Chinese New Year Celebrations in NYC

Maybe you don’t feel like going to your staple Chinese restaurant to celebrate the New Year. That’s ok. We’ve got some amazing suggestions on starting the Year of the Dragon on a good note:

R Lounge in the Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel: The Renaissance got creative and enlisted the help of Mixologists at their properties in China to craft special cocktails to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. We have not tasted them yet, but we got a sneak peak at their recipes and they look scrumptious. The cocktails include: the Spring Cup, the Bejingtini, and the Chinese Sour. The cocktails run at $12 a pop. I say that’s a nice way to celebrate.

Pacific College of Oriental Medicine:  They will be celebrating Chinese New Year on Saturday, January 28th, from 12-3pm. The celebration will include tea sampling from Traditions of Tao teas, Sokenbicha teas, and more. This is great if you’re just getting into tea.  There will also be free acupuncture treatments and demonstrations. The best part, all activities are free.

Shun Lee: While this is not an official Lunar New Year celebration, we thought that Shun Lee should be included since they are participating in NY Restaurant week (Jan 16- Feb 20). I’ve eaten here plenty and the food is delicious. Their restaurant week three course lunch is $24.07 and $35 for dinner (Monday-Friday).  Call (212) 371-8844 for reservations.

Metaphor: This 6 course dinner of Chinese inspired dishes by  Chef Jehangir Mehta will be paired with wines by sommelier Michael Nelson. The dinner will cost $75 for six courses with wine pairings. I think this is the perfect way to “Enter the Dragon”. For reservations, click here.

Zengo: has created a Test Kitchen: Shanghai-Sao Paulo menu to be offered in February & March in honor of the Year of the Dragon. The menu includes items such as pork sausage and crab xiao long bao (soup dumplings – if you don’t know what they are…you need to), picahna steak (the best cut) and XO style king crab and killer cocktails. Dishes range from $12 to $32. Make your resos by calling (212) 808-8110.