Auspicious festivities at City of Dreams Manila
City of Dreams Manila commences its Year of the Wood Snake festivities with auspicious Lunar New Year rituals, and dining offers that symbolize good fortune at premium restaurants Crystal Dragon, Nobu Manila, and Red Ginger.
To highlight an eye-dotting ceremony on January 29, revelers will witness spectacular lion and 70 ft-long dragon dance performances in the Chinese New Year tradition, performed by skilled artists from Ling Nam Athletic Association, in front of the main casino entrance at 5 pm. At the main casino lobby, an installation of this year’s Chinese zodiac is on display.
Crystal Dragon, City of Dreams Manila’s award-winning Cantonese restaurant, presents curated specialties. Comprised of premium ingredients, the festive a la carte menu, available on January 27 to February 12, is headlined by Crystal Dragon’s rendition of the traditional prosperity toss salad, the Prosperity Abalone Yee Sang (P2,388++, good for three to four persons per serving), with sliced abalone (for abundance), julienned papaya (evoking youthfulness), pomelo and carrots (for good luck), radish (for swift progress), onion leeks (for wisdom), chopped peanuts, and deep-fried flour crisps (for prosperity) drizzled with oil (for smooth sailing) and sweet plum dressing (for sweet and harmonious family relationship ). The group gathers around the table to mix and toss the ingredients with chopsticks while reciting auspicious phrases; the higher the toss, the better the prospects for greater wealth for the coming year.
Some of Crystal Dragon’s Chinese New Year symbolic specialties to usher in good fortune are Buddha Jumps Over the Wall in Rich Golden Broth; Poached Yellow Skin Chicken with Chinese Spices and Szechuan Pepper Oil, Steamed Live Sea Grouper in homemade spicy “Choi Hiong” sauce, Live Green Lobster in two flavors: Wok-fried Green Lobster Meat in Fragrant Golden Garlic, and Crispy Salted Egg Lobster Ball, and more. Crystal Dragon is open daily from 12 noon to 11 pm.
The season’s flavors can likewise be savored at the Manila outpost of globally renowned Nobu Restaurant. From January 27 to February 2, Nobu Manila highlights luxe Chinese New Year ala carte dinner specials featuring Whole Turbot Fish Sashimi and Sushi Platter. The prime dishes are also offered as hot entrées. Alternatively, the season’s Nobu’s seven-course Omakase menu is offered. Nobu Manila is open for dinner from 5 to 10 pm, Sunday to Thursday and until 11 pm every Friday and Saturday.
Finally, the contemporary Asian bar and bistro Red Ginger infuses Southeast Asian flavors to its Lunar Festival menu available daily from January 15 to 31, 11 am to 1 am. The special ala carte menu includes a “Prosperity” Salmon Curry Puff, “Longevity” Crispy Noodles, “Wealthy” Braised Pork Belly, “Lucky” Golden Crispy, and “Fortune” Nian Gao, which features assorted rice cake rolls served with vanilla ice cream and a fortune cookie.
For inquiries and reservations, call tel. no. 8800-8080 for the or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com, or visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com
Hilton Manila’s Feast of Fortune at Hua Yuan Brasserie Chinoise
Hilton Manila ushers in the Year of the Snake with festive dining experiences, running until February 10, 2025. The highlight this year is the Lunar Wheel of Fortune, a promotion designed to enhance the celebration with thrilling prizes from January 28 to February 2, 2025.
Guests spending a minimum of P30,000 net at Hua Yuan Brasserie Chinoise will have the chance to spin the Lunar Wheel of Fortune, where they can win a variety of exclusive prizes, ranging from discounts and F&B credits to premium culinary experiences such as the 8 Flavors Xiao Long Bao and a complimentary All-You-Can-Eat Yum Cha for two. Grand prizes include a Chinese Tikoy Set and a Whole Peking Duck served two ways on a return visit.
In addition to the promotion, Hilton Manila presents a curated selection of festive à la carte dishes and elegant set menus. The Prosperity Set includes favorites such as the Barbecue Combination Platter, Tea-Smoked Half Duck, and Simmered Black Grouper with Kaofu, while the Grand Fortune Set offers premium dishes like Whole Peking Duck, Szechuan Black Grouper, and a Chinese New Year Poon Choi.
Guests seeking the perfect gift can choose from Hilton Manila’s bespoke Lunar New Year hampers, each thoughtfully curated to bring prosperity and joy: the Auspicious Tikoy (P2,488++), the Prosperity Hamper (P25,888++) with Dalmore 12 Years, and the Fortune Hamper (P45,888++) with Dalmore 15 Years.
For reservations and inquiries, contact Hilton Manila at tel. no. (+632) 7239-7788 or email MNLPH_F&B@hilton.com or visit www.hiltonmanila.com.
Exceptional Chinese Lunar New Year experiences at The Peninsula Manila
As the Chinese Lunar New Year approaches on January 29, guests of The Peninsula Manila can enjoy the vibrant customs of this festive season, while showcasing the hotel’s legendary service and attention to detail.
On January 29 at 10:15 am, the Peninsula’s mesmerizing Lion and Dragon Dance will once again take centerstage at The Lobby. This lively performance IS believed to dispel evil spirits and usher in luck. Red lai see envelopes, symbolizing fortune and prosperity, will also be shared.
In honor of the Year of the Snake, The Peninsula Boutique is flying in especially from Hong Kong the much-coveted Chinese New Year Red Date with Ginger Juice Pudding. The pudding symbolizes success and prosperity and is Meticulously crafted with premium ingredients. The Peninsula Boutique is also offering its limited-edition line of Lucky Lunar New Year Chocolate Trees as auspicious gifts. Pastry Chef Annalyn Solano’s edible Chinese New Year-themed trees—a Mandarin Orange Tree and a Golden Fortune Money Tree—are molded by hand. The trees are available at The Peninsula Boutique for P3,888, while small trees are priced at P2,888 (inclusive of taxes).
There will be a big and delicious platter waiting in the middle of The Lobby’s dining tables this Chinese New Year. First to be tossed into the platter are slices of smoked salmon, with everyone cheering nin nin yau yu (“let there be abundance every year”). Then the carrots go in, followed by a roar of hong wen dong tau (“good luck”). Then everyone puts in their chopsticks and mixes the ingredients together, tossing them as high as they can for the traditional Chinese New Year lo hei or prosperity toss. The Peninsula Chinese New Year lo hei can be enjoyed by four guests and is available for lunch and dinner at The Lobby for P6,888 (inclusive of taxes).
At Escolta restaurant, 12 special buffet dishes celebrating China’s rich cultural and culinary heritage bring good fortune, including fish, which symbolizes a prosperous year ahead; Chinese dumplings, symbolizing wealth and prosperity; chicken, for luck and prosperity; longevity noodles for a long and healthy life, and more. The lunch buffets are Monday to Saturday 12 to 2:30 pm, while dinner buffets are Monday to Sunday, 6:30 to 10:30 pm.
Sunday Brunch is at 12 to 3 pm.
For inquiries or more information on Year of The Snake Celebrations at The Peninsula Manila, please call The Peninsula Manila at tel. no. (+632) 8887-2888 ext. 6694 (Restaurant Reservations), or email diningPMN@peninsula.com (Restaurant Reservations) or visit peninsula.com.
Edsa Shangri-La, Manila ushers in the Year of the Wood Snake
Edsa Shangri-La, Manila’s Summer Palace celebrates time-honored traditions the Year of the Wood Snake. Share the gift of abundance, prosperity, and connection with Summer Palace’s artisanal Nian Gao collection, featuring classic designs such as Infinity, Gold Bar, and Ninko-Fish, alongside contemporary twists with flavors like Radish and Taro.
An exclusive line of cakes and signature hampers from The Bakeshop. Starting at P1,700 net, the cakes are the perfect centerpieces for gatherings. Specially curated hampers are filled with at P3,100 net, available at the hotel’s lobby pop-up.
The Lunar New Year Set Menu at Summer Palace features auspicious dishes, from the traditional Yee Sang to Roasted Peking Duck, Baked Scallop in Cream Sauce, and Lobster
in Superior Stock. Choose from the Wealth, Longevity, and Prosperity Sets starting at P27,888 ++ for a table of 10 persons, for either lunch or dinner.
For inquiries, visit the Lunar New Year counter at the main lobby of Edsa Shangri-La, Manila, call tel. no. 8633-8888 local 8803, or e-mail restaurantrsvns.esl@shangri-la.com.
Visit www.shangri-la.com/manila/edsashangrila or follow social media pages facebook.com/edsashangrila and @edsashangrila on Instagram to stay connected.
Celebrating Chinese New Year at Sheraton Manila Bay
Welcome the Year of the Snake with a joyful celebration at Sheraton Manila Bay.
Kick off the festivities with a Dragon Dance performance at the Sheraton Lobby as part of Gatherings by Sheraton, on January 28 at 5:30 to 6:30 pm. Continue the celebration with a sumptuous pre-dinner happy hour at Manila Bay Kitchen, featuring Chinese-themed culinary stations and unlimited beverages, from 6:30 pm onwards, at P1,950 net per person.
For inquiries and reservations, call Sheraton Manila Bay at tel. no. 5318-0788 or email reservations.manilabay@sheraton.com.
