China Tang at The Dorchester welcomes Lunar New Year 2026 with a series of celebrations honouring Cantonese tradition, renewal and prosperity, set within the restaurant’s unmistakable 1930s Shanghai-inspired surroundings.
Located on Park Lane, the Mayfair institution remains one of London’s most celebrated dining addresses, where authentic Cantonese cuisine, richly layered interiors and Art Deco details create an elegant backdrop for meaningful celebrations with family, friends and colleagues.
Marking the arrival of the Year of the Horse, a symbol of vitality, perseverance and success, China Tang will celebrate with symbolic décor, traditional performances and a collection of Chinese New Year special dishes, available alongside the main menu. On the evenings of 17 and 18 February, guests will be welcomed by a traditional Lion Dance, a time-honoured ritual believed to usher in good fortune and prosperity for the year ahead.
Under the direction of Executive Chef Chong Choi Fong, the Lunar New Year offering will centre around a series of ten auspicious dishes, each selected for its symbolic meaning and association with prosperity, abundance, unity and happiness.
The celebration begins with Lo Hei, the traditional Raw Fish Salad or Abalone Salad, symbolising rising success and shared good fortune. Dishes such as Sea Moss and Bamboo Heart with Chinese Mushrooms reflect wishes of wealth and prosperity, while Lobster with XO Sauce on Crispy Noodles represents ambition and strength.
Further highlights include Wok Fried Whole Tiger Prawn, symbolising courage and determination, and a celebratory Cornucopia of Mixed Seafood and Poultry, served with either Japanese or Australian abalone, representing the “Five Blessings” descending upon the home.
Traditional symbolism continues with Steamed Whole Dover Sole, a classic expression of surplus and abundance year after year, followed by Red Cooked British Squab, associated with good luck and fortune. Seasonal balance is brought through Snow Pea Shoots topped with White Crab Meat, celebrating renewal and the return of spring.
To conclude, guests may enjoy Pan Fried Traditional Chinese Rice Cake, symbolising progress and advancement in the year ahead, followed by a Year of the Horse Celebration Dessert, created exclusively for Lunar New Year.
Alongside these special dishes, China Tang’s signature menu remains central to the experience, from delicate handcrafted dim sum to the restaurant’s famed Peking Duck, while the private dining rooms Ping, Pang and Pong offer refined settings for Lunar New Year celebrations.
The Bar at China Tang offers one of Mayfair’s most atmospheric settings for Lunar New Year cocktails, blending classic signatures with the Art Deco Cocktail Flight inspired by 1930s Shanghai.
For those celebrating in Knightsbridge, sister restaurant Dim Sum by China Tang at Harrods provides a relaxed yet elegant way to mark the occasion, offering China Tang’s signature dim sum and Cantonese dishes within the historic Harrods Dining Hall.
Commenting on the celebrations, Nathalie Ford, VP Europe and Middle East for China Tang, says: “China Tang has always been a place for celebration, a restaurant where guests come together to share exceptional food and memorable moments. This time of year brings such energy and excitement to China Tang, whether it’s a festive lunch, a New Year toast or a Lunar New Year gathering, our guests know they can count on an atmosphere that’s unmistakably China Tang.”
Since opening in 2005, China Tang at The Dorchester has set the standard for fine Cantonese dining in London, delivering a timeless culinary experience inspired by the glamour of 1930s Shanghai. Conceived by the late Sir David Tang, the restaurant blends classic Chinese elegance with contemporary British sophistication, from its Art Deco entrance on Park Lane to its opulent private dining rooms and lavish bar.
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