Lunar New Year in London always feels special, but this year China Tang at The Dorchester is marking the Year of the Horse in particularly memorable style.
Symbolising vitality, perseverance and success, the new year is being celebrated with beautiful décor, time-honoured traditions and a seriously impressive line-up of festive dishes.
On 17 and 18 February, the celebrations kick off with a traditional Lion Dance, welcoming guests at the entrance in a ritual believed to bring good luck and prosperity. It’s the kind of moment that instantly sets the tone — vibrant, joyful and full of meaning — before you even sit down.
Once at the table, the focus is firmly on food. Under the direction of Executive Chef Chong Choi Fong, China Tang has created a Lunar New Year menu of ten auspicious dishes, each chosen for what it represents as much as how it tastes. Expect themes of abundance, happiness and togetherness woven throughout the meal.
The experience begins with Lo Hei, the classic raw fish or abalone salad that everyone gets involved in tossing — a fun, interactive start that symbolises rising success and shared fortune. From there, dishes arrive one after another, each with its own story. Highlights include Sea Moss and Bamboo Heart with Chinese Mushrooms, a dish associated with wealth, and Lobster with XO Sauce on Crispy Noodles, which represents ambition and strength.
Standout moments continue with Wok-Fried Whole Tiger Prawn, symbolising courage and determination, followed by a generous cornucopia of mixed seafood and poultry, served with Japanese or Australian abalone — a dish inspired by the “Five Blessings” descending upon the home. It’s celebratory, indulgent and made for sharing.
Classic Lunar New Year favourites also feature, including Steamed Whole Dover Sole, traditionally enjoyed to wish for abundance year after year, and Red Cooked British Squab, associated with good luck and fortune. A lighter, seasonal note comes from Snow Pea Shoots topped with White Crab Meat, celebrating renewal and the arrival of spring.
Dessert is equally symbolic. Pan-fried traditional Chinese rice cake represents progress and growth for the year ahead, followed by a Year of the Horse dessert, created exclusively for Lunar New Year — the perfect way to end the meal on a sweet, celebratory note.
What’s especially nice is that the full China Tang menu is still available alongside the festive dishes, so you can mix Lunar New Year specials with favourites like handcrafted dim sum or the restaurant’s legendary Peking Duck. For group celebrations, the elegant private dining rooms — Ping, Pang and Pong — make a beautiful setting for family gatherings or special occasions.
If you’re visiting during the day, China Tang’s weekday Yum Cha (12pm–4pm) is always a treat. Guests can choose three, six or eight baskets — priced at £38, £58 and £78 — filled with classics like Iberico Pork Xiao Long Bao, Har Gau and Morel Dumplings, all paired with bespoke teas from JADE Tea.
The bar is also getting into the spirit, with Lunar New Year cocktails and an Art Deco-inspired cocktail flight, nodding to 1930s Shanghai and adding a glamorous touch to the celebrations.
For those closer to Knightsbridge, Dim Sum by China Tang at Harrods offers a slightly more relaxed way to celebrate, serving the brand’s signature dishes inside the historic Harrods Dining Hall.
If you’re looking for a special way to welcome the Year of the Horse — whether with family, friends or a long lunch that turns into dinner — China Tang at The Dorchester delivers tradition, theatre and exceptional food in equal measure.