Restaurants are ringing in the Year of the Horse with dim sum, Peking duck, lion dances and more
From vibrant dragon dances to lavish feasts designed for sharing, Chinese New Year in Dubai unfolds as a citywide celebration of culture, colour and good fortune. As the Year of the Horse gallops in, restaurants, hotels and cultural venues across the city are marking the occasion with festive menus, immersive décor and time-honoured traditions, all delivered with Dubai’s signature flair.
MEI
The new MEI restaurant in Jumeirah Mina Al Salam approaches Chinese New Year with a more modern, indulgent hand. The set menu opens lightly with mixed mushroom salad sharpened by aged vinegar, before moving into premium dim sum. The headline is a Peking duck designed for sharing, backed up by wok-seared Guilin lobster and a lemon sea bass. Traditional performances rotate across the restaurant on February 16 and 17.
MEI, Jumeirah Mina A Salam, Sun to Thur noon to 1am, Fri and Sat noon to 2pm, from Dhs550. Tel: (0)4 435 6888.
@mei.dxb
SHI
SHI’s Chinese New Year menu on Bluewaters leans into polished crowd-pleasers. Dim sum hits the familiar notes with har gau, chicken siu mai and a crisp prawn pancake, before moving into richer territory with Wagyu beef claypot, red snapper dressed in a punchy Gan Shao Yu sauce, and of course a Peking duck dish. Dessert lands on symbolism rather than indulgence with a Yin and Yang finish. While the set menu is available all week, lion dances and fan performances rotate across the venue on February 16 and 17, adding atmosphere without overwhelming the dining room.
SHI, Bluewaters, Dubai, weekdays 1pm to 1am, and weekends 1pm to 2am, from Dhs500. Tel: (0)4 393 9990. @shi.dxb
*Top 6 Chinese restaurants to add to your Dubai foodie list*
Mosaico
Afternoon tea gets a Lunar New Year glow-up at Mosaico, where Palazzo Versace Dubai swaps finger sandwiches for dim sum in a Chinese-themed high tea. Set in the hotel’s lavish lobby lounge, the experience pairs delicate bites with panoramic skyline views, wrapped in festive décor and traditional entertainment that leans into the spirit of the season. Available from February 15 to 20, between 10am and 7pm, the Chinese New Year high tea is priced at Dhs420 per person.
Mosaico, Palazzo Versace Dubai, Al Jaddaf, from February 15 to 20, Dhs420. Tel: (0)4 556 8888. @palazzoversacedubai
Shang Palace
At the Shangri-La’s much-loved Shang Palace, Chinese New Year is marked with a celebratory set menu running from February 16 to 20. Expect classic flavours delivered with polish, but it’s the lo hei salad – the symbolic “prosperity toss” – that steals the spotlight. Gather your table, mix with gusto and good intentions, and toast to luck, wealth and longevity for the year ahead. Book for February 17 and the festivities dial up a notch, with a traditional lion dance and a dose of old-school New Year theatre to the dining room.
Shang Palace, Shangri-La, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dhs398 per person. Tel: (0)4 405 2703. @shangpalace.dubai
MOLI
MOLI marks Chinese New Year with a set menu offering that opens with crowd-pleasers such as duck spring rolls, turnip cake and a curated selection of handcrafted dim sum, before moving on to heartier mains including Kung Pao chicken, tender lamb ribs and a warming Sichuan vegetable pot. Set menus are priced from Dhs400 per person.
MOLI, Dubai Hills Business Park, Sun to Thur noon to 1am, Fri and Sat noon to 2am, from Dhs400. Tel: (0)4 276 3338. @molidubai
Images: Supplied
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