet of your choice and lion dance performances. Their dumplings and fresh seafood dishes are particularly exceptional. 

Find the Lunar New Year banquet menus here

Friday 9th February to Saturday 10th February

222 Exhibition Street, Melbourne & Westfield Doncaster 

Indulge in Din Tai Fung's Iconic Dessert Buns 

Din Tai Fung's themed dessert buns are always a Lunar New Year highlight and this year is no different. Swing by any of their restaurants between Saturday 3rd February and Saturday 24th February to get your hands on their ultra-cute chocolate sea salt dragon buns. 

Saturday 3rd February to Saturday 24th February 

Emporium Melbourne 

Koko Black Lunar New Year Treats

Chocolatiers Koko Black are bringing their signature artisanal flair to a bespoke range of treats in ode to the Year of the Dragon. Perfect for gifting (or keeping for yourself), the Lunar New Year range features a 48-piece Lunar Lantern containing a nine-layered gold foil tower that holds a variety of 48 irresistible pralines.

Joining the Lunar Lantern is the eight-piece Lucky Lunar Pralines (with four assortments of the fruity-sweet treat), the 25-Piece Chocolatier’s Collection, and the brand new Sichuan Pepper Praline.

Alongside all purchases for Lunar New Year products, a complimentary Red Envelope (Hóng Bāo) will be provided to Koko Black customers. Essential to the LNY gifting tradition, it signifies good fortune for the year ahead. 

Available in stores from Tuesday 16th February

Multiple locations across the city

Lunar New Year at NGV Melbourne

NGV Melbourne is celebrating the Year of the Dragon with a series of fantastic things to see and do.

This year’s Lunar New Year program at the NGV features lion and dragon dances weaving through the Great Hall, Korean Samul Nori performances, guided tours of the NGV Triennial exhibition in Mandarin, English and AUSLAN, art-making activities, and more.

Out in the NGV Garden, visitors of all ages are invited to play Mahjong, the tile-based strategy game, beloved throughout Asia and the world. Visitors will be able to enjoy the ancient game against the backdrop of a bubble-filled sky courtesy of the Dragon’s Breath Bubble Party.

Free entry

Saturday 10th to Sunday 11th February

NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road, Southbank

Lunar New Year in Chinatown 

Explore Chinatown during this iconic seasonal event, which historically attracts over 100,000 people along this colourful enclave each year. Dine at world-class restaurants, discover hidden bars and more as you celebrate the start of the Year of the Dragon.

The program for the day features various performances including lion dancing, DJs, an official ceremony and address, the Millennium Dragon Parade and of course, a giant Chinese Lunar Dragon!

Free event (dragon procession starts at 11.45am in front of the Chinese Museum)

Sunday 11th February

Chinatown Melbourne, Little Bourke Street, Melbourne

Lunar New Year at Preston Market 

Head to Preston Market this Lunar New Year. This multicultural hub of Melbourne's north will come alive with traditional Chinese celebrations. To start the New Year, a Cai Shen (Chinese God of prosperity) stilt walker will bless the market and bring good luck and fortune to all visitors, followed by a Lion Dance at 11.00am sure to delight market-goers.

At 1.00pm, attendees can learn the art of Tai Chi with Jinli Wushu-Tai Chi and enjoy live entertainment from The Melbourne Chinese Choir at 2.00pm. 

For families, Lunar New Year inspired art and crafts will run from 11.00am to 2.00pm, giving young ones a special piece of the market to take home. 

Traditional Asian dishes and drinks will also be available from traders such as 888 Street Food, South Melbourne Dim Sims, T's Vietnamese Classics and more. 

Free entry

Sunday 18th February, 10.00am to 3.00pm

Preston Market, 30A The Centreway, Preston

Lunar New Year 2024: Zodiac Spectacular at Crown Melbourne

Crown Melbourne is another fantastic place to celebrate this Lunar New Year. Crown’s Lunar New Year displays will include the luminous and immersive Zodiac Spectacular, with larger-than-life animal sculptures cascading down the Atrium staircase, a representation of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs. 

There'll also be roving entertainment, traditional Lion and Drum shows, calligraphers and themed decorations presented throughout the complex, and Lunar New Year banquets available to book at both Spice Temple and The Conservatory. 

On Friday 9th February, Crown Melbourne is also launching Lunar New Year with a Dotting of the Eye Ceremony alongside a variety of performances at Crown Riverwalk.  

Free event, find out more here 

Friday 9th February to Sunday 3rd March

Friday 9th February, 12.00pm to 12.45pm (Dotting of the Eye Ceremony)

Lion and Drum Atrium Show, Friday 9th February to Sunday 18th February, 7.00pm and 9.00pm daily

Crown Melbourne, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank 

Now that you've sorted out where to celebrate Lunar New Year in Melbourne, why not add these thrilling events to your social calendar? Looking to explore further afield? Take a trip away and stay at one of these unique Airbnbs, spend a weekend exploring gorgeous Daylesford, or the ever-popular Mornington Peninsula.