From lion dance performances to peking duck, the Spring Festival seems to be in full bloom!

新年快乐/ Xīn Nián Kuài Lè/ Happy New Year! Chinese New Year is right around the corner, and restaurants in Dubai are all ready to welcome guests. Chinese New Year falls on Tuesday February 5 and Dubai city has various deals for all to celebrate.

For those looking to dine on Chinese signature dishes or desire to be a part of celebration at a themed brunch, the list below shows how to be a part of the Spring Festival in the right way.

Al Bayt

Looking for an afternoon tea than a proper feast? For Dhs188, visitors can relax at a Chinese-inspired afternoon tea, which includes a selection of specialty teas and coffees accompanied by Chinese cake. The restaurant will be decorated and there will even be a harpist playing in the background. Al Bayt is located on the lobby level of the Palace Downtown Dubai. Most guests choose to feel rejuvenated at Al Bayt and continue shopping at The Dubai Mall after!

Dhs188 per person. Fri Feb 1- Sun Feb 10, 14:00 – 18:00.

For more information please visit www.dubaicity.com/al-bayt/

Palace Downtown, Downtown Dubai (+971 4 888 3444).

Ba Restaurant and Lounge

Ba Restaurant and Lounge is all set to spread all the luck for Chinese New Year with its limited-time three-course meal. For Dhs288, guests can relish dishes such as wagyu beef tartare with yuzu and togarashi and crispy duck bun with kimchi, and that’s just the starters. Main course, expect black pepper beef, sweet and sour prawns with pineapple, Kung Pao chicken with chili and steamed jasmine rice. Also serving dessert, diners can finish off with a yuzu citrus tart and coconut sticky rice cake and a Chinese tea selection to match.

Ba Restaurant and Lounge is located on the upper ground floor level of Fairmont The Palm. The team serves a delicious array of modern Asian cuisine, including sushi, noodles, large and small sharing plates within a sumptuous casual lounge and bar style setting.

Dhs288. Mon Feb 4 – Mon Feb 11. Mon-Fri 17:00 – 01:00; Sat 17: – 24:00.

Fairmont The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, www.palmdining.com (+971 4 457 3457).

For more information please visit https://dubaicity5.wpengine.com/ba-restaurant-and-lounge/

Beefbar Dubai

Celebrating the Spring Festival, Beefbar Dubai is preparing a special set menu showcasing dishes from Hong Kong. For Dhs400 on Thursday February 7 and Friday 8, diners can get a five-course meal brimming with world-class meat.

Beefbar was conceived to shatter the traditional codes of inflexible and high end cuisine. The idea works on a clear distinction, of assured quality but with modest pricing. The architectural lines and the menu include ambience established in contemporary magnificence. The casual atmosphere features the services that are both precise and hospitable. The restaurant itself will be transformed with lanterns hanging from the ceiling and of course, lucky red cards to bring everyone some good fortune. The restaurant will offer three glasses of grape for Dhs200 to go with every meal.

Dhs400 (five courses), Dhs22 (three glasses of grape).

For more information please visit www.dubai.beefbar.com

Al Fattan Currency House, DIFC (+971 56 115 1724)

Ewaan

To celebrate the New Year, Ewaan is laying on a Chinese buffet from 12.30pm until 3.30pm, with live cooking stations, a selection of dim sum and lots more. That’s not all, as from 7pm until 11.30pm, its delivering guests a seafood buffet featuring Chinese delicacies and lunar New Year puddings along with special live stations dishing out noodles and dim sum. There will also be a dragon dance performing during the special evening.

dining restaurant and lounge is located at The Palace Downtown Dubai – where there’s something for every palate and serves a delightful blend of Arabic and Oriental specialities that also includes a large selection of mezzeh. Guests can enjoy shisha and relax listening to live music on the terrace, or, for a little seclusion, relax in a private dining alcove.

Afternoon: Dhs188 (soft drinks), Dhs288 (house beverages). Sat – Thurs 12:30 – 15:30. Evening: Dhs188 (buffet), Dhs288 (soft drinks), Dhs388 (house beverages). Sun – Tue, Thurs, Sat 19:00 -23:30. Sat Feb 2- Sun Feb 10.

Palace Downtown, Downtown Dubai (+971 4 888 3444).

For more information please visit www.dubaicity.com/ewaan-restaurant-lounge/

Hakkasan

Atlantis The Palm’s Cantonese restaurant is preparing to extend greetings this Spring Festival, and will celebrate for more than one day. From Monday January 28 until Thursday February 28, Hakkasan’s team of chefs will be coming up with a special à la carte menu featuring traditional Chinese favourites for Dhs498. Diners can expect Peking duck with crispy bean curd and mango, wok-fry lobster with Chinese chives and lily bulb, as well as roasted jasmine chicken with sticky rice. Guests can expect a Chinese mixed drink as a welcome gift. The venue will will have its wishing tree tradition, inviting guests to write their wishes on red ribbons that will be hung around the dining areas.

Dhs498. Mon Jan 28-Thu Feb 28. Open daily 18:00 – 23:30.

Atlantis The Palm, Crescent Road (+971 4 426 2626).

For more information please visit: www.hakkasan.com

Long Yin

Long Yin will be decked in shades of red for all the Chinese New Year festivities. For Dhs191, celebrators can take on a set menu filled with steamed scallops, dumplings, sautéed tiger prawns, and other Chinese delicacies. To finish off, tuck into a selection of desserts featuring mango with strawberry caviar, and the restaurant is giving away a special red envelope to take home to wish all the luck and fortune. Long Yin is located at Le Meridien Dubai and is focused on preparing best food. They offer guests traditional Cantonese and Schezwan dishes in a sophisticated and elegant environment that is lost in the flavours of Asian culinary passion.

Dhs191. Mon Feb 4-Wed Feb 6, 12:30 – 15:30 and 18:00 – 23:00.

Le Méridien Dubai Hotel and Conference Centre, Garhoud www.longyin-dubai.com (+971 4 702 2447).

For more information please visit www.dubaicity.com/long-yin/

Mazina

Along with Address Dubai Marina’s all-day dining restaurant, Mazina will offer a special dinner buffet filled with traditional Chinese delicacies, but it’s also celebrating the Spring Festival with a Chinese-themed brunch. From the special day (Tuesday February 5) to Friday 8, the dinner buffet will offer diners dumplings, Peking duck and other specialities influenced by Chinese style of cooking, all for Dhs179. The brunch on Friday from Dhs325, prepare for the venue to be transformed with a Chinese theme, with three hours of Chinese delicacies and much more.

Chinese dinner buffet: Dhs179 (soft drinks). Tue Feb 5-Fri Feb 8, 19:00 – 23:00. Brunch: Dhs325 (soft drinks), Dhs450 (house beverages), Dhs600 (bubbly). Fri Feb 8, noon-15:00.

Lobby, Address Dubai Marina, (+971 4 888 3444).

For more information please visit www.dubaicity.com/mazina/

Mekong

Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort’s signature Asian restaurant, Mekong is offering a lot to cheer about to celebrate Chinese New Year the best way possible. The restaurant is featuring a variety of Chinese specialties for celebrators to delight in. Located at Anantara Dubai The Palm Resort & Spa resort’s signature dining venue. The restaurant is named after South East Asia’s legendary river, Mekong offers a journey infused with rich and flavourful discovery. The special meal will feature a whole lot of dim sum, including steamed mixed scallop and prawn dumpling with Szechuan sauce, deep fried chicken pocket with sweet black soya sesame sauce and duck jiaozi with soya ginger sauce. It’s a family-sharing style meal that’s not to be missed.

Dhs168. Sun Feb 3-Tue Feb 5, 18:00 -23:30. East Crescent, Palm Jumeirah (+9714 567 8304).

For more information please visit www.dubaicity.com/mekong/

Saffron

Whatever kind of Chinese dish from the country’s most foodie of provinces, Saffron is most likely to be serving. For Dhs265, celebrators can tuck into an array of Cantonese, Szechuan, Shandong and Anhui dishes, and pick from the steamed dim sum and the Peking duck stations. Serving the finest in South-East Asian Cuisine, Saffron presents the eclectic, exotic, and delicious tastes of Asia and beyond, with the best regional delicacies available for breakfast or dinner. With more than 220 dishes to choose from, diners can eat in Saffron for nearly a year and never have the same meal twice. Saffron restaurant has a very spacious dining room. It is inspired by the Far East with a warm and contemporary atmosphere that perfectly complements the rich and abundant foods available at each buffet station. The restaurant will be serving on themed Chinese dinner music, along with a lion dance performance at 19:30 to 19:45 from Monday January 4 to Wednesday 6.

Dhs265 (adults), Dhs137.50 (kids aged 4-11), free (kids under three). Mon Feb 4-Sun Feb 10. Open 18:00 – 23:00.

Atlantis The Palm, Crescent Road (+971 4 426 2626).

For more information please visit: www.dubaicity.com/saffron/

Shang Palace

Shang Palace is getting decked up with lanterns and Chinese music. With two traditional set menus featuring dishes such as Hong Kong-style barbecue duck, dim sum platters and traditional rice balls. Guests who dine at Shang Palace can enter the chance to win a stay at Kerry Hotel, Beijing. Diners looking for quality Chinese cuisine between New and Old Dubai, Shang Palace at Shangri-La Hotel World Trade Centre is an ideal choice. Featuring sophisticated and dynastic décor – Shang Palace has a first floor balcony setting, looking down onto the Shangri-La Hotel’s luxurious lobby.

Dhs358 (food only). Mon Feb 4-Tue Feb 19, noon-15:00 and 19:00 – 24:00.

Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, (+971 4 405 2703).

For more information please visit: www.dubaicity.com/shang-palace/

Sofitel The Palm

The five-star resort on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah island wants to wish you all the luck for Chinese New Year with a four-course set menu boasting authentic Chinese flavours, along with a traditional lion dance to keep guests entertained. Taking place at Hong Loong, expect starters such as chilled octopus and jellyfish salad along with steamed shrimps dumpling, and a crab meat and chicken soup. As for mains, look forward to Hong Kong-style roast duck, stew beef short ribs and an eight treasure rice served in lotus leave. For a combination dessert platter, expect sesame seed balls, fried dough twists or, of course, mandarins.

Dhs388 (soft beverages, half bottle of grape). Mon Feb 4-Sun Feb 10, 18:30 -23:30. Lion Dance: Mon Feb 4-Tue Feb 5, 18:00 onwards.

Sofitel Dubai The Palm Resort & Spa Palm Jumeirah, East Crescent, The Palm (+971 4 455 5656).

For more information please visit www.dubaicity.com/sofitel-dubai-palm-resort-spa/

Thiptara

Welcome the New Year with a four-course set menu from, featuring Chinese-inspired dishes including vegetable dim sum, duck spring rolls and black pepper lobster. Thiptara, which means ‘Magic at the Water’, is dedicated to serving Royal Thai cuisine, with expert Bangkok-style seafood preprations. Surrounded by Burj Lake, the outstanding views of The Dubai Fountain at night, transforms this contemporary al fresco waterfront restaurant into an impeccably magical retreat. Thiptara is located on the ground level of the breathtaking venue – The Palace Downtown Dubai. Overlooking the Dubai Fountain; Thiptara offers the best Thai delicacies in a warm and intimate setting.

Dhs288 (food only), Dhs388 (bottle of grape). Fri Feb 1-Sun Feb 10. 18:00 – 23:30.

Palace Downtown, Downtown Dubai (+971 4 888 3444).

For more information please visit www.dubaicity.com/thiptara-2/

Willow Stream Spa

Visitors can have a relaxing massages and remedies that are from China, and this Chinese New Year, Willow Stream Spa is located at Fairmont The Palm. They will be hosting Chinese Expert Therapist Lily Yuan from Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai from Tuesday February 5 until Monday March 4, which means its now your chance to get an authentic and soothing massage. Specialised treatments include a Chinese acupressure massage to balance your Chi; a yoga massage with light stretching to fix those tight muscles; the vital energy meridien cleansing massage that uses “East-Meets-West” techniques; the “Mystic Peace” treatment that includes a full body scrub and Tai Chi massage; and finally a simple, but much needed foot reflexology treatment.

Chinese Acupressure Massage: Dhs545 (60 min), Dhs799 (90 min). Yoga Massage: Dhs799 (90 min). Vital Energy Meridien Cleansing Massage: Dhs545 (60 min), Dhs799 (90 min). Mystic Peace: Dhs799 (90 min). Foot Reflexology: Dhs289 (30 min), Dhs555 (60 min). Tue Feb 5-Mon Mar 4. Open daily 09:00 -22:00.

Fairmont The Palm, Palm Jumeirah (+971 4 457 3457).

For more information please visit www.dubaicity.com/willow-stream-spa-fairmont-palm/

Photo courtesy: www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com