Where to eat and drink on Chinese New Year in Sydney 2019

The best spots to celebrate the Year of the Pig this year.

Spice Temple feast

Usher in the Chinese New Year with an auspicious nine-course banquet from Neil Perry and Spice Temple executive chef Andy Evans. Each dish symbolises good fortune, from egg-shaped pickled roma cherry tomatoes, which represent fertility, to coin-sized pippies, which signify wealth. $99 per person (matching wines $55 extra).

Lunch and dinner February 1-10; Spice Temple, 10 Bligh Street, Sydney, spicetemple.com.au

Vegan celebration

Bodhi's lunch yum cha and dinner menus will include lunar specials throughout February, or book yourself in for a $60 New Year feast complete with lion dancers, vegan dumplings, Peking "duck" or "chicken" skewers.

Specials throughout February or lunar feast on Tuesday, February 5; Bodhi, 2/4 College Street, Sydney, bodhirestaurant.com.au

Or head over to Madame Shanghai for a 10-course Beijing vegan banquet ($65 per person), from spectacular imperial dishes to comforting home-style cooking boasting hot and sour flavours with dark soy, sesame and scallions.

February 5 and 28; Madame Shanghai, 18 College Street, Darlinghurst, lotusdining.com.au/restaurant/madame-shanghai/

Family-friendly lantern festival

Head to Darling Harbour for two weeks of kid-friendly activities, including the Chinese New Year Lantern Festival at Tumbalong Park and its delicious market stalls selling all sorts of craveable street food.

7-11pm daily from Thursday, February 14 to Monday, February 18; Chinese New Year Lantern Festival, darlingharbour.com

Culinary adventure

Head northside for Chatswood's Year of the Pig Festival, with performances, parades, a huge prosperity salad toss and more, including an adventure through Chatswood's flavours on a Taste of Asia food tour. Bookings essential.

Food tours until February 19; Chatswood Year of the Pig Festival, visitchatswood.com.au/lny2019/

Get lucky at The Star

The Star Sydney will host roaming entertainment, fun installations and festive dining specials, including a six-course Cantonese banquet at The Century, four courses for two at Fat Noodle (think supreme chicken broth and a premier treasure pot), plus plenty more.

Throughout February; The Star, Pyrmont, star.com.au/sydney/whats-on/lunar-new-year

A seafood festival

Head to the Fish Market for the lantern-lit Lunar New Year Twilight Dining night market, with abundant seafood, a laser light performance and lion dancers. Or pick up a fish to cook at home - popular species include redfish, alfonsino and eastern red scorpionfish, known for their red colouring.

Friday, February 8 from 4pm; Sydney Fish Market, Bank Street, Pyrmont, sydneyfishmarket.com.au

Hit up Chinatown

Head to Market City's revamped 1909 Dining Precinct. Take your pick: The Eight, Dolar Shop, Beijing Impressions and Mr Meng Chongqing Gourmet are all hosting their own spin on a lunar feast, whether you're a table of two or 12.

Throughout February; 1909 Dining Precinct, Market City, marketcity.com.au/lunar-new-year-dining-experience/

Choose your feast

Lotus the Galeries will be hosting three modern banquets, including the $68 Good Luck banquet, the $88 Good Fortune banquet, and the $128 Long Life banquet, each featuring the venue's signature dumplings, slow-cooked short ribs and Sichuan eggplant, alongside live seafood for pre-order.

Monday, February 4 to Sunday, February 10; Lotus the Galeries, 1/500 George Street, lotusdining.com.au/restaurant/the-galeries/

Or chill out in the Chinese Garden of Friendship at new arrival The Gardens by Lotus, with two banquets ($88-128) offering modern takes on CNY dining staples including "cheese roast" and Sichuan-style lion meatball.

Monday, February 4 to Sunday, February 10; The Gardens by Lotus, Chinese Garden of Friendship, lotusdining.com.au/restaurant/the-gardens-by-lotus/

Cap off both Lotus feasts with a cute piggy bao, on offer at both Lotus the Galeries and The Gardens by Lotus. These cute custard buns are the perfect way to finish your celebration.

Monday, February 4 to Sunday, February 10; Lotus the Galeries and The Gardens by Lotus.