Sydney is rolling out the red carpet to mark the Year of the Snake with an exciting lineup of celebrations, dining experiences, and cultural events across the city.
Whether you’re craving the buzz of lion dances, sumptuous banquets with loved ones, or snapping photos under shimmering lanterns, there’s something for everyone in Sydney this Lunar New Year. From Parramatta Square to Darling Square and beyond, here’s your ultimate guide to ringing in the new year Sydney-style.

Feasting and Festivities at Lilymu, Parramatta Square
If you’re looking for a dining experience that helps you channel both refined taste and festive spirit, head to Lilymu in Parramatta Square. This contemporary Pan-Asian hotspot is putting together an exquisite $108 per person Lunar New Year Banquet, served from 25 January to 2 February.
The menu is an absolute feast for the senses, featuring highlights like a dumpling assiette with Layu and black vinegar, roast barramundi with ginger and shallot, and beef short rib lacquered in spicy-sweet gochujang and fragrant perilla. And while you’re basking in the flavours of the season, the Red Pocket tradition continues, as every diner receives a $20 dining voucher for future visits—a nod to the New Year’s wishes for prosperity.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Lunar New Year without the vibrant sound of cymbals and the iconic lion dance. Lilymu is hosting two performances at 12pm on 1st and 2nd February, bringing luck and symbolic joy to the heart of Parramatta. Between the banquet and the spectacle, it’s an experience that’ll leave your friends WhatsApping their jealousy.
A Nostalgic Celebration at The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre
Over in Marrickville, The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre is teaming up with its retro-themed Lucky Prawn restaurant to make sure your Lunar New Year is a mix of old-school charm and foodie indulgence. From 29 January to 2 February, enjoy a festive banquet guaranteed to please both traditionalists and curious foodies alike. Expect dishes such as prawn toast, decadent XO pippies, prawns wontons, and stir-fried snake beans, all crafted to honour both modern and authentic Cantonese influences.
If yum cha is more your thing, their monthly Yum Cha session on Sunday 2 February from 11am-3pm makes for the perfect closing note to the festivities. With crowd-pleasing staples like sweet and sour pork, special fried rice, and sang choi bao on offer, there’s no better way to ring out the Lunar New Year weekend.
The magic doesn’t stop at the food. Traditional Jin Wu Koon Lion Dancers will perform at 7pm on 30 January and again at 3pm on 2 February, bringing energy and blessings for the year to come. The centre will also be pouring a special brew, Hawke’s Lucky Lager, a crisp rice lager brewed in collaboration with Lucky Prawn and designed to pair seamlessly with the restaurant’s iconic dishes. It’s a toast to the past, present, and future—all rolled into one.
Nic Wong, Lucky Prawn’s executive chef, reminisces on Lunar New Year celebrations. “To me, Lunar New Year is seafood – lots of it. We’d gather as a family, fold dumplings together and feast on whole fish and barbecue pork. It’s all about family, joy, and eating symbolism-rich foods that bring luck and abundance.” This sense of nostalgia is at the heart of the experience at Lucky Prawn, making it far more than just a dinner; it’s a celebration of tradition itself.
A Cultural Extravaganza at Darling Square
Darling Square is set to be the glittering epicentre of Lunar New Year 2025, running celebrations from 22 January to 16 February. The precinct will transform into a kaleidoscope of activity, showcasing cultural performances and interactive experiences designed to immerse visitors in the spectacle and symbolism of the Lunar New Year.
The heart of the action is a stunning lantern display, illuminating the square each evening from 5pm onward—perfect for a family stroll or that Instagram moment you definitely need. To honour the Year of the Snake, you can even meet a live Australian python at the live snake shows held on 8 and 15 February from 10am-12pm. For the brave, it’s a chance to touch and hold the sleek reptiles, snapping a photo while picking up fascinating facts from expert handlers.
If you’re after pure entertainment, catch live singers in the square or roving fan veil dancers (1 February from 5-8pm). Other highlights include the traditional Bian Lian face-changing performance on 15 February, where performers swap masks in seconds—an ancient, dramatic art form that never fails to amaze. Meanwhile, Cai Shen, the Chinese God of Wealth, will make special appearances handing out chocolate coins to spread prosperity among visitors.
Foodies, gather round! Darling Square’s retailers and restaurants are pulling out all the delicious stops. Highlights include XOPP by Golden Century’s banquet menus starring their signature XO pipis and Australian red rock lobster, Beom Beom’s Korean soul food experience, and Shortstop Coffee & Donuts, offering Lunar New Year-themed mango and black sesame donuts that are almost too pretty to eat. Many vendors are even giving away lucky red pockets filled with vouchers for future purchases, keeping the spirit of generosity alive throughout the season.
Lunar New Year Significance Runs Deeper Than Dumplings
While Sydney spoils its residents and visitors with experiences, the cultural and culinary traditions of Lunar New Year hold deeper meanings. Across multiple cuisines and regions, dishes symbolise everything from health to happiness. Lilymu’s whole fish is a nod to prosperity, and dumplings (shaped like ancient ingots) are emblematic of wealth. At Darling Square, you’ll see performances and rituals that pull from millennia-old traditions designed to ward off evil spirits and bring renewal.
For Korean communities, Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year) takes on its own unique flavour, as restaurateur James Sun explains. “We come together as family, much the same as other cultures, but for Koreans, Seollal represents reconnecting with ancestors and making good on our virtues for the year ahead. Food is central—rice cake soup signifies growing another year older, while sharing special dishes is all about fostering harmony.”
These moments, small yet meaningful, are at the heart of every plate served and dance performed during Lunar New Year in Sydney.
Join the Celebration!
Whether you’re soaking in traditional performances at Darling Square, making dumplings in spirit at Lilymu’s banquet, or toasting to good fortune with Lucky Lager at The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre, Sydney offers the perfect fusion of tradition and modern flair this Lunar New Year. Start the Year of the Snake feasting, laughing, dancing—and maybe even holding a python. It’s an unmissable time to celebrate and connect with the spirit of renewal.