Chinese New Year at Shangri-La Hotel

Overview

Offering up panoramic views of Sydney Harbour from high atop the Rocks and housing some standout restaurants and bars, Shangri-La Hotel is far from your standard hotel. And for Chinese New Year, it's getting creative — playing host to two gastronomical events

The first, held in Shangri-La's all-day buffet restaurant Cafe Mix, will be an interactive Asian banquet. As well as an array of traditional Chinese dishes — including honey-glazed BBQ pork, clay pot feasts and must-have Beijing duck pancakes — there will be make-it-yourself noodles and sang choi bao stations. Like your noodles extra spicy? Hate coriander? Have a particular obsession with crushed peanuts? Let your idiosyncrasies run free.

Expect plenty of seafood, plucked fresh from the ocean, too. There'll be everything from juicy prawns to creamy crab and an array of fish. The buffet will run nightly from 15–24 February and can be enjoyed for a cool $85. It'll also be open for lunch — without the seafood section — over two weekends in February (17-18 and 24-25) for the cheaper price of $65. In previous years it has been pretty packed, so booking ahead is a good idea.

Alternatively, head to a high tea with twist in the Lobby Lounge. Prepared by pastry chef Anna Polyviou, the luxe afternoon feast — ringing in the Year of the Dog — will include Asian-fusion sweet treats and savoury dishes. Think mini banh mi, spring rolls, roast duck, scones and desserts speckled with black sesame.

The Chinese New Year high tea will be held daily from 1–5pm from Friday, February 16 to Sunday, March 4. It'll set you back $55 and you can book your place here.

Images: Nikki To