
We're quickly slithering into the Year of the Snake, so we’ve got your CNY 2025 celebrations covered. Think fun things to do and the best places to eat over Chinese New Year in Bali!
Chinese New Year, AKA the Lunar New Year, is fast approaching, and with it comes indulgent reunion dinners, weird and wonderful superstitions, and for 2025 in particular, a time to channel our obsession for all things reptilian for the Year of the Snake. Whether you’re keeping things traditional or not, you can get into the festive spirit with a Chinese New Year reunion in Bali, be it a dinner, an event or a family gathering. Here’s where you can celebrate Chinese New Year 2025 in Bali. Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Chinese New Year 2025 in Bali: The Year of the Snake
This year, we’re slithering into the Year of the Snake. The sixth animal (out of 12) in the Chinese zodiac, the snake is often seen as evil – but not in Chinese traditions. The snake is a symbol of elegance, wisdom, charm and transformation – it’s no surprise that those born in the Year of the Snake are often intuitive and intelligent. You’ll want to put on your best qipao for the Chinese New Year celebrations, as this is the year for introspection and personal growth.
How to celebrate Chinese New Year in Bali
1. Feast with the family at a Chinese New Year reunion dinner in Bali

Chinese New Year is all about celebrating with family, and taking centre stage is the feast! A reunion dinner on the night before the new year is often generously served in the company of loved ones. This year, Bali has some great options for those Chinese food must-haves – from abundant reunion dinners on New Year’s Eve to festive brunches on New Year’s Day. And psst… Some even offer a Yu Sheng prosperity toss (the higher you toss, the more prosperous you’ll be!), so be sure to look out for special menus…
Chinese New Year Dinner at Mozaic Gastronomic
Ring in the Year of the Snake with a six-course dinner at this fine-dining Ubud icon. On 25th January 2025 at Mozaic’s Chef’s Table, Chef Blake Thornley will be bringing the art of gastronomy to life with a live cooking experience. For only IDR 1,388,000++ per person, we can’t think of a better way to welcome prosperity, happiness, and togetherness.
Year of The Snake Delights at Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort
At Kwee Zeen, the signature pan-Asian restaurant at Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort, a delightful and bountiful feast will mark the start of the Lunar New Year. A gourmet buffet will take place on the 28th and 29th January 2025, featuring crave-worthy delicacies like Peking duck, dim sum, glazed pork ribs, specialty noodles and so much more. The bar will also be shaking CNY-inspired cocktails, while the resort will host a mesmerising Barongsai and Chinese drum performance, plus exclusive spa promotions.
The Tale of the Snake at Renaissance Bali Nusa Dua Resort
Get ready to slither into CNY, because at this Nusa Dua resort, you’ll get to celebrate with bold flavours and sizzling specials by Chef Alex Kuan. Taking place on 28th and 29th January 2025 at the signature Chinese restaurant, Lion X, two set menus plus an a la carte menu will feature all of your favourite CNY must-haves (including the Braised 8 Treasure Roasted Chicken!), showcasing the richness and diversity of Cantonese and Szechuan heritage cuisine.
A Feast of Fortune at Tablespoon
Welcome all the fortune in the world with a bountiful and prosperous feast at Tablespoon. This Ubud gem will be dishing up family-style feasts from 24th to 30th January 2025, featuring all of our Chinese food essentials – think prawn dim sums, bold stir-fries, long noodles, steamed fish and more. And the best bit is, you can wash it all down with Lunar Fizz – the bar’s special CNY concoction of chrysanthemum tea, gin and refreshing citrus!
Lunar Legends at The Majestic Kang Xi Temple
There isn’t a better place to keep the Lunar New Year traditions alive than at this historic 1706 Kang Xi Temple at Hotel Tugu Bali in Canggu. On 29th January 2025, you will be treated to a buzzing Lion Dance performance, and an eight-course dinner to start your New Year right.
Psst – Bali’s Chinese New Year 2025 events are still being finalised, so bookmark this page and check back again soon for more reunion dinners, to be announced soon!
2. Post-feast quality time with the family
Keep the spirit of CNY going and spend some time with your family in Bali. Traditionally, the itinerary for the days following Chinese New Year are filled with visiting relatives, and exchanging red envelopes and Mandarin oranges. For island vacationers, a family day trip is always fun. You could go strawberry picking in Bedugul, water sports at Nusa Dua Beach, or spend a whole day at Bali Zoo spotting the animals of the Chinese zodiac. Or, take the whole family to Waterbom for a fun day of sliding and splashing. Whatever you decided, there’s always a way to celebrate Chinese New Year in Bali!
3. Watch a lion dance performance

You’ll hear it before you see it! Listen out for the festive traditional music as a majestic colourful lion makes an entrance. Oh yes, a lion dance (or Barongsai) performance offers all the lively vibes we need to celebrate Chinese New Year. Not only that, it’s also an important tradition that brings fortune for the year – plus, it wards off nian, an evil beast who hates loud noises. Children can have fun feeding the lion some red envelopes, and you may be able to find lion dance performances in shopping malls (like Beachwalk in Kuta and Level 21 in Denpasar), or at Bali’s best resorts and Chinese restaurants.
4. Treat the kids to fun CNY activities!
Aside from feeding red envelopes to hungry lions, there’ll be plenty on offer for the little ones this Chinese New Year. We suggest checking out local event calendars to help you decide on where to spend Chinese New Year with the family. Or, to really keep in the CNY theme, why not meet friendly snakes at the Bali Reptile Park!
5. Dress the part for your Chinese New Year celebrations

Get ready to see splashes of red and gold this Chinese New Year. Perhaps one of the most well-known Chinese New Year traditions, dressing in a lucky red outfit is a must for the festivities. Why? Because the colour red symbolises strength and prosperity for the coming year. While gold is not a must, it’s great to have on as it’s the colour of wealth. And here’s a good excuse to spend that wealth: a new outfit marks a fresh new beginning, so shopping is always encouraged! Here’s where to shop for the best Chinese New Year outfits in Canggu and Seminyak.
6. Spring clean… for good reason!
New year, new luck! While only some of us look forward to cleaning the house, it’s believed that by doing so before New Year’s Day, you’ll get rid of all the bad luck from last year and welcome the best of luck for the coming year. Plus, it’s always good to have a clean house to host your friends and family. Deck it out with festive red and gold decorations to keep with the CNY theme. And whatever you do, don’t forget to stock up on lots of Mandarin oranges at home, for extra prosperity in the new year.
7. Prep those lucky red envelopes!
This iconic Chinese New Year tradition is one that’s well known all over the world. Gifting money in red envelopes (ang pao) is not only fun, but also a way to wish the best of luck, health and happiness. Generally, red envelopes on Chinese New Year are gifted amongst relatives, from adults to children and to grandparents. Or, you can hang them on potted trees in the house for extra festive decor! Fun fact: Chinese red envelopes are also gifted on other special days, like birthdays and weddings too.
Looking for more special days to celebrate in Bali? Check out all the public holidays in 2025!