Eat Yourself Stupid With These Special CNY Dinners
Whether you call it Spring Festival, Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, one thing is for sure: the holiday is all about eating and drinking with family and friends. With the city emptying out and some venues closed, it can seem like merrymaking options are thin on the ground, but in fact, there are still plenty of venues hosting Spring Festival-themed events during the holiday. Below are our picks for how to celebrate this festive season with a bang.
Jan 24: Ring in the new year with Great Leap and The Orchid
The Orchid once again teams up with Great Leap Brewing to put on a huge New Year's Eve bash. This year, all of their venues, including Toast at The Orchid, Furongji, The Bake Shop, and Baojian, will join in on the action, with a selection of drinks and snacks served from said venues throughout the evening – think Mediterranean snacks from Toast, dim sum from Furongji, and hot toddies from Baojian.
Jan 24: Temple Fair at The Opposite House
Ring in the year of the rat at The Opposite House's annual temple fair, this time held in their new event space Commune. The feast will entail a luxurious family-style spread (pictured at top) created by Jing Yaa Tang's newly Michelin-starred chef Li Dong, including their signature Peking duck, and live entertainment such as face changing, Beijing opera, and Chinese kungfu tea performances, as well as lucky draw prizes. The event is priced at RMB 788 per person, with a minimum booking of eight people.
Jan 24: Healthy new year dinner in a cozy private home
After having indulged throughout Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year, celebrate Spring Festival the carb and sugar-free way. This healthy dinner menu will feature dishes like deviled tea eggs and baked salmon and is limited to only eight people. After dinner, there will be board games and other activities so that guests can stick around and ring in the New Year together. Scan the QR code in the event listing to find out more.
Jan 24: Not your Grandma's new year dinner at Beersmith
Celebrate a Chinese New Year's Eve dinner with a twist at Beersmith, with a menu that combines both Western-style dishes like grilled wagyu beef surf and turf and Chinese dishes like dumplings and braised fish. There are several menus available, starting from RMB 2,888, each serving six to eight people. Wash it all down with Beersmith's new seasonal beer, Hawthorn Saison.
Jan 24: Chinatown-style buffet dinner at 4corners
Celebrate the arrival of the new year with a sumptuous all-you-can-eat feast of classic American-Chinese dishes like beef and broccoli, crab Rangoon, and orange chicken at 4corners. Enjoy eight courses for just RMB 188, plus get bottles of bubbly for just RMB 100 a pop from 10pm-1am.
Jan 24: Chinese New Year's Eve at the Great Wall
The Brickyard is well known by now for their festival event packages and Spring Festival is no exception. On Jan 24, they'll host a New Year's Eve party featuring live folk music, hot pot, dumpling-making, and 200,000 firecrackers at midnight. They're offering a special rate of RMB 2,688 that includes all of the above, as well as private transfers from/to Beijing for two people, a superior queen Great Wall view room, and breakfast for two in the Lodge.
Jan 14-Feb 8: Chinese New Year menu at Hulu and Merci
Continuing their run of producing triple-threat festive menus that are delicious, on theme, and eminently Instagram-friendly, Hulu and Merci have created a selection of special Chinese New Year dishes. The dishes range from traditional local treats like spring rolls to shareable main courses and bright red desserts in the form of festive firecrackers and red lanterns. The menu will be available until well after the holiday, so don't worry about missing if you're jetting off to warmer climes.
Jan 17-30: Hamburgers and hongbaos at Side Street
Looking to grab a bite over Spring Festival? Side Street is open and they’re offering hongbaos with the purchase of every hamburger. Try your luck with a lucky envelope and win free drinks, discounts or maybe your whole bar tab, from Friday, Jan 17 to Tuesday, Jan 30. No reservations necessary.
Until Feb 29: Lunar New Year afternoon tea at Park Hyatt Beijing
Take advantage of one of those afternoons off during the holiday and treat yourself to a festive-themed afternoon tea high above the city at the Park Hyatt. Start with a series of savory canapés and then indulge in a buffet of handmade desserts. On a clear day, you'll be rewarded with great views of the city. Afternoon tea is priced at RMB 588 for two or RMB 520 if you book via WeChat (more details here).
READ: 2020 Beijing Spring Festival Bar and Restaurant Opening Hours, Jan 24-30
More stories by this author here.
Instagram: @gongbaobeijing
Twitter: @gongbaobeijing
Weibo: @宫保北京
Photos courtesy of Hulu, The Opposite House, Park Hyatt Beijing, Beersmith
