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.