Begin the Year of the Horse with these Lunar New Year 2026 feasts across India

Marking the arrival of the Year of the Horse, this Chinese New Year brings a symbol of strength, ambition, and forward movement. Some of India's favourite restaurants are embracing the occasion with thoughtfully curated menus, immersive cultural rituals, and elevated dining experiences. From traditional prosperity salads and handcrafted dim sums to zodiac-inspired cocktails and celebratory lion dances, these destinations transform a meal into a moment of intention and joy. Whether you’re seeking an intimate dinner or a festive group celebration, these restaurants promise to usher in the Lunar New Year with abundance and elegance.

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1. Kamei, New Delhi

At Kamei, Chinese New Year unfolds as a deeply considered cultural and culinary narrative. The limited-edition menu reflects prosperity and shared abundance, featuring highlights such as the traditional Yu Sheng prosperity salad, delicate xiao long baos, mala chicken satay, and Cantonese-style black bean duck. A refreshing orange yuzu parfait with star-anise jelly offers a bright and celebratory conclusion. Beyond the menu, lantern-inspired accents, zodiac horoscope installations, and interactive prosperity salad toss rituals create an immersive environment. With its minimalist luxury and design-forward hospitality, Kamei invites guests to engage with tradition in a meaningful and contemporary way.

2. Royal China, Delhi

Royal China Delhi’s Signs, Spirits & Lunar New Year Menu offers a uniquely personalised celebration inspired by the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. Each dish reflects the symbolic traits of its respective sign, blending authentic craftsmanship with storytelling through flavour. Complementing the menu is an element-inspired cocktail programme rooted in Fire, Earth, Wood, Water, and Metal, designed to harmonise energetically with the dishes. Weekend Lion Dance performances bring a vibrant cultural dimension to the experience, transforming the restaurant into a festive space filled with movement, music, and auspicious symbolism—perfect for welcoming the year with prosperity and joy.

3. Honk at Pullman, New Delhi Aerocity

Honk at Pullman New Delhi Aerocity brings its signature modern Asian sensibility to Chinese New Year celebrations with bold flavours and theatrical flair. Known for its energetic ambience and pan-Asian menu, the restaurant offers a festive spread of handcrafted dim sums, wok-tossed specialties, and flavour-forward mains that honour traditional techniques while embracing contemporary creativity. With its dynamic setting and expertly curated cocktail programme, Honk creates a lively environment ideal for festive gatherings, where food, music, and atmosphere come together in celebration of the Lunar New Year.

4. The Dimsum Room, Mumbai

Celebrating both its first anniversary and Chinese New Year, The Dimsum Room presents a thoughtfully layered dining experience in the cultural heart of Kala Ghoda. Known for its refined Asian flavours, the festive menu highlights delicate bites such as Silken Tofu Xiao Long Bao, Prawn Hargow, and Mixed Mushroom Cheung Fung, alongside heartier classics like Braised Pork Belly and Cantonese Roast Duck. Desserts like the Hong Kong–style Compressed French Toast and White Chocolate Matcha Cheesecake add a contemporary flourish. Crafted cocktails like Velvet Nightcap and Paper Crane enhance the celebratory spirit, while a traditional Red Envelope surprise for every table adds a meaningful and auspicious touch, making the experience feel both intimate and festive.

5. KMCY, Sheraton Grand Pune Bund Garden Hotel

Marking its first-ever Chinese New Year celebration, KMCY ushers the celebration with comforting soups like Lanzhou napa cabbage and lemon coriander to an impressive dim sum selection featuring chicken jiaozi, sea bass XO dumplings and crystal vegetable dumplings. Small plates include dynamite prawns and diced rock lobster, while mains showcase Peking duck, Sichuan-style whole fish and Yunnan twice-cooked pork. Longevity noodles, Fujian fried rice and festive sweets like nian gao complete the feast, making it a vibrant spot to gather and toast to prosperity.

6. By The Mekong at The St. Regis Mumbai

By The Mekong welcomes the Lunar New Year with a refined celebratory menu that honours Chinese culinary traditions. Helmed by Chef Li Qiang, the offering pays homage to his Shandong roots through dishes like Jade Green dumplings, Fragrant Meadow Chicken and Dry-Braised Pomfret in soy glaze. Symbolic mains such as Baked Farmer Chicken wrapped in lotus leaf reflect unity and abundance. Paired with sweeping skyline views and elegant service, the experience delivers a thoughtful journey through regional Chinese gastronomy.

7. China House at Grand Hyatt Mumbai

China House celebrates Chinese New Year with a limited-period Sichuan-inspired menu curated by Chef Zhang and Chef Li. Guests can begin with handcrafted dim sums including shrimp and crab dumplings with festive vegetarian specialties before moving to signature mains like grouper in sweet and sour sauce, and steamed scallops with vermicelli. Wok-tossed dishes, rice and noodle preparations round out the experience, while desserts such as dark chocolate sesame dumplings and taro cake add a festive finish.

8. Yàn Yǎn at The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore

Yàn Yǎn marks the Year of the Horse with a celebration that blends theatre and refinement. The festivities open with a traditional lion dance, setting the tone for a menu that balances symbolism throughout. Highlights include Hokkaido Scallop Shu Mai with caviar, wok-tossed rock lobster, steamed Chilean seabass and Mongolian lamb shank served with Man Tao buns. Longevity noodles and horse gram fried rice honour wishes of prosperity, while coconut cherry cake offers a graceful finale.

9. Spice Traders, W Goa

Spice Traders revisits Chinese culinary philosophy through a contemporary lens, drawing inspiration from the Eight Great Cuisines without replicating them. The menu bridges tradition and modernity with thoughtful layering of heat, fermentation and balance. The experience leans into refined technique and intuitive flavour combinations, offering a nuanced take on Chinese cuisine that feels relevant and quietly confident.

10. Eight, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and Lucknow

Eight celebrates Chinese New Year with a limited-time menu that blends comfort and bold flavour. The spread ranges from creamy broccoli dim sum and chicken dumplings to grilled bao and roasted duck in chilli oyster sauce. Generous mains include stir-fry ramen noodles, Indonesian Sumatra curry and Cantonese duck, while chocolate ganache closes the meal on a rich note. Available across multiple cities, the festive menu invites guests to linger over shared plates and celebratory cocktails in a lively, welcoming setting.

11. FOO, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad Hyderabad and Pune

Foo marks Chinese New Year with a limited-edition menu inspired by the spirit of the Horse. The offering features festive sushi rolls like the Golden Prosperity Roll and Fat Choy Chicken Roll, alongside dim sum such as Fortune Cottage Cheese Dumplings and Harmony Prawn Dumplings. Small plates range from Abundance Baby Potatoes to Celebration Asian Seabass, complemented by Prosperity XO Rice. Seasonal cocktails crafted exclusively for the celebration add a spirited finish, making it a dynamic, shareable feast across its outlets nationwide.

12. Akina, Mumbai 

Akina interprets the Year of the Horse through a menu that embraces movement across regions and flavours. The progression begins with Cantonese pickles before moving into small plates like Imperial Chicken Xiaolongbao, Xinjiang-spiced pork and golden prawn toast. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian mains span claypot rice with crab roe to Mapo tofu tacos and Cantonese-style noodles. Desserts such as molten chocolate mochi brownie complete the restrained yet comforting journey, enhanced by contemporary décor and bespoke fortune cookies.

13. East – The Asian Living Room, JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort & Spa

East – The Asian Living Room celebrates the Lunar New Year with a specially curated festive dining experience. The menu includes Tangyuan sweet dumplings, prawn hargao, snapper and shiitake hot pot, Mapo tofu and vegetable crystal dumplings. Traditional tea rituals and Asian-inspired cocktails complement the spread, while red and gold décor, lantern installations and live violin performances enhance the atmosphere. 

14. Yauatcha, Mumbai

Yauatcha welcomes the Year of the Fire Horse with a limited-edition menu designed for shared celebration and layered flavours. The experience begins with dim sums like steamed leek and corn rolls, shrimp carrot dumplings and crispy golden chicken rolls, before moving into stir-fries such as lotus root with broccoli and aubergine with tofu in Toban chilli sauce. Generous mains include steamed Chilean sea bass in black bean sauce, twice-cooked pork belly and kumquat butterfly prawns, while desserts spotlight mandarin-forward creations like the Lucky Horse and spicy mandarin macarons. A festive cocktail line-up and zero-ABV options complement the meal, and curated workshops from lantern painting to candle making add an interactive cultural touch.

15. Wagamama, Mumbai

Wagamama celebrates Chinese New Year with its signature approach of bold flavours, nourishing bowls and dishes made for sharing. The menu centres around comforting ramen like chilli tantanmen and coconut seafood broth, alongside teppanyaki favourites such as yaki soba, pad thai and lamb crispy soba. Small plates including bang bang cauliflower, firecracker sweet potato and chilli garlic edamame keep the table lively, while bao, gyoza and hot katsu curry add depth and variety.

16. The Great Wall at The Leela Mumbai

The Great Wall at The Leela Mumbai marks the Lunar New Year with a thoughtfully curated “Feast of Fortune” menu rooted in traditional Chinese techniques. Set against garden and waterfall views, the restaurant opens the celebration with soups like Sichuan hot and sour and double-boiled chicken clear soup, followed by appetisers such as crispy eggplant and golden fried prawns. Dim sum selections lead into a structured main course featuring Mapo tofu, lobster in Singapore chilli sauce, Mongolian lamb and braised pork belly. The experience concludes with classic desserts including mango pudding and almond tofu.

(Also Read: How authentic Chinese cuisine is finding its place in India)